Page:The Girl Who Earns Her Own Living (1909).djvu/243

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tion would be wasted, you will be told so frankly, and advised to give it up, and even the fees you have paid in advance will be refunded to you. On the other hand, a training-school which is not endowed needs every cent it can secure from pupils, and the principal will often permit a girl to continue the work, knowing that her diploma will not insure her a position, and that the first supervisor under whom she works will mark her deficiencies.

Many girls from small towns write to me after this fashion:

"I have met a lady who runs a kindergarten here. She has a nice little school of her own, and she thinks I would make a fine teacher. She has offered to teach me the work very reasonably. Do you think I could secure a city position after taking such a trianing?"

It would be impossible to advise any girl to take such a course of training without knowing the kindergartner who has offered her the course at reduced rates. She may be a kindergarten enthusiast who has faith in her would-be pupil, sufficient faith to give her the training for practically nothing. Perhaps she wishes to train the girl as her assistant. In either case she will see that her pupil is trained as thoroughly as she was herself. But it is a matter of regret that many such offers are founded on the need of earning extra money; and the girl