Learning to Be a Schoolmaster

"Learning to Be a Schoolmaster" by Thomas R. Cole is a handbook offering guidance to those starting their careers as teachers in the early 1900s. Drawing from the author's own long career as a respected school administrator to emphasize that teaching is a profession, not a temporary job. It's full of advice and real stories meant to support new teachers as they make their way in different school settings. The book points out how important it is for school leaders to be good at their jobs, support their teachers, and involve the local community in schools. Cole uses stories to show what makes some schools work well while others struggle, highlighting how important it is to be organized, communicate clearly, and create a friendly atmosphere among teachers and staff. By discussing specific ways school leaders interact with school boards, build relationships in the community, and run good teacher meetings, Cole shares a central idea: that being excellent in education means having thoughtful leaders and treating everyone involved with respect.