Who arc the instructors of this vast
democracy of youth? Three hundred
and fifty-two thousand teachers are em
ployed. One-third of them are men,
two-thirds are women. The men are
usually w’ell trained. The proportion of
trained female teachers is increasing
year by year, as the normal schools send
out their classes. Nevertheless, scores
of thousands of these female teachers
are untrained. Forty’ per cent, of all the
female teachers teach for only one term!
Think what that means. In the rural
districts of many states teaching is a
“job” to which almost any girl may
turn. Careful examinations of teachers
are not to be expected when tho school
fund is so penurious that the cheapest
teachers are tho only’ applicants.
Tho faults of the American public
school system, how’ever, are all on the
surface and can easily’ bo remedied.
State superintendents and higher edu
cators generally are giving to all the
weaknesses discernible in our system
their careful attention. They’ are de
termined that the new century shall
open upon an educational plant as near
ly without defects as progressive energy
can make it.
The public school is our most distinc
tive American institution. It is this
same public school which, more than
race, has made tho difference between
this republic and the republics of South
America. When tho world gathers here
at our 400th anniversary to scrutinize
our life this, our proudest institution,
will be pointed out as tho clearest source
of American greatness and enlighten
ment.
