The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-07-21
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
THE COMPETITIVE SYSTEM or Ex-
EXAMINATION.

pliancc with the Education Law.
The recent action OF the School board in re-
scinding lie previous resolution TO elect th,
teachers Of the public schools under tho new
law, while II has provoked general comment. Ii
some cases not Of . Hsttering character, hss
also created considerable scare among ths
teachers, and spprelensons Of kvsfitism and
injustice.
superintendent VIM. o. Rogers has 10 no little
extent shared the opinions entertained against
the board in consequence Of their change 81
front; because. while II was understood that MIR
Rogers was opposed 70 the competitive exanina.
tion system, he IL charged with having not only
advocated the system recently but, In fact, is 40.
cused Of being the father Of the resolution which
puts the system into operation.
We have taken some pains TO inquire into the
true state OF sifairs, and having done 20 we are
compelled TO arrive AT the conclusion that
THE APPARENT MuppLE
10 the result Ok misunderstanding or the law
regulating public education by the Board of
Directors, and nothing else.
We have ascertaincd that Superintendent
Rogers 10 what he was supposed 10 DO an opponent,
on general principles OF the competitive system,
aud that some at least OF the sblest directors of
the board, believe, with him, that the test OF
competitive examination is not sufficient to
qualify person for teachership In the public
schools. Basing themselves on this conviction
twas agreed, original y, that auoh Of the teach
ers az would appear 10 the
uoMMrrTnn ON TEACHERS
qualified TO perform the duties OF instructnR the
youth III our public schools, and reported 40
such, should be reelected. and whatever va
oancies remained were TO b. competed for by
new aspirAnts.
The result 10 known. The report OF Tho com.
imittee was presented aud adopted, but the an-
nouncement of the list was reserved until the
next meeting Of the board, to allow some time for
revieon. Subsequently II was resolved that all
applicants should DO submitted 10
COMPETITIVE EXAMINATION.
This resolution came about IN this Wise: Arti-
ole OF section 10 Of act No. 49, TO regulate pub
lie education, reads. ut (the boardl shall pre-
scribe rules Tor suhjecng teaohere, or candidates
for leadership, TO careful aud competitive ex-
animation on all suoh branches ~ they are en-
pected to teach, and no teachers shall DO elected
to any position In the schools without favor.
able report on his or her moral aud mental quail.
locations by an organized committee Of examiners
superintendent Roger gave 4 most libcral
construction 10 the meaning OF this article, be.
ieyng that our legislators intended that IL should
be /
OBSERVED IN SPIRIT
and not according to the letter OF the law; that
II did not mean that teachers OF old standing aud |
recognised capacity should have to undergo An
examination for the third or fourth time. Others,
however, entertained doubts M to this construo.
ton aud besides believed that By following u the
board would be subjected to great endorsement |
N their tAsk OF discriminating among the teach. |
On the one hand The pressure Was very great /
IN favor OF very large number OF teachers, (lesv-
Ing only about twenty vacaneiee). who seemed TO |
DO recommended by everybody, In many cases
principally on the score of the necessitous cir /
substances Of these teachers; again u was known
10 the board that that the
BROWN AND BooTHnr
school Board had issued certificates 20 teschers
,actualiy In the schoole1 without the proner ex-
animation or qualifications. Another class OF tho
Brown Appointees had been examined aud re-
'eived their certificates but were incompetent Ia
me sense or the other and attn another class OF
hese Appointees were recognized ~ worthy and |
ficient. still another embarrassment presented
tself: how 70 provide for the graduates OF the
rho had been long waiting for an opportunity to
ompete for . position 10 the schools. In pres
nee OF these grave considerations tho board cut
THE aoRprAN KNOT
y adopting the report OF tho committee on |
eachers, and were on The point OF announcing
heir selections. Meanwhile the question OF the
egality OF this method was still being agitated,
nd the opinion of some Of our best lawyers
ought and obtained regarding tho interpreta.
ion OF the law. IRON what we have heard they
eplied without dissenting opinion that the let
or OF the law should be adhered 10. IL
Senator White, the Trainer Of the section refer
Ing to competitive examinations, having been
onsnled replied also that IL was hts intention in
raining the section that ell the old teachers, "a
'el % the new applicants, should undergo the
ompetittye examination. This opinion seemed TO
SETTLE THE QUESTION, II
nd the resolution referring TO the exami nation
fas offered by member of the board, not by Mr. ,
sogers, and adopted. the board, however DEEM
M II fair TO all the applicants 20 give them two
all months wherein to prepare themselves for
he competition.
In our investigation OF the mat or we have en-
preferences should not be given to the old
sachers In our schools. We have been given TO
nderstand, or rather we have been told dis.
nctly that the old teachers and the new appli- |
ants would stand on exactly Ii
THE SAME FOOTING /,
efore the COMMITTEES on examination. and that
1eir fitness would be determined by this ex- II
'
Thus teachers who have been In the schools :
y ten, fifteen or twenty years, because thew |
lay faii to answer the questions TO be pro.
ounded them % correctly as their younger com q
etitors, just out OF the graduating class. must o
i've way to the latter. In palliation Of this p
ropositon which there can be no re-
ress, since the law has to be obeyed to the Let.
r-it is said that the teachers of the higher
'ades have nothing to fear from the competi.
ID, because new aspirants rarely, il ever, apply
r any, but a
THE PRIMARY POSITIONS
ut en- examination of the situation shows that 81
ere are hundred of new applicants, and yery :,
", about one hundreds, of the higher grades OF :"
sitions, and hence it would seem that the cit "
tions OF the greater number of the experienced o;
achers, who have for years been in our schools
Q jeoparded.
Such is in brief the situation Of the school
Achers imbroglio as we have ascertained il.
1atever comments 1t may deserve being left
the care Of the editorial department Of the ~ "
sMocRAT. 81
we will now return 10 the teachers with p
lem We have talked the matter over and say 3
at they view the situation y.
WITH MUCH APPREHENSION, Nv
mmittee.
At their request we have ascertained that the
animation will be conducted with