Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1877-05-03
The Annual Election of Teachers.

! The annual ele ction OF teachers through
| out the United States, affords a striking H.
| lustration of the tendency of customs to
| perpetuate themselves long after the causes
| have ceased TO act. This custom Is twin
| relic OF barbarism with that of examining
teachers annually, aud granting them ccr-
! tificates of fitness tn teach a common
/ school one year
In early times iu New England, there
was winter school ofthree months taught
by 'school-master,' and 4 summei school
for the smaller children, worthless for farm
work, taught by 'schootma'am This
( fact involved the necessity of a semi-annu-
+ al election of nomadic teachers. The tru+-
! tees or committeeman, or directors. were
chosen at the annual town-meeting, forthe
/ term of one year. With the exception Of
small rural districts in sparselr settled
| States, all this is now changed In all the
cities and villages, and in many country
districts, schools are maintained for tbs
1 year, excepting the vacations. Yet ii,
nearly every city and town in our country,
the custom of our great t-great-grandfather;
is in fun force and effect. Is there any val
id reason for keeping it up any longer?
Are there not many strong reasons for
roofing 1t out of the land?
There is one standing reason urged by
the fossil defenders of the faith in the old
New England custom. 1t is that the anutt-
al reelection affords the only opportunity
OF getting rid OF poor teachers. Has it
never occurred to these wiseacres thatit al
| fords an opportunity for unrea sonable,
domineering, and selfish superintendents
and school officials to run out capable
teachers who dare assert their manhood or
womanhood in resistance to petty tyranny?
As far as the writer's observation exteus,
| incompetent teachers are rarely dropped
OUT but earnest teachers who have dom
their whole duty, and thereby made som,
personal enemies, are the ones that are at
tackled. Is it not a confession ofcowardlc,:
on the part of school officials that thew
dare not remove teacher except through
the subterfuge of failing to re-elect', Be-
sides, would it not be better that one poor
teacher should remain In school, rather
than hundred should be made chronically
uneasy in consequence Of the uncertainty
of recollection? Teachers subject to annu-
al reelection have 70 future logger than \
year. They are apt to become discontentei
and dissatisfied, and to seek other occupa-
tions.
1t is an axiom. evident to all except na.-
row. minded school officials, elected annu-
ally, that whatever tends to lower the oc-
cupation of teaching, tends to lessen the
working power of the schools. The more
secure the position of the teachers, the bet
ter work will they do. The more perma-
nent the position OF the teacher the higher
the estimate placed upon it by the public
The annual election is made the occasion
by fault-indins parents, for pouring out
the Vials of wrath upon the teachers who
have dared to enforce discipline upon un-
ruly children. Two or three grumblers
disturb the whole district. Besides. the
doctrine OF rotation in Office is held in
many places TO be In accordance with
democratic-republcan principles. The
school is wanted for the relative of some
trustee, or for some personal friend: aud
TO the victors belong the spoils. Possibly
member OF our church is wanted
In fact, all the meaner elements of hu-
man nature are called into play will any
thoughtful teacher of twenty years varied
experience IN changing communities dare
say that the picture is overdrswn? The
fact that our schools exist at all under this
custom, is striking evidence of the yitali-
ty of our school system.
In arecent State convention of 5000 teach
ers, res Dlution declaring this custom to be
semi bar barous was carried with but one
dissenting vote, and that vote was given by
an old schoolmsster, grown gray under
more than fifty revolving suns. He remind
ed one of the Arab wife, who complained
that her husband no longer loved her, and
adduced AS proof the fact that he had
ceased to give her the customary daily
whipping.
Iu one large city, three thousand miles
from New England, so far removed that
custom relaxed its bonds. the experiment
of aboishing annual elections has been full
ly tested. In San Francisco, . sensible
Board of Education declared that teachers
should be elected to hold their places dur.
ing good behavior. 1t has worked well.
Nobody, except now and then some bald
headed ex-pedagogue. proposes to return
to the old way. The eO0 teachers, when
vacation comes, go into the country to en-
JOY 1t, instead OF hanging around the
Board to secure reelection. They are
more independent; they are more respect
ed they are more cOntented; they remain
logger in the profession. Will not some
Eastern city repeat the experiment? Is
there not at least one superintendent who
dares press this subject upon the consider
alton of the board.
Are there no teachers who realize the
humiliation vi submitting longer to this An
tiquated aDsurdity2 The fault hes not SD
mach with the general public.as with our
selves that We are underlings.' Until we
demand our rights. we shall never get
Sw EFT, in New England Jour-
nal OF Education.