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About Hesperian student / (Lincoln [Neb.]) 1872-1885 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 1, 1877)
WiiS(0to&R&&ftFt 80 Educational. iip'WWBwlfcwwwMywPHHWHiiiitiini'W'"".!,'- EDUCATIONAL. In England, pauperism nnd crime cost flvc times as much as education ; but in Sweden, education costs live times as much as pauperism and crime. Let us emulate Sweden and not England. Am. Journal of JUilucotion. Woman's sphere in educational work enlarges rapidly. Pennsylvania has sev eral serving as directors; about twenty act ns county superintendents in Towa and Il linois. A larger number of women are luting themselves for teachers than men. More than two-thirds of the students or our State Normal School are females. But the interests of education are safe in the hands of woman. The now constitution precludes the pos sibility of the legislature usinu the school hind of the State, or any part of it, for oilier purposes. Art. 8, see. !), says, alluding to school funds, " ard such funds, with the interest and income thereof, are hereby solemnly pledged for the purposes, for which they are granted and set apart, and shall not be transferred to other funds for cither uses." The wisdom of this prohibi tion in the constitution will be at once seen, and, under the protection of the con stitutiou the school funds will remain in violate. The short sighted action of tho legislature of '75, in appropriating part of tho school fund for other purposes, can not be emulated by the present, even if it so desired. " Professors, who talk of their mic-ro-Scopes, and discourse upon tho rhi-no-ce-rus, should cultivate an acquaintance with the dictionary." Educational Weekly. A bill is now before the legislature, to abolish the olllce of County Superintend ent. It is obvious to all that defects exist in tltc prcscn system, but it is a question whether anything better can bo substitu ted. Ex Supt- McKonzio says: "For tho year ending April first, 1870, the oflice of County Superintendent cost the State $20,838, or little more than $347 per conn. ty. lie further says on the question "In some counties it may lie expensive, but that should not euuso llio destruction of tho very right arm of our school system jf tho abuse can bo corrected." School directors are becoming alive to the importance of securing tho services of experienced teachers. Many have seen tho lolly of hiring teachers who possess but little or no (nullification for educating the young, simply because they could bo engaged for low wages. Those on whom devolves tho responsibility of hiring, re quire a higher grade of scholarship than they usually did. It is true, scholarship is no evidence that a school will bo suc cessfully taught, but a deficient scholar ship precludes the possibility of satisfac tory leaching. We observe and deprecate the stand ta ken by some of the school districts In this Slate, in regard to wages of teachers. In some districts it is the aim and practice of tho directors to hire teachers who will work for the least salary, regardless of ox pc.Mcnce and qualifications. The lament able consequence is the employment, In too many Instances, of men and women incapacitated, by lack of mental acquire men's, to train the young. We believe however, that this shortsightedness is on the decrease, and the experience, which those who have control of the education of our youth, have had with the "poor pay system" is fast prompting them to broader views and sounder policy. Some educators advocate, with consld. cranio display of wisdom, tho permanent employ of teachers in our common schools. Tho continual change of teaches certainly works more or less Injury to a school. "When a teacher Is suitable in cv cry respect, his position should bo a last ing one. If permanency of occupation were insured to those teaching, and good salaries, many persons eminently fitted for Ihe school room, both by inclination and talent, would bo induced to devote their time to teaching. !
