The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-12-04
TIE BOARD FINDS
ONE SCAPEGOAq
There Is a Surplus Teacher
Missing in the Girls
High School.
Something Was Said About
1t" and the Good Effect
Was Marvellous.
Charges of IneficienCy on the Part
of Teachers and Even Worse Re-
garding the Directors.

The Board Of Education found one
scapegost yesterday, and possibly in the
hope OF drawing the fire against their
peculiar methods they sacr feed one of
the surplus teachers. When THE CALL
appeared yesterday morning with the ex-
pose Of the conditions prevailing at the
G rls' High School there was a hurried
assembling of interested parties, and it
was decided that something must be done,
for 'som ebody had said something"
Notification was dispatched TO Miss
Burns that she need no longer occupy the
library of the Girls High School and that
her services were no longer required, as
there was no place for her. She was rele-
gated to the list of substitutes, where she
will wait for advancement in the regular
way.
Having issued an order q week ago put
ting stop 10 the mum boring of pupils,
and then following this by bowling to the
inevitable in the matter of surplus teach
ers by Diminishing one, the board felt that
1t had done enough, and consequently lid
not enter into the matter of the other
teachers at the Girls High School who
are unnecessary, nor did 1t take any action
on the m latter of he teacher at the Lowell
High School who reports and draws
salary.
Director Head, who has made himself
so obnoxious 10 the solid nine at they
went SO far as to threaten him with e iect-
ment from the board, is very DESTROYS that
the good work be kept up, and he said
Yesterday that if the people of this CITY
who pay taxes could but see the way in
which their money was squandered with
out the least benefit to the pupils of the
schools they would rise en- masse and de-
mand a change.
There is scarcely a school in the city
that is not under the influence OF the po-
ltical ring. and this influence is felt to
sucn an extent that the eachers have lit
tie time to attend to the instruction of pu-
pills, so busy are they in laying wires for
Their advancement in order that they may
improve their financial condition. Mr.
Head said that while a few mem oers OF
The board were irving to improve the
service TO the scholars, it was mpossibIe
,or them to do anything so long as the
present conditions OBJ taIned.
Reports have reached him from the
various schools which show that the
teachers are neglectful OF their duties in
many ways to the detriment of the pupils
Favored scholars are being onored by
being asked 10 assist the teacher in max
ing olt reports, and also correcting the
work of other pupi s. Instances are fire.
quent where pupils have taken home for
tne inspection of their parents corrected
work that was done by other pupils, and
which showed evidences of greater ignor-
ance on the part OF the corrector than on
the part of the scholar who did the work
originally.
While all such methods and practices
were contrary to the rules of the board il
was impossl BILE to correct them, because
OF the fact that the teachers had been an
pointed by favorltism, and were held in
their positions by members of the board
who had a majority DacKing them in their
action.
Even graver assertions had been m ade
to Director Head regarding ppoin tments,
but until he could July investigate them
ne was not in POSITION to MAKE them
public.