The morning call., 1894-11-16
Director Clinton Declares 1t Is
Bad Business.
THE PRESIDENTS EXPLANATION
Why Educators Should Be Moved
Shortly Before the Term Ends.
Hyde on Reforms.

ton to shuttle principals of different
schools all around has created great uE-
easiness among teachers and considerable
comment by people interested in school
matters.
Ulterior if not indeed sinister motives
were freely imputed during the day to
those responsible for the proposed change.
But this is denied by F. A. Hyde, presi-'
dent of the Board of Education, who
laughs at the possibility of such thought
as revenge on educators for making a
political fight in the recent campaign for
new set of School Directors, or W no at least
were not active supporters of the present
majority. from whom only C. A. Murdoch
was elected Gu the incoming board.
There was absolutely nothing of the
kind" Hyde asserted. After two years.
experience we have come to the conclu-
sion that the teachers proposed to be
transferred were not best suited to the
schools in W hich they were placed"
The president fell into a thoughtful
mood and presently gave the following
statement with regard to his attitude and
the work done on Wednesday evening:
IL do not think it is proper for School
Director to discuss the character or ability
of q teacher in the department, said he,
''or the reasons why mem bers of the board
might think that teacher or principal
could do better work IN one place than in
another, because, while giving credit to
the abilities of one, it might necessitate
criticZng another.
"The changes that were suggested last
night were all influenced by a knowl-
edge of the schools and of the
characters and abilities of the prinei-
| pals whom we proposed &c transfer We
| thought that Mr.. Edwards could serve the
School Department better in the Washing
| ton School than where he was, and the
| other changes were, we thought, i'll the
| interests OF the public service. Thera was
not the slightest desire for revenge, as
| suggested. nor an Intention to punish any
one. We believe that, after an experience
| of from two TO four years, the present Di-
reciOrS are better able to Judge as to the
| assign ments Of teachers than new Diree-
| tors would be who would know nothing OF
the personnel or work of the department.
''If it is claimed that such transfers
! should not be made by an outgoing board,
| it can be claimed with greater force that
| strangers in the department ought not TO
| take such responsibilities. L think that
| our experience is valuable, and il is not
only the privilege but the duty of the
| board to leave the department in as good
condition as possible, and that we are
justified IN acting on our experience. l
am not passing any opinion as to whether
or not the changes will be made. 1 do not
know the minds of all OF the Directors
on that subject.
''Of course there is bound to be opposi-
tion TO anything OF this kind. 1t Is very
easy for principal to excite sentime emit
among the children and bring about op-
position from parents. We have had this
occur before; but, as soon as a change
was definitely accomplished. the excite
ment subsidized. | do not know whether
or not the prin eipals would object to the
transfers. They were not considered.
There would be no punishment Or degra-
datiOn 10 those changes, except as some
schools are considered prefera BILE to
others Oh account of the class Of children
attending. The pay is the same in all
cases. and il is simply a question OF
whether principal looks after one set of
children or another. The schools would
not be at all demoraiiZed by these
changes 1t is true that the term is about
closing, but there is a teacher in charge of
each class in school, and The work would
&c right on just the same.
Il believe that one OF the great evils in
cur department. is that principals are not
changed around. | believe that princi-
pal should remain in school but short
time. They get into ruts and have DO
chance to see the methods of other schools
and the consequence is that there is lack
of uniformity in educational work. If the
principals of our schools were transferred
every year it would be for the benefit of
the department.
That is one of the reforms which 1
would be glad TO see accomplished. 1t
would be a benefit TO the schools, a benefit
to tne teachers and benefit TO the pupils
that change should be made often. 1t
would not only stimulate the good teach
ers, but would result in bringing TO the at
tention of the board cases OF incompetency
among teachers as well as principals. To
put a poor principal in the place
of good one or good one in
the place of a poor one would disclose
the dement's of one and the good qualities
of another. A poor principal can remain
in sch0o! for years without any special
evidence to the board of lack of Qualifica-
tions, because there is no one in the school
who feels like complaining; but If poor
principal went into a position that had
been occupied by good one the teachers
In that school would at once begin to COM
plain, for the change in methods would at
Once lie apparent. l believe in the plan of
changing Methodist ministers from one
church 30 another; ii stimulates the cop-
gregations as we'll as the preachers. There
are principals in this department who are
simply wasting away from dry rot. If the
proper plan were pursued neither prin-
cipal nor a teacher would be allowed to
remain in a school for more than two
years.
~ on ask me why SIX teachers were dis
missed last night and why il was not done
before. The reason is very simple. Until
this year there was no machinery provided
for bringing to the board by reports from
the principals the success or want of sue
cess of our teachers.
"a new rula was adopted requiring
principals to report semi-annually upon
the success and efficiency of their teach
ers. The first reports under tals system
came In to the Superintendent at the close
Of the last term. Ali of the cases acted
upon last night had been reported By prin-
cipais as incompetent. but, as is usually
the case, the board moved slowly and the
Investigations have been dragging on
from last July until the present tine. 1t
was thought best to close them all before
submitting any of them to the board, and
it was impossible to get through with
them sooner. Last night was the first
meeting after the committee mad closed up
all of the cases and was ready to make its
report. The election or the close of the
terms of members had nothing whatever
to do with it,"
A S stated in THE CALL of yesterday the
prop ,sed changes are as follows: w. p.
Edwards from the principalship of the
Croker Grammar School to the principal
ship of the Washington Grammar School: