Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1858-09-30
To Directors and Teachers.


Termination and Employment Of Teachers
System and punctualty are indispensable
to the successful dispatch of business, whether
public or private aud not only economic time,
but add greatly to the personal comfort Of the
acting parties. This is especially the case in
the transaction Of school business, where so
many persons are concerned and SO many i'll
tcreSts involved The following suggestions
are therefore respectfully submitted, for the
favorable consideration and adoption of districts
/ through the State:
| l. The time and place announced by the
/ County Superintendent, for the public eXamna-
ton o: teachers in the district, and should also
! be fixed upon for Il regular meeting of the
| Board Of Directors and they should all en-
deavor to be punctualIy on the spot, at the APP
pointed hour.
3 The board should, by public notice or
otherwise, require all applicants for the schools
/ to present themselves at the public examination
and should dscountenance private eXamina-
( tionS, except in cases ofSickneSS or unavoidable
accident.
g. They should invite the citizens of the
/ district to be present at the examination, TO
Indicate their choice from amongst the teachers
found competent The public will thus become
interested, and more satisfaction will bc given
TO the patrons of the school
T. Teachers for all the schools of the dis rict
ShOnd be selected, and a contract made with
/ them, on the day of the public examinations,
and immediately after they are over, certificates
awarded and if there is not sufficient time for
this purpose, directors and teachers viii find it
to their mutual advantage to remain over TIL
next morning, for that purpose
| 5. In all cases a written contract should he
entered into, on the spot, with each teacher :;
/ signed by the President of the Board aud the
teacher, and c0untersigned by the Secretary
The Secretary should provide himself with
printed blanks for this purpose, Iany printer in
the country will furnish them at very cheap
rates, or else write ont in advance as many
blank articles of agreement as there is teachers
to be employed In either case, it will take
! but few minutes to fill them up, and have
| them duly executed aud all parties " i'll know
at once where they stand, and what's expected
: Of them
! 6 In no case, whether at the public exam
| ination or otherwise, should teacher be EN-
/ pl0yed without producing a valid certificate
/ from the County Superintendent The certili-
cate is itself the only evidence Of its existence;
| verbal statements that effect are nadmissibe
| \ forfeiture of the State appropriation to the
district, will be the invarabe result of the en-
| plOyment of teachers without legal certifi-
cate
T. In no case should teacher of inferior
| qualifications be employed, if better can be
! had
s. No teacher should be assigned to school
Of higher grade than his or her certified quail
fcationS If an inspection of the branches
marked in the certificate does not clearly settle
| the point, the opinion of the County Superin-
| tendent, based upon statement OF the charac-
ter Of the school, will generally be of essential
service TO directors
g. The salaries should be graded to the
qualifications of teachers, as evidenced by the
certificates they hold the highest wages being
paid for the best certificates, and the lowest
wages for the poorest certificate This policy
will stimulate teachers to Improvement ANY
other course must be not only unjust, but
grossly unjust to teachers, TO pupils and to tax.
payers In this connection, see No I69, page
81, Com. School Laws and Decisions
10, Teachers should not be emploved because
they are sons and daughters of people in the
vicinity, unless their qualifications are equal TO
those of other teachers who can be had. No
applicant. however, has any legal, moral or
social right to the school, other than profes.
SionaI merit +; and favortism, not based upon
qualifications, should not be permitted
IL. Female teachers, where otherwise onali-
fed, are amongst the very best But the ha-
bit, in some parts of the State of elnpIoyag
Young girls who ought to be themselves pupils
is imjudicious and injurious Their juvenile
years, immature judgment, and necessarily lin
tied attainments and experience, lily qualify
them for the momentous trust devolved upon
Instructors in the common schools aud Sn-
perintcndents and directors are advised to re-
ject applicants of this description.
1t is believed that the above suggestions. if
carried ont in practice, would simplify the dn-
ties Of directors, save much tine, relieve them
from MANY annoying embarrassments give gen.
eral satisfaction, and greatly improve the pros
perity of the schools.-Statc Superintendent,
IN CQm@aa Schoat JoVrHak