TEACHING AS A PROFESSION
By Louis W. Rapeer, Professor of
Education
No one familiar with history and
present, day social problems can
fail'to realize that we are today in
the midst of an educational revolu-
tion similar to that of the early
Italian renaissance. The people of
this country have awakened with
irespect to our expensive and com
pulsory systems of public educa
tion and are asking each other and
the school authorities if education
is really hitting the mark. They
will not be put off with mere genei
alizations and opinions; they de
mand facts and scientific evalua
tions of educational results. The
recent survey movement, which has
spread from Maine to the Philip-
pines and from Porto Rico to Alas
*ka, and the remarkable increase in
printed matter on educational prob
lems, are external evidences of this
questioning spirit.
Such a spirit means a new day
education. Already signs are
in the sky of the time when educa
tion will be a dignified, highly effi
cient and remunerative profession.
It is a time to inspire young men
and women who wish to lead a cul-
I tured life and to contribute some
thing definite and lasting to their
times. Those with vision, courage
and vigor now in the ranks as ele
mentary or high school teachers or
as administrators are getting all the
factors that make for an ideal
* life under present conditions.
They are getting a chance to do a
work that gives them an opportun
ity to grow and to develop their
powers to their fullest; they are be
ginning to get remuneration that
will make possible the living of a
dignified and efficient life; and they
are getting an opportunity to be of
great social service.
Copyright Hurt tiihuffnt
ler & M:irx
No one should go into the pro
fession of teaching who does not
feel in his bones that he can be
happier and of more service in this
work than in any other —that were
he wealthy he would be willing to
pay some institution liberally for
the opportunity to contribute to the
social welfare by building up the
type of young men and women
which our complex, industrial
democracy so much needs.
At the piesent time he need not,
however, do this nor like the old
monks, take the vow of poverty.
The people are learning to provide
the means for a dignified and effi
cient professional life. Ten thou
sand dollar salaries aic rapidly in
creasing in number, and the entire
level of salaries is lising. There is
plenty of room at the top. But the
persons who get to the top will be
those who go into the work as an
opportunity to live an ideal life, not
easily attainable in competitive
business, and to make a permanent
contribution to civilization.
The people of our countiy are
suffering from many 'erious malad
justments of life which are solvable
only by higher and better ideals, in
sight, habits and appreciations.
These problems the public schools
are beginning to solve by a new
education. If you wish to place
youi shoulder to the wheel and
make youi life count; if you wish a
work in which it is easy to work in
the spirit of social seivice and hard
to work for selfish gain; if you wish
the recognition of the public such
as is now given to such men as
President Wilson, Brumbaugh,
Wirt, Schneider, Montessori and
many others from the humble rural
teacher upward; and if you feel that
you can be happier in this work
than in any other, then elect your
courses in education and go out in
to our high schools and serve in
that highest of the professions, the
profession of teaching.
•• V •!?
Should sizes be incorrect or gifts
dupiicated. We’ll be glad to ex
change or rufund rhe money.
That's part of our service
TIIE”PENN STATE COLLEGIAN
Help the Starving Belgian?. A
Christinas Appeal
Dear Sir,
Christmas approaches and to
quote the President's Thanksgiving
Proclamation “it has been vouch
safed to us to remain at peace with
honor.” The duty and the privi
lege remain of averting starvation
amongst the Belgian refugees this
winter and for this special purpose
the Dollar Christmas Fund has
been organized.
It is estimated to date that all the
help subscribed in America, and it
has been very liberal, including the
aid of the wealthy Rockefeller
Foundation, does not average more
than a few cents for each destitute
Belgian, enough to buy food for a
few days 1
The Dollar Christmas Fund has
one great ambition, to see that
every man, woman and child this
Christmas shall have food, cloth
ing, shelter. This great achievment
is happily still possible, and to this
end we are working with the Christ
mas Fund of London which has
collected for the same purpose
nearly $400,000 The cooperation
of the two organizations has many
decided advantages. It provides a
safeguard against waste from over
lapping. It enables our Fund to
enjoy the guidance of members of
the Belgian Government as regards
the distribution of relief. All our
workers are (voluntary and every
cent subscribed after deducting the
cost of stamps and stationery, goes
diiect to the Belgians.
Even if you have given to every
other fund we beg you in the name
of humanity to assist the Chiistmas
gift worthy of America, a tribute of
sympathy from one people to
another whose needs and sorrows
are immeasurable.
If you realize that millions are
literally faced with starvation, that
children are still crying fot food,
nft
shelterless women dragging their
weary to help, that aged men are
homeless and shivering, and this
despite all that is being done, you
will give before Christmas and
give liberally.
England has received 300,000 of
the refugees but there are innum
bered thousands still wandering in
France and Holland besides those
in stricken Belgium.
A fresh inspiration to our own
peaceful Christmas in America will
be lent if we relieve now the suffer
ings of innocent little children, un
offending women and aged men
and you may rest assun d that no
man’s Christmas Day will be the
less happy because in some cises
the gift may entail some measure of
personal sacrifice.
Let us remember at this crisis
that “to pity distress is but human;
to relieve it is Godlike.”
All contributions entrusted to me
as Treasurer will be promptly and
thankfully acknowledged. Send
along your dollar, more if you can.
Yours very truly,
Henry Clews
Treasurer, Dollar Christmas Fund
for Homeless Belgians, Broad
Street, New Yoik.
Road Supervisors Assembly
There will be a road supervisors
assembly at State from December 28
to January 2. Among the topics
considered will be those bearing
upon the improvement of roads so
situated with respect to traffic and
other local conditions as not to war
rant expensive improvements.
A supervisors round table will be
held on the evening of December
30. This will be especially devoted
to the discussion of matters relating
to the work of the township road
supervisor.
R. McDonald, ex ’IS. of Scran
ton, Pa., is now a regular guard on
the Rensselar Polytechnic Insti ute
varsity basketball team.
Practical Gifts
The Sim Shop is leady with choice practical Christmas giving
things. Gifts men and young men will find the greatest delight and
pleasure in.
We’ve some of the most choice wearables made. Clever new
innovations shown here in advance of the usual stores showing them,
for we’re specialists in men’s dress, constanly in touch with the
markets and best makers of clothes and no store is better equipped
to offer things of such good style or taste.
A partial list is given below, but theie are many other suitable
gift things here.
Start the list with one of our Suits or Overcoats,
be better.
Fur lined and fur trimmed Over
coats. Full Dress Clothes
Men’s Neckwear in all wanted
styles. A gorgeous showing
Mufflers. Silk, knitted and an
gora
Gloves. For dress, motoiing,
wolen gloves, fur gloves. Dint's
Men’s Jewelry. Pins, Cuff But
tons, Stud Sets
Shirts of all styles. Madras, per
cale, soisette, silk, plain and plaited
bosoms. $l.OO up.
Angora Vests
Pajamas. Domet flannel, mad- TT . r . . . TT .
. „ Hosiery. Lisle and Silk. Hole
ras, crepe, soisette, silk
proof hose
Handkerchiefs. Plain and initial,
linen and silk
\i\Mi lottmr
Correct VLb s resS
v and State College - Pa.
Educational Exhibit.
The State Teachers' Association
will hold their annual meeting at
Harrisburg on the last three days
of this month. State College will
be represented by Dr. Sparks, Dr.
Rapeer, Dr Smith, Professor Er
nesti, Mr. Bowman, Mr. Gorham
and Mr. Spahr. Several of the
local delegation will give addresses.
In connec'i >n with the meeting
an educational exhibit will be held
in the old flag room of the CaDitnl
Building. Photographs, charts,
models, students handiwork and
paintings will be shown and the
whole exhibit will remain in the
flag room until after the inaugura
tion of the governor. Professor
Ernesti, head of the Industrial Art
department of this college will con
tribute a painting to the exhibition
and various other articles will be
sent down from here.
Free Lecture Course
For many years the college has
supplied a free lecture course dur
ing the winter on Saturday nights.
The aim is to widen the information
and interest of the avtrage student
by taking him into fields remote
from his own specialty. Illustrated
lectuies are generally offered be
cause the mind receives better im
pressions when the ear is aided by
the eye. No man or woman who
wishes to lay claim to being edu
cated can afford to omit the value
ot these free lectures.
The first free lecture of the sea
son will be given in the Auditorium
on Saturday evening, December
19 at 8 o’clock. The subject is
“From Ocean to Ocean” and the
lecturer J. E. MacDougall, of the
Bureau of Commerical Economics
of Philadelphia. The lecture will
be illustrated by many slides and
moving picture films.
The programs for Farmers’ week
are being dis'ributed.
Nothing could
Sweaters with or without collars.
All weaves and colors. Harvard
& Blauvelt makes
Leather Goods. Famous Likely
Bags and Suit Cases
Smoking Jackets
Lounging Robes. Madras and
silk mixtures. Woolen fabric and
silk
Bath Robes. An immense show
ing. Terry and Blanket Robes
$3.50 up
Mackinaws. Men’s, Boy’s and
Girl’s. $5 to $l5
Walking Sticks and Umbrellas
Knit Coats. Tyrolleon Coats