Los Angeles herald., 1892-06-27
SWEEPING CHANGES in rHR SCHOOLS.

SWEEPING CHANGES IN THE SCHOOLS.
1t is generally rumored that the board
of education at their meeting this even
ing will take decisive steps toward radi-
cal changes contemplated in the school
department. The members of the board
have maintained an impenetrable
secrecy as to the exact programme they
have adopted, and as to the line of
principles they have been guided by in
carrying ont the sweeping plan it is be-
lieved they have decided upon.
We surmise, from the rumors that are
afloat, that about forty of the present
teachers will be retired. 1t is not known
how the teachers committee arrived at
fair mode of selecting their prescribed
list, but if they have proceeded on any
other principle than that of retiring
those who have proved themselves in
competent or inefficient, they will
deal blow to the public
schools of this city from which the
cause OF general education will suffer
inexpressibly. The profession of teach
er, like that of any other profession, is
one which requires peculiar qualifica-
tions to succeed in. These qualifica-
tions are natural and acquired. A per-
son who has given up all other avenues
to successful career to become a COM
petent and efficient teacher, and has
demonstrated his or her fitness, should
not be lightly retired. There may be as
much harm done to the schools as to
the individuals if there is Wholesale
and indiscriminate dismissal of teach
ers. Each case should stand upon its
own merits, and only be finally pricked
for deposition after the most careful and
painstaking scrutiny. We shall hope,
until advised of the contrary, that no
teacher has been placed on the pro-
scribed list except after he or she has
been afirmatively shown to be inefi-
cient or incompetent by full and fair
investigation.
We admit that there is great room for
reform in the public schools. The sub
stantialities of education have been
minimized in order that the fripperies
might receive undue encouragement.
We have extended the curriculum into
studies that are OF little or no practical
value to the average child who has to 60
out into the world to earn a living. OF
what practical use to the general
scholar is smattering OF botany, ply
siology, chemistry, and other studies
which infringe on the time that shotld
be devoted to reading, writing. arith-
metic, history and literature? Why
should we keep high-salaried teachers
of drawing and of music, when we are
to close our schools three
months in the year for lack of funds
and put scholars on half time for the
want OF school room? Is it the right
thing to give up rooms to kindergarten
babies, when children of school age are
obliged to run the streets hall the
school time because there is not room
enough to accommodate all Of them? 1t
may be we'll enough to teach children
how to breathe and stretch their arms
and execute all the exercises of the
Swedish system when the potentialities
Of q common school education are not
thereby interfered with.
The state promises to give all childrer.
a good common school education They
are entitled to that. And If the state
cannot do 50 as fully as it ought because
Of the expensive and time.consuming
fripperies of the ornamental education
which have been added to the system,
it fails'in it's duty and violates it's prom
ise. 1t is needless to say that we fail in
our duty when we close the schools for
three months at time, and during nine
months try to do what we are not re-
quired to do.
1t is said that the board of education
intends to increase the number OF male
teachers in the department, under the
that men can handle "big
boys" better and maintain stricter dis
cipline than women. The board will
find that they are mistaken. Women
have tact that goes farther and pro-
duces better results with "big boys"
than the more direct methods character
istic of men teachers. Experience has
shown that schools that men were un-
able to keep in order became marvels of
obedience and discipline when entrusted
to tactful female teachers.
The board is entering upon very seri-
Gus changes, and should feel its way
slowly and do nothing rashly.