Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-09-01
a PERTINENT QUERY
Regarding the Selection of New School
Teachers.

Teachers.
WHEELING, w. Va, August Is.
To the Editor of the Register.
Sir: Please allow me space to ask
question. What's the matter with the
local commissioners of, notably, Wash
Lngton and Richie districts, OF
the city of Wheeling? l ask
this question in all candor and hope 1t
will be answered in the same way by
one who can speak advisedly on the SUD
1ect of which l seek information The
school term begins n a few days Be
fore doing so it was necessary TO call
the roll of teachers; see what vacan-
cjes. if any. were TO be filed, and what
new places, if any, were TO be supplied
The fact was developed there was no
vacancy. None die, few get married.
and nobody goes hicher when once here.
They are here to stay. Tbs S as NJ
should be. We are good people, good
town, a good school district, and Wnen
people come in they should never think
Of departing hence.
But. Mr.. Editor, it was discovered
there was, by reason Of the growth or
incubation. and other causes which do
MOI amer. but exist all the same, for the
local comm. ssiOners OF these TWO as
thicts say SO, and they know, for Is that
not what they are elected for-that TWO
new teachers must be appointed, one
for each of these two districts. IN
der the rules heretofore governing N
such cases. il has been customary TO
MAKE amendments of subordinate
teachers from the roll of what Is called
The substitute teachers. Each schooI
has either one or two persons OF TINS
kind. They are selected from among
the graduates of the school as they are
needed When a teacher is absent, by
reason of sickness or any other cause,
these substitutes must hold themselves
in readiness to take their places tor one
two or a dozen days as the case may De,
and for this they receive a portion only
of the per diem of that teacher Whom
+hev are subbing for, as it is called, ana
ms IS all they receive N the way OF pay
cave and except the prospective nope
tbev have of some day being put on the
roll of Dermanent teachers. This can
on,y occur when a new place Is maze
or vacancy occurs by reason OF ueaJh,
resignation or removal.
Now. Mr.. Editor this brings me to
the question l want answered, but
before asking 1t 1 will state the case
so that it may be understood by every
holy. There was a place made for
new teacher in both Washington ana
Richie districts. Each Of them had
Two of their graduating scholars cn the
rolls as substitutes. OF course ne SUD
st:tures both looked for the place, and
each knew that both could not get 1t.
They therefore looked for friendly riy-
airy between themselves and their
friends tC win the preference, when
would have to be given to one over the
other by the local commissioners But
what was the result the sequel vii. show
and there is where my query comes IN,
and becomes pertinent and important
In The patrons of the schools, the scAol-
srs and the commissioners; also the tax
ravers who support the schools. / do
moi know what TO call the little JOB l
refer 10. II was a juggle OF some kind.
Whether f. covers some friendly little
scheme of the commissioners, or was
tnged With political jobbery l don't
know. A very little investigation
would uncover whatever 1t may be,
| have no doubt. However, be that what
n NAV. I Will explain what was done,
and let the public judge Of the acton
of the local commissioners n these TWO
districts.
An announcement was made that
-,,,. +eocbar would be. or had been ap-
Do.nted for Washington district ana
| that IL was neither one of the two SUB
stitutes that had been on the rolls OF
! yba+ school and served whenever called
on for the past three years, put JnaO
She was a normal graduate from R.lch.e
district. On enquiry being made II
was learned that. although she was d
normal graduate she was without prac-
| tiool evDer'ence as a teacher, and had
r,r baen kept on probation as a sub
s-i-ute for three years, nor even three
| months This S what IS most COM
NAMED of. and thought 20 be Unfair, to
saw the leas. Of L, to the TWO young IA
dies who have served so diligently and
faithfully in The vain hope Of some day
! being pu- on the rolls as permanent
/ teachers. mere Gel "a 44ls Ne'' Az e-t'
or .rducemcnt or attraction, as the
work done as substitutes was done at
loss. to say nothing of the danger
and risk they were in of losing other
Dlaces that paid them as we'll or better
tban substitutes pay was. But the
law or rule was inexOrabie. II they fail
Cd 10 respond when they were called on
n serve their names would be stricken
from the rolls, and they would no 'ong-
sr be substitutes. with the bright and
dazzling hope of becoming teacher at
some dim and distant day. in the future,
near or far. as the case might be.
But. Mr.. Editor let US look a little
farther. A few days after the an
rouncement was made that a graduate
from Richie district was appointed TO
take place in Washington district,
that belonged 10 one Of the two sub
- ftu,es in that district, what happened?
The announcement was made that there
was place 10 be filed in Richie dis
tr.c,. and it was filled by appointment