The Chemawa American, February 01, 1913, Page 22, Image 22

18
THE
CHEM AW A
AM ERICAN
THE LOYAL EMPLOYE
AN
A R T IC L E
W ORTHY
A
SEC O N D
R E A D IN G
EAR DAUGHTER: As you are about to enter upon
your first work away from home, and, as you know,
I am very anxious that you should make a success of
this work as well as your life work, I have concluded
to offer you a few suggestions. There are many
things that I might say to you—should like to say to
you—in such a letter, but I shall most likely confine
myself to one subject—one that is not likely to be touched upon by any­
one else who feels inclined to offer advice.
I take it that all educational institutions have some points in common;
that your superintendent will have some of the trials, cares worries, etc.,
that yonr father has had in the past twelve years; that he will have
many true, loyal, helpful employees, as I have had; it is possible that
he may have a few fault-finding grumblers though I sincerely hope he
may not. You will have a chance to be one of the former; to stand by
him, to help him, to make his load a little lighter, his work a little
better. It may be that you will be tempted sometimes to be of the kind
to criticise, to look for mistakes, to complain when things go wrong
and you feel inclined to blame someone else. Most of ns have such
times. If there is a disloyal employee in the institution she will be
very anxious to make all her troubles known, but very quietly. She
will be industrious and insidious. The chances are that she will be
many years your senior, possibly someone who hashad hard knocks, who
has had to rustle for herself, and with ill success, until she looks upon
anyone who is over her as an enemy. Often she is to be pitied, but
that does not make her any the less harmful. She has allowed the
fault-finding habit to grow upon her until it has become a part of her.
It hinders her work, bothers the superintendent, and is sure to react
against her. She may be agreeable and pleasant in some ways, and one
to whom you will want to be friendly, but if she approaches you with a
tale of woe against the administration, let her know in some way that
you do not care to hear it.
It is probable that your superintendent may make mistakes, possibly
grave ones, but it is more than probable that he will be the first to see
them and the most anxious not to repeat them. Because he does not
make an open confession of them is no reason that he does not see his
mistakes. In any case the chances are that he is much better suited
for his position than are any of his employees. It may be that some
will think he has made mistakes when he has not. They cannot know