Way Down In Carolina!

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 110, 30 July 1927, Page 19

Way Down In Carolina!

Away With Love and Smoking!

Evidently- the teaching profession must not be entered lightly or unadvisedly in North Carolina, if the following article, written by Thomas Minehan, in the “Nation," is a true statement of affairs in that land of high ideals:

An agreement not to smoke, not to fall in love, to sleep eight hours a night, and to take an active part in Sunday school is expected of the average teacher applying for a job, says Mr, Minehan.

Discussing the requirements made of job-hunting teachers in various parts of the country, Mr. Minehan cites a contract received by a woman from a sea coast village in North Carolina. "It contained the usual stipulations in regard to certification, boarding at the dormitory, sacrificing pay while unable to work," he says, “and in addition the following clauses”: I promise to take a vital interest in all phases of Sunday school work, donating of my time, service and money without stint for the uplift and benefit of the community. I promise to abstain from all dancing:, immodest dressing, and any other conduct unbecoming a teacher and a lady. ... I promise not to go out with any young men except in so far as it may be necessary to stimulate Sunday school work. . . . I promise not to fall in love, to become engaged, or secretly married. I promise to remain in the dormitory or on the school ground, when not actively engaged in school or church work elsewhere.

I promise not to encourage or tolerate the least familiarity on the part of any of my. boy pupils. I promise to sleep at least eight hours a night, to eat carefully, and to take every precaution to keep in the best of health and spirits in order that I may be better able to render efficient service to my pupils. I promise to remember that I owe a duty to the townspeople who are paying m mv wages, that I owe respect to the School Board and the superintendent that hired me, and that I shall consider myself at all times the willing servant of the School Board and the

townspeople, and that I shall co-oper-ate with them to the limit of my ability in any movement aimed at the betterment of the town, the pupils, or the schools. “This, remember, for a job paying S 5 dollars a month, for seven and ahalf months in a little town of 300 or 400 persons, located in the mosquito and feevr district of North Carolina, where half the inhabitants cannot read or write,” Mr. Minehan adds. PAPAKURA PLUNKET SOCIETY COIN AFTERNOON A very successful coin afternoon was held on Tuesday by the Plunket Society in the Methodist Hall, at which there was a good attendance. A very interesting address was given by Mrs. W. 11. Parkes, presidenr of the Auckland Plunket Society. In the course of her address, she said the Plunket Society was firmly established as a national movement in New Zealand, our country holding the world’s record for the third year in succession' for the least number of infant deaths per 1,000 of population. The cost of the Plunket work in New Zealand was £ 54,000 per year? The Government contributed onethird. Mrs. Parkes emphasised that the aim of the society was not the healing of sick babies, but the prevention of their ailments. The history of the establishing of the Karitane Home and the handsome gifts of Mr. and Mrs. Caughey and Sir Arthur Myers was also touched] on. ' ' The meeting was presided over by the Rev. W. J. Elliott, who proposed* a hearty vote of thanks to Mrs. for her splendid address, which was carried by acclamation. Items were given by Miss D. M£cRae, Mrs. W. Mcllraith, Miss tH. Beams and Mr. C. S. Beechey. A dainty afternoon tea was dispensed., by the ladies of the society. -