Show THE TIlE TEACHER AS AN ARTIST In line with nn nn an editorial here ur urging in more substantial pecuniary reimbursement for the teaching profession we liked this recent article by Sloan Wilson Vilson author of The TheMan TheMan TheMan Man in the Grey Flannel Suit One of the greatest errors of our time is the th theory ry that for lor some unknown reason everyone should act like everybody every everybody body else We should all nil dress alike that alike that appears to be the modem modern ideal tx 0 Its It's not only individuals who are arc expected to conform to th the customs of the majority Professional grou groups are also expected to melt invisibly into the background Most ordinary ordinary nary Americans work from nine to five every day five days a Week eek fifty weeks a year Well th then n the question goes ant dant everybody do that If a person lives differently h woes the silent accusation What's the matter with you youl Are Arc you lazy Do you think youre you're better than other people I t f f. f A f friend lend of of mine who is is a novelist got to brooding a g great eat deal about this He claimed that th the people in th the small suburb where he lived resented the rumpled clothes he usually wore the late hours he kept and the shabby c condition condition con con- n of his lawn and house They dont don't like me because Tin Im I'm diff she h said spid After a moments moment's thought he ht added i bitterly They 1 ey want vant a a 1 novelist to behave exactly like the tar average man man t but they dont don't expect the average man to write novels Being a novelist myself this phase appealed to me me- meI I thought thought about about it a lot and I suddenly r that the truth in it applies to a lot of people besides novelists In general gen gen- general eral ern I it applies to all aU artists The singer or actress who bums burns brightly on the stage for several hours each evening needs rest during the day and may bite the head off anyone anyone who disturbs her Such people are arc forgiven for temperament by understanding friends and should be Anyone whose work I involves unusual strain upon the emotions deserves unusual privileges Ire Jrr this respect teachers are undoubtedly artists as much muchas as painters singers and all the others I know this to tobe be true because for a brief time I taught and I found the strains to be very like those involved in writing a novel I The intensity of emotion is enormous in both kinds of work The effort to bring vague Ideas into sharp focus and to find precisely the right words for them thern is very similar in teaching teach ing and writing At the tile end of an long hour class I was even more tired than I usually am after an hour hout at the type type- writer Elementary school teachers seem seem to me meto to be under special st strain in because they are constantly called upon to reassure reassure re re- re assure as well as to teach Their emotions are as deeply involved involved in in- in their work as those of any artist People want teachers to behave exactly like the average person but they dont don't expect the average person to teach children all aU day That is something I remember whenever I hear bear a teacher criticized Teachers like other artists are I tired because of the enormous strains upon them and they need a short work day and they need to be able to afford to take that long summer vacation as a vacation No artist can work from nine to five fhe five days a week fifty weeks a year Teachers like other otner artists need leisure and they also need appreciation Actresses get applause and nov now novelists get fan letters Maybe its it's time for parents and other people to begin writing fan letters to teachers My daughter came home happy today such a letter might begin and I think a lot lotof lotof lotof of her happiness is due to you Im I'm going to get busy and write a letter just like that right Tight now |