The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-10-30

five for the stated purpose of breaking u
the idea OF ward lines IN the school mat
tiers and for Il intimated purpose of sti
further centrslizing the control of things
The by laws are to be revised In orde
that they may conform 10 the new power
recently conferred upon the school com
mittee by the Generai Assembly.
The retirement fund proposition o
General Elisha Dyer meets with genera
approval 80 far as the spirit of the meas
ure 10 concerned, but thsrs 10 some op
position to the proposed method for car
ryiug II into effect. The plan as origi
nelly presented provides that all teachers
shall contribute to the fund which is to
be In the charge Of the school committee.
That IL where the objection comes and
1t Ia claimed that the teachers themselves
should be the custodians Of the money
which they contribute for mutual bene-
at. That is, there should be a teachers
guild or benefit association a. there is
10 Massachusetts, to control the fund,
very much In tho same manner as the
funds of the police and firemen's relief
funds are controlled.
It IL understood that the committee on
rules and reguiatio ms will this evening
report back and recommend the adoption
OF the tenure OF office amendment to the
by-lsws. 1t Will then go over until the
November meeting, under the rules, for
+ nnsl action.
This amendment was presented by Mr..
Thomas W. Bicknell at the June meeting
and Is as follows:
Article 8, section 6.-Any teacher In the
employ OF the city of Providence, who
has given satisfaction In teaching and
government for five years, shall be placed
on the permanent list during the period
OF good behavior and efficient service.
Any teacher may be retired for In
efficiency or other good cause, on three
months notice; and any teacher may be
rvttrvd after q service In this city OF 40
years, on = six mouths notice.
Dir. Bickneli's argument 10 that the
tenure of Office during good behavior Is
as essentisi TO the best results of a civil
service rs the preliminary examination OF
an applicant, and that IL Is none the less
so. because most cities and towns have
been slow In adopting II. u Is IN opera
tiou now In Boston. Philadelphia and
Chicago. The Boston law, adopted 10
years ego, may be foun in chapter !,
section IS OF the school regulations, which
reads ~ follows: The committee on NOM
inations shall, unless otherw ise ordered
By tine Board, nominste.all school officers
and instructors, and consider and report
on such nominations as may be referred
to them. They shall report to the Board, |
jn.printins, the nominations for re-eIec-
tion OF Instructors latter the period of |
probatiou), and also the nominations for
the election of instructor, for a TENURE
OF OFFICE DURING GOOD BEHAVIOR AND
xFBIcIEycy.'
Mr.. Bickneli has received large num-
Der Of letters from school officials COM
mending mis- proposition to the school
committee. and extracts from q few of
them are 90 follows:
From Edwin p. Seaver, superintendent
Of Boston public schools-I have to say
that anything that makes for the dignity
Of ths teacher is good. Your rscommeu-
datioons seem to have that tendency and
should consider them, therefore, good
ones.
From Willfsm.T Peck--I have always
been in favor Of permanent tenure OF
ONCE for teachers.
From Lewis ii. Meader-I heartily en-
dorse the article In amendment to the
bylaws of the school committee which
vou introduced.
From Emory p. RUSSELL feel person
lily very much pleased that the commit.
- have been asked to pass such a sensi-
bic article.
From Walter Ballou Jacobs-I am glad
70 say that believe that such q clause
would add fo.the efficiency OF the CORPS
" teachers In the city.
From Harriette l.. Rice Your proposed
the bylaws seems TO me
'ery satisfactory, botn In its spirit and
t. letter. ! only wish you had the power
o say "may be retired on half pay sf-
Or service In this city OF 30 years"
From ID. W. Hoyt--I am la favor OF
armament tenure OF office for teachers. I
From James NJ. sawin-To my mind
he passage Of such q resolution will give
sstful quiet TO many teacher thar will :
esr fruitsse IN esrnert successful effort Z
itherto preclsded to some extent by a q
selling OF anxiety that always takes from
ervous strength.
From George A. Church-I should pre-
sr three years instead Of i've as sufficient
zpsrience for final election or rejection.
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