Tenth Glimmer: A Warning
A public school of the future suffering for lack of public support. The pupils are crowded into dilapidated desks—two pupils at each. Benches on which other pupils are crowded are arranged along the wall. The pupils are unkempt, ragged, rude. A small blackboard, much defaced, is at one side of the room. On it is some very careless work, misspelled words, poorly made figures, etc. TheTeacheris slovenly in appearance: hair fussy and untidy; she is dressed in a sheer chiffon waist, much worn and entirely unsuited for business purposes; a badly hung skirt; shabby slippers with “run-down” high heels. Her movements are awkward and abrupt; her voice harsh; her articulation poor, the “g” being constantly dropped from words ending in “ing”; her pronunciation incorrect, and her grammar faulty. She is the type of teacher to be expected if teachers’ salaries are not materially advanced. Teacher’s desk is cluttered with books, papers, etc. As the curtain goes up theTeacheris talking to, or rather screaming at, a foreign-appearing woman—a woman with a black handkerchief on her head, who has brought two children to school.
A public school of the future suffering for lack of public support. The pupils are crowded into dilapidated desks—two pupils at each. Benches on which other pupils are crowded are arranged along the wall. The pupils are unkempt, ragged, rude. A small blackboard, much defaced, is at one side of the room. On it is some very careless work, misspelled words, poorly made figures, etc. TheTeacheris slovenly in appearance: hair fussy and untidy; she is dressed in a sheer chiffon waist, much worn and entirely unsuited for business purposes; a badly hung skirt; shabby slippers with “run-down” high heels. Her movements are awkward and abrupt; her voice harsh; her articulation poor, the “g” being constantly dropped from words ending in “ing”; her pronunciation incorrect, and her grammar faulty. She is the type of teacher to be expected if teachers’ salaries are not materially advanced. Teacher’s desk is cluttered with books, papers, etc. As the curtain goes up theTeacheris talking to, or rather screaming at, a foreign-appearing woman—a woman with a black handkerchief on her head, who has brought two children to school.
Teacher.No, I can’t take them. Look at this room! For the land’s sake, where do you think I could put two more? Hang them on the wall, or plaster them to theceilin’? Gee! I’d like to quit this job! (Raps on desk.) Stop yer talkin’! You’d think you had never been learned any manners. You know it ain’t perlite to talk when I’m speakin’ to a lady. (Turns again to visitor.) No, it won’t do you any good to see the Board of Education. They’ve got troubles of their own, I guess. I jest can’t take another one in this class and that’s the end of it. You’d better go now. I’ve no time to fool with visitors.
Woman leaves, shaking her head.
Teacher.The A division will take out your Arithmetics. (The A division obey noisily.) For the land’s sake! I didn’t tell you to smash your desks with them. I bet some of you bust your book-backs.
Pupils examine books; one boy deliberately tears back binding. All laugh. At this point, one of the old seats gives way and the occupants are thrown to the floor.
Pupils examine books; one boy deliberately tears back binding. All laugh. At this point, one of the old seats gives way and the occupants are thrown to the floor.
Teacher.There, I’ve been expectin’ that to happen any time for the last month. I have begged and begged for some decent desks, but the cry is always, “No money! No money!” Are you hurt, boys?
First Boy.No.
Second Boy.Yes, I twisted my wrist.
Teacher.Well, go home and have it ’tended to. I have no time to fix it for you. And (turning toFirst Boy) you can go with him, Sam. You might as well, for I have no place for you now your desk is broken.
Boys leave andTeacherturns again to the class.
Teacher.The B division will—
The class interrupts, A and B divisions shouting at the same time.
The class interrupts, A and B divisions shouting at the same time.
A Division.You never told us what to do yet!
B Division.You forgot to tell the A’s what to do with their Arithmetics!
Teacher(placing hands over ears, and screaming). Hush up! Do you want to make me deef? A’s do the first five examples on page 97.
The first, second, and third pupils speak at the same time.
The first, second, and third pupils speak at the same time.
First Pupil.Aw, I can’t do them examples!
Second Pupil.You never told us how to do them examples!
Third Pupil.I don’t know what this word means!
Teacher.You’ll have to do the best you know how. I’m sure I haven’t got any time to stop and explain things now. If I have time later, I’ll explain anythin’ you want to know.
Fourth Pupil.I hain’t got no pencil.
Teacher.Correct your English.
Fourth Pupil.I ain’t got any pencil.
Teacher.Borrow one off of another pupil.
TheFourth Pupilcreates further disturbance by proceeding to borrow a pencil.
TheFourth Pupilcreates further disturbance by proceeding to borrow a pencil.
Fifth Pupil.The point of my pencil’s busted.
Teacher.Well, you can git along as best you can. With seventy-two pupils I haven’t got time to see that pencils are sharpened.
Sixth Pupil.I haven’t got no paper.
Teacher.Well, do your examples on the blackboard. The stingy allowance of paper provided for this class is used up long ago.
Sixth Pupil.The page is tore out of my book.
Teacher.I’m not surprised. We should have had new books two years ago. These have been in tatters for ages. Look on with somebody else.
Seventh Pupil.I—
Teacher.Oh, do be still! I won’t listen to another word. I’ve got to hear the B history lesson now. Let me see everybody at work at once.
A division takes its time getting ready, slouches down in awkward, unhealthful attitudes and makes a pretence of solving the problems it does not understand. TheTeachermeanwhile is giving her attention to the B division.
A division takes its time getting ready, slouches down in awkward, unhealthful attitudes and makes a pretence of solving the problems it does not understand. TheTeachermeanwhile is giving her attention to the B division.
Teacher.To-day we will have a review of America’s great men. (She opens her book and reads the questions from it.) John, who was Washington?
John.Washington was the first President of the United States. He was the father of his country. He cut down a cherry tree. He fought. He killed a colt.
Teacher.Very good, John. Does anybody else know anythin’ about Washington? (A number of hands are raised.) Well, what do you know, Mary?
Mary.His birthday is February twelfth.
Tom.Hear her, February twelfth! That’s Valentine’s Day. Washington’s birthday is February twenty-second, and we have a holiday.
Fred.You’re wrong yourself. February twelfth is Lincoln’s birthday. Valentine Day is the fourteenth.
Teacher.Stop quarrelin’. Fred is right. Now, Fred, what can you tell me about Lincoln?
Fred.He was a poor boy and split rails for the railroad. He was president. He was shot.
Teacher.Good.
Fanny.I know something else about Lincoln. He—
Teacher(interrupting). Never mind; we have no time to hear more about him. Tell me what you know about Franklin instead.
Fanny.One day a girl saw him walking along the street eating a roll. She laughed at him and so she married him.
Carrie.Franklin wrote wise things. We have a book about him at home. He said, “Early to bed, and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.”
Peter.Call that wise! Gee, I never go to bed before eleven.
Fanny.I don’t believe Franklin ever said that. It don’t say anything like that in our history book.
Teacher.Well, if it don’t we’ll not talk about it. The land knows I’d be tickled if I had time to hear all that your book says, without huntin’ up more trouble in other books. Now we must stop. Time’s up, but you have done splendid, children. Nobody can say I don’t teach my children American history as good as anybody, even if I have such a whale of a class.
Curtain
EducationandAny Cityappear before the curtain.
Any City.But it is impossible that such a state of affairs can ever exist in this land!
Education.Impossible! I tell you the beginning of such a state of affairs exists in this land to-day. The danger is even now at your doors. When the penurious, short-sighted policy of the public drives the cultured, trained, and efficient teacher from the classroom, her place is taken by the ignorant, the untrained, or the inefficient. There are scores of thousands of untrained, inefficient teachers in American schools, teaching American children to-day; and, unless the public speedily awakes to the danger, and pays the price for competent service, such teachers will predominate in the schools of to-morrow. Unless measures are promptly taken to secure for every child in America a seat in a healthful schoolroom, and books and materials for his education, the public schools of the land will surely sink to the level of the classroom I have just shown you. Are you willing to trust the government of this country to citizens so trained?
Any City.But the children you showed me are the children of the poor, the ignorant. Surely the children of the rich, the cultured, will have better training.
Education(sternly). The children I showed you are the children of America; and would you train a selected few to rule this land? If you sayyes, then are you a traitor to America. You would overthrow this Democracy—the “government of the people, by thepeople, and for the people,” and substitute an aristocracy—a government of the people, by a favored class, for—what? Nay! I tell you, “the end of American education is the knowledge and the practice of Democracy.” The education of the children in a democracy is the concern of all the public. It must be an education of all the people, paid for by all the people. You sent millions of Americans across the sea to make the world safe for Democracy. You must educate every child in the land to make democracy safe for America. “Education is the most sacred concern, and the only hope of a nation.”
Any City.You are right. I wish that you had shown me a happier view of the future, however.
Education(eagerly). I will. I will show you my dream for the future education of America, and I can make the dream come true if you will lend your aid. Come.
Educationleads, andAny Cityeagerly follows her behind the curtain.
Educationleads, andAny Cityeagerly follows her behind the curtain.