New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-01-10
The Annual Election Of Teachers in the
Pubiic schools.

promoting, degrading, Clsmlsslng anu eject
ing teachers, having recently taken place.
it may not be amss to offer some remarks
upon subject which interests, directly or
indirectly. So many Of our citizens. in the
first place. it may be well 10 examine into
the wisdom Of this plan Of yearly elections.
Is it the best possible for securing efficiency.
in the schools and faithfulress on the part
of the teachers! 1t must have some merits.
or it would not be persisted in. afte. so
thorough a trial, in spite of its many and
fragrant disadvantages. What are those
merits! The most prominent eeems to be
the keeping alive in the minds of the
teachers a sense OF accountability. and the
discouragiDg of that notion OF ownership
or prescriptive right SO apt to attach itself
to the continued tenure of office. A second
merit is the opportunity afforded of getting
rid Of superannuated pedagogues against
whom nothing much can be said except that
they have out-stayed their usefulness, be-
come hackneyed and unable any longer TO
engage the interest Of the youthful mind.
As they have given no definite cause for
dismissal yet have ceased to be valuable,
it is doubtless thought good plan to quietly
drop them br simply electinc some one else
in their place. This parachute Of an elec'
ton is supposed to ease their fall by yemov'
ing the invidiousness which would other.
wise attach to it. a third advantage OF
these yearly elections il. perhaps. the tenn
porare importance they bestow upe9 GER
tain otherwise obscure gentlemen t!lios the
office OF school directors.
As an offset to these advantages .he plan
OF annually ,eorganizius the echools is
productive Of very serious evils. not the
least of which is tie feeling Of uncertainty
a. to the retention OF hi- piace--o- rather
her place, tor it is on the female teachers
that this uncertainty chiefly operates dele.
teyiousIy--and the accompanying exDecta-
ton Of securing q reelection rather by the
personal ''infiuence' OF some director or
other official than by strict attention to
the duties Of the posi-. This uncertainty
and the efforts 60 which i. gives birth often
begin ta operate IS early az three months
before the period of tine election. Its man
iiestations are by no means eievating 10
professional efficiency o. personal dignity.
consisting, as they frequently do. Of visits
to the Offices or residences OF directors, or
persons. male or female. supposed to be
.'intiuen;lal' with them.
Another effect o: the yearly upsetting Of
the schools is the superce<ing o: expe.
rienced and conscientious teachers in favor
Of new ana inexperienced ones. ca the
mere ground Of persona! tavorl:isin. For
instance, Miss A., with IN ordinary
education. slightly spvinkled with ''ologies.'
and no natural aptitude for conveying what
she knows. feels the wan. o: pin money.
She iislikes drawing on :he slender re.
sources Of her mother. which even with an
occasional ''test:monial' ;ror, 81 uncle
leaves her always suffering FOR money. and
observing that some school teachers OF her
acquaintance are usually we'll dressed. re.
solves to become I. teacher. This she
thinks tan be done very easily. through
the influence Of certain gentlemen who
were associates OF her deceased father, an
ex.Confederate, or an original Union man.
or somethin: eise equally entitled 70 Con.
sideration. Mrs. B.. a widow. 18th three
children. wants. no: pin money. bu: bread
and shoes and trowseys. and though she
can not boast Of q father who had claims On
account Of politica: sacritie :. yet depends
upon the friendship and influence OF Mr..
c.. who knows be: responsibility ard
her necessities.
To .upply with place. these two ladies.
and many more similarly entitled. persons
quite as worthy. quite as needy. and having
the experience which they lack. ,nus: be
displaced. This is done without scruple by
means Of that convenient machinery. the
annual election. TO the injury Of the schools
as well as to the displaced teachers; and 20
the great annoyance Of innocent third par.
ties. who are incontinentiy Prosecuted with
notes and visits beseeciing them 70 use
their influence Cor the restoration Of the
custed. All this is very bad, and should be
put a stop to as soon IS possible. This
simple expedient of electins teachers once
for all. to retain their places d.,rn. life o:
good behavior. maintainin: over them a
due supervision. and dismssipg without
hesitation such as proved incompetent or
unfaithfu. The position OF teacher in the
public schools is not u political one. and
should not be subjected to the vicissicudes
that attend such. 4 competent and faith
full teacher has claim on The position he
holds. and should no: be deprived thereof
at the caprice o! an official OF TO make room
for o favOrite.
This stability IN position would. more
over. ;nves. the office o: teacher in our
public echools with dignity which !: now
lacks. and would. w;,hoa: doubt. add
greatly to thc efficiency Ut Tie schools.
The presumption usually attendant Oh peg
manence in place would be sufficiently oh
waited, and the sense o: accountability kept
alive by the certainty Of dismissal! III case
of proved unfitness: and all interested in the
schools would be spared the unseemiy ex-
eitemen. which, under the gyesen: plan. at.
tends che annual elections.
Star buttons. about the size OF q silver
dollar. are now fashionable for iadie. wear
Bids to Rebuild the DeSotv SchoOlhOusc.
The following bids were opened in the
City Hall yesterday in response 70 an adj.
vertisement asking for proposals TO rebuild
the DeSoto Schoolhouse. on Vaudeville
street The CITY cJunc:; will take action