The San Francisco call., 1896-10-25
Nominees for Directors Refuse
to Let Outsiders Select
Teachers.
REFLECTIONS CN THE SYSTEM
The Pledge Demands That Teachers
Be Chosen by Men Not in the
School Department.

The Non-Partisan party is having con-
siderable trouble over its pledges. Great
anxiety was manifested by committees of
the convention over the framing of these
pledges and this, so it is said, has caused
the trainers thereof to step beyond the
mark. Indeed it is held that the pledge
exacted from legislative nominees is not
quite constitutional.
And now comes another protest against
another pledge, that required of nominees
for School Directors on the municipal
ticket. The same opinion obtains with
regard to this promise. For which reason
there is, to say the least. much uneasiness
among candidates named by the Nom
Partisans for the School Board. So far
has the feeling gone. that some of these
nominees have declined to sign the pledge,
which is as follows:
PLEDGE FOR SCHOOL DIRECTOR
First hereby promise that, if am elected
q School Director for the City and County of
San Francisco, will, by my vote and influence,
endeavor TO secure the passage and enforce
meRt OF q rule providing for the appointment
of q special committee of educators, outside of
the School Department of said City and
County, TO examine and pass upon the QuaIifi-
cations of all candidates for positions as
teachers in this department excepting those
1lat DIV q present RUE are appointed without
examinations on account OF their excellency
on graduation from the Normal SCHOOL,; and
further providing, that no candidates shall be
appointed except such as are recommended by
said committee.
Fourth viii not appoint, nor vote for the
appointment OF any relative OF NINE nor viii
/ vote for the relative OF any other Director to
position in the School Department.
The rules of the School Board provide
for q city board of examination. Section
159 states that this body shall consist OF
the Superintendent of Schools and four
other mem bers resident OF San Francisco
who shall be experienced teachers elected
by the Board of Education. The City
Superintendent of Schools is chairman of
this examining board.
Teachers certificates are issued and re-
newed by the Board of Education upon
the recommendation of the City board of
examination, in accordance with the pro-
vision of the State school laws. CITY GER
tificetes may be granted without eXamina-
ton to the holders of California life diplo-
mas, California. Nevada, Washington and
Oregon educational diplomas. California
State Normal School diplomas, California
State University diplomas when recon-
mended by the faculty of the university !;
grammar grade certificates of any county
or city OF California and life diplomas and
State Normal School diplomas of other
States. Graduates of the San Francisco
Normal School shall be entitled TO receive
grammar grade certificates.
Again section 165 provides that:
No one shall be appointed teacher in this
department who is not graduate of some
normal school, or other institution of learning
of equal rank, with regular diploma there
from, or who shall not have at least two years.
successful experience in teaching in public
schools.
Were the Non-Partisan pledge to be OBJ
served, however, these long established
rules would be eliminated. The apparent
object of the pledge is to have committee
composed OF State University professors,
but this is not specified. and consequently
it rem aims an open question as 10 who
these men shall be. Again it is taken as a
reflection on the probity and ability of the
superintendent and principals forming the
examining board; and, therefore, on the
whole system in San Francisco.
The pledge still awaits signatures, and it
is considered highly probable that some of
the nominees who have signed will be in
duced to come out with greatly modified
promise,