University of California Los Angeles - Bruin Life / Southern Campus Yearbook (Los Angeles, CA)

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New -Fashioned Conservatism j l ID you ever meet a teacher whose feelings were hurt when you told her she did not look like a school teacher? Should you feel complimented if told you did not look like one? Of course, it de- pends on what is in the speaker ' s mind. He may mean that he is impressed by your dignity or by your scholarly manner; but — he may not. The great majority of American teachers are properly proud of their profession, but where will you find one who is noticeably displeased when told her appearance does not suggest her work? This is because there exists in the popular mind a type-teacher like whom none of us care to be — (like whom none of us think we are, no matter how much we may be). But, you say, the type- teacher is improving. True, yet hosts of our present-day teachers are developing the characteristics that continue to be depicted in the comic supplements. A teacher makes a sad mistake when she loses sight of the fact that she owes it to herself and to her profession to live a well- balanced life. For six hours per day, five days per week, four weeks per month, ten months per year, the teacher deals with immature minds. She demands explicit obedience. She grows accustomed to having her opinion pass unchallenged. In time, unless she takes care, she forms the habit of dictating and of voic- ing her opinion on every possible occasion. Thank goodness, there are many glorious exceptions who prove that there is no necessity of acquiring the objectionable ear marks of the pro- fession. Teach with all the energy and enthusiasm you can command. Spend a reasonable amount of time in preparation, but let it be concentration for a brief period rather than puttering for twice the time. Remember there is much unnecessary, even harmful, keeping after school. There is much needless marking of papers. It is always possible for small duties close at hand to shut out the vision of larger things. There is something radically wrong if you permit the deadly detail to rob you of the time you should spend in recreation. Efficiency is marked by the results accom- plished in the schoolroom, not by the amount of time spent there. The freshly recreated teacher does more and better work than the drudge who has exhausted her inspirational power. Page Eight

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Page 19 text:

Be keenly interested in matters other than those that pertain to your teaching, in people other than school people, in conversa- tion other than shop-talk. A physician is guilty of unprofessional conduct if he discusses his patients, except for consultation pur- poses. Isn ' t it lamentable, the number of teachers who insist upon telling every chance acquaintance of Johnny ' s symptoms, their clever diagnosis of his case, their skillful treatment, and the marked improvement? Would that such discussion were consid- ered as unprofessional in the case of the teacher as in that of the physician ! Strive to get outdoor exercise. If possible play a vigorous game. If this is not practicable, walk; but, while you walk, think of the tint on the hills, or the beautiful contour of that group oi ' trees, instead of the trials and tribulations that seem to have fallen to your lot. Don ' t feel sorry for yourself that you are a school teacher when you long to be a Schuman-Heink, a Sarah Bernhardt, or a Mary Pickford. HELEN E. MATTHEWSON. Page Jine