The Ideal Teacher (Classic Reprint)

Excerpt from The Ideal Teacher On the whole the American people are sincerely and deeply appreciative of their schools and teachers. The teachers themselves are for the most part contented in their work, strenuous and baffling as it may be. And whatever may be said of the shortcomings of teaching as a lite, they stand loyally by it. In spite of moments of pessimism, they seldom change to another work, so tenacious are its ultimate attractions. But it would be quite wrong to assume that either the public or teachers have no just criticism to make upon the life and the product of schools. The educational ideals, and consequently the expectations of both, are too high to permit a smug satisfaction with things as they are. The layman wants better service from teaching. The teacher wishes a happier life in his work. They will probably continue to demand these till the end of time, though the schools grow constantly better. There is no ungratefulness in this attitude; it is...