Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 89, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 April 1913 — TEACHERS HIRED FOR LIFE [ARTICLE]

TEACHERS HIRED FOR LIFE

Swiss Pedagogue* Receive Small Pay. but Are Person* of Consequence. Says School Head. Thurgau.— “Nearly 90 per cent of the teacher* In Switzerland are men." says W. K. Tate, supervisor of rural schools In South Carolina. Mr. Tata has just returned from a three months’ investigation In Switzerland under the auspices of the national bureau of education. "Five hundred dollars is considered a good salary for a teacher. After a life-time of service he may go as high SBOO. Living M cheaper there than here, however, and in addition to his salary he 1s given a dwelling, a certain amount of garden land and wood for fuel. Rls dwelling is generally in the same building with the school. His position is of considerable local importance. Aside from his duties in the schoolroom, he is often secretary of the local creamery association, leader of the village band, organist in the church and general intellectual guide the community. “When a teacher is engaged It is for life or a long term of years. ' He settles down with the people whose children he teaches, and expects to make that particular Job his life ’work. Changes are rare. Twelve new teachers in one year in a system of 240 was considered very unusual. The record for continued service in the same village is held by a teacher in Thurgau, who has occupied the same position for sixty-five years. One teacndr that 1 visited has held his position for twenty-four years, and his father held the same position for thirty-five yean. “One of the most attractive features of the Swiss schools is the cordial personal relation that exists between teacher and pupil. There is nothing of the military in the discipline of the school; no lining up; no marching to classes. When the children go to the classrooms they shake .hands with the teacher, greeting him as if they had not seen him for a long time and are really glad to see him. The whole relation is one of charming naturalness and kindliness on both sides.”