The record-union., 1894-01-04
TEACHERS IN CITY SCHOOLS.

Superintendent of Schools Albert Hart
has filed his annual report and review of
the city school system. 1t is an elaborate
paper. One of its paragraphs touches
upon an old subject. but one of first i'm
portance and which the REcoRD-UNIoN
has repeatedly urged upon the attention
of several of the administrations of city
educational affairs.
The matter relates to the consolidation
of the first and second grades or lowest
primary classes, and giving them in
charge of thoroughly competent teachers
commanding high salaries. The school
law of the State requires that the lower
grades shall be taught by teachers of spe-
cial ability; that is to say. the salaries for
these teaching positions shall be equal to
tha salaries of the assistants" in the
highest grade, and such teachers shall
have had at least two years experience
or shall have been graduated from nor
NAL school. This law was created by an
amendment made by the last Legislature.
Prior to that the law read that the teach
ers of beginners should rank in point of
salary with those of the first grade, then
known here as the upper or highest
grade. The amendment, therefore, actu-
ally reduces the requirements as to capac-
ity for teachers of beginners.
We have no idea what influences were
brought to bear to effect the change, but
we do not hesitate to say that it was un-
wise and even vicious. as it lowers the
standard of capacity for teachers of in
fants.
The theory of the law as it stood before
the last Legislature meddled with it, was
that the very best ability should be COM
manded to teach the beginners, and it was
q sound theory and ought to prevail. 1t
infantile classes stepping-stones for So
called higher positions, and thus exposes
the primary grades to constant and in
furious change of teachers.
Catholic schools in this State that we
know Of have a system of promoting
teachers from upper to lower grades, the
idea being that it is an absolutely higher
and more important trust to be given
charge of pupils Of tenderest years, and
that it requires higher skill and more
mature experience to train human twigs
in the way they should grow, than to in-
struct and handle older branches in the
system of educational discipline.
Precisely such a doctrine ought to OBJ
tain in the common schools; the primary
pupils should not be committed to the
care of the least experienced teachers, or
the least capable, or those who are mere
tyros in the art of instructing and disci-
plining the developing intellect. Not
that this is done in all cases, but judged
by the wage the system does not invite
ability to become permanent in primary
grades.
the schools have been changed, SO that
now the first and second grades are the
lowest primary grades-tne infant classes.
They are taught by halliday teachers re-
ceiving $40 each. Of course such salary
is lot an invitation to teachers of long
experience and high skill to remain in
low grades. They are naturally drawn
into the grades for which higher salaries
are paid. Superintendent Hart's idea is
that the two infantile grades, first and
second, formerly low and high eighth,
shall be consolidated and given to teachers
ranking in point of salary with the assist
ants in the highest grades of the gram
mar schools; that is to say, the teachers
who receive ss0-and Superintendent
Hart is right.
The law itself commands this; it de-
clares that beginners shall be taught by
such teachers, and it fixes penalty fol
neglect of the law, since it is added
sand in no case shall Boards of Educa-
ton or School Trustees draw orders fol
the salary of any teacher in violation ol
this provision, nor shall any Superln-
tsndent draw any requisition Tor the