Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1880-12-02
Employment Of Teachers.

SYNOPSIS OF A PAPER READ BEFORE THE
MAINE STATE PEDAGOGICAL SOCIETY nv
HON. W. J. CoRTuELL or GoRHAM NOR
NAL SCHOOL.
Some of the weaknesses Of our school
system cannot he cured. They are in the
social condition of the state; the sparseness
of population; the lack Of employment in
the rural towns. Other weaknesses are in
trenched in the prejudices Of the people and
can only be cured by the influence Of time
and generations Of agitation. Some defects
may be cured at once. Among these is the
present system Of employing teachers. The
present system is faulty in two respects
First, it is no, business-iike. and second. i,
does no, secure the best teachers, but on
the contrary. results often. in putting poor
teachers into the schools when better teach
ers could be had for the same cost.
Ii is not business like because il does
not vest the power TO employ the workers in
the persons who are held resp pnsible for the
success Of the enterprise. The committee
are held by Law, and BY the public sentimen,
Of the town, responsible for the success OF
the schools. The dis,ric, agents hire the
teachers. This separation of power and re-
sponsibility has been found fatal in ever,
business affair where it has been attempted
Ii works as fatally in schools.
The presen, system lacks business com
mon sense in tina, il does not vest the pore,
TO employ those who are to do the work. in
the one who knows most of the work. The
committee are generally the men. hes,
skilled in school work in the town who tan
be got TO take the place. The committee
usually know the schools the peculiar wants
of each the nature Of the work to be done
the methods to be employed in the work
and the fitness OF unftness of the persons
offering TO do the work. The agents as a
rule do not know these things They are
frequently good business men. but as a rule
they know little Of schools.
Again. it is not business like that one
person should hire the worker. and another
person be the judge of his qualifications
Yet the present system does that in hiring
teachers. The agent hires. The committee
decide As 10 the qualifications The result is
rivalry between the two parties, quarrrls in
the district. the ruin of the schools and " ste
Of the school money, or the Welding of the
committee and incompetent teachers and
so wasted money
Secondly. the present system does no, Sc
cure the best teachers to he had 1t fails to
do this because the agents do not know the
best teachers. They have no means OF
knowing. Their business has not hrongh,
them to such acquaintance. They do no,
know what constitutes a really good school.
either as To appliances, methods or princi-
piles. This is no disparagemen, OF the
agents They Law no claim to such special
knowledge as would qualif, them 70 .elec,
the best teachers. Hence they must very
often mistake when they are really desiruus
20 secure the best teachers.
But the circumstances of their election
prove that they are very often moved by
personal motives. Mr.. \. by agreement i.
to be agent thi. wear: Mss 4. il TO teach
and board a, home the school money goes
20 the A. family this wear. Next year the
b. family are the recipients then the {.
family. and 30 round. In all this ,nerr is
not the least reference to the good of the
school. In one large distract the question
of agent turned on the question which of
two riyal stores should furnish school sup
plies. The schools meanwhile were n farce.
In another. the man elected agent had prom
ised the schools before his election. to GER
tam teachers. incompetent IN every respect.
Ia order TO secure the votes Of the friends of
such teachers for himself One agent puts
IN an incompetent teacher because he attends
the agent. church. Another rejects quail
fed and experienced teachers because their
father has voted on the wrong side. aud puts
into the schools unqualified ones because
their father. voted as the agent did
1k..a r A.. i
the teachers are selected. ANY one oonyers-
ant with schools will multiply them inde:in-
iely, from his own knowledge.
The remedy Let the law be changed,
yestlng the power TO hire the teachers and
hN their pa, in the committee. IL, the
agent. remain to care for the school prop
erty and the finances of the district VIII
not the committee act from personal mo-
uye.2 No, TO so great a degree They are
responsible directly for the success Of the
school. They are a body Of three or more.
and the teacher, should in all cases be chosen
by the committee by a unanimous vote.
Experience proves the vas; ads an,age O.
this method As in all the towns in the state
making the greatest advance in schools. the
employment, Of teachers Is nox vested in
the committee.
Again: a few years since the Law va,
changed giving this power TO the commit
tees. Every one oonversani with the schools
declares that on the whole better teacher.
were employed and better school. had tina,
year than ever before
There vas some friction As there always
will be at frs, IN any new methods. but the
result that year showed that it is safe To say
that after the plan should become settled,
and working harmoniously as i; would in a
few wears, the efficiency of the schools with
the same expenditure Of money, would BIZ
increased twenty FIVE per cent