The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1897-07-27
ELECTION of Teachers.


the School Board is a source of much
concern by not only the applicants
and their friends, but the people at
large as we'll The Freeland School
Board. to avoid all this has set a pre-
cedent that can be prohtably followed
by boards in other towns and town
ships. They have elected teachers
for a term of three years, instead of
one year, as is customary throughout
the state. This plan has many fea-
lures to commend it, and wherever
adopted will no doubt be found to
work satisfactory, provided it is not
illegal
Commenting upon the action of
the Freeland directors, the Hazleton
Plain-Speaker contains the follow
ing: "Opinion is divided outside the
borough as to the expediency of the
move. which was made after due con
sideration by each one of the direc-
tors. II the interests of the schools
are to be advanced, it is good for the
people that their representatives on
the school Board have had the
scumen to place the teachers, or a
majority of them, in their positions
for more than the accustomed one
year. Politics and the schools will
become more separated if teachers
are elected as they have beenin Free
land. Teachers will be certain of
their places and can consequently do
more effective work In most town
ships and boroughs two months is re
quired to insure election and half the
term is consumed in worry and schem-
ing how to remain "solidn with the
directors. To insure the success of
the common school system frequent
changes are not desirable
What is true Of Freeland is equally
applicable to this town. Recent
events in school affairs will go to
strengthen the belief that a longer
tenure in position viii redown to
the best interests of the schools
and render the appointment of
teachers less subject to political influ-
ences A point in question is the re
cent action of seven OF the eight
Democratic members, in a caucus,
favoring the dismissal Of thirteen of
the old corps of teachers and substitu-
ting others in their places as alleged,
for political reasons only, without re
gard as to the qualifications of the
applicants Luckily for the local
schools, one member of the majority
party had the courage to stand up
against this proposed wholesale re
mOval. This instance, however, goes
to show what partisan board with
eight Directors of the same mind,
might do to the detriment Of the
schools. Anything tending to avoid
this will be welcomed by all true
friends of the public schools, without
regard to political beliefs.
There are instances where removals
may work advantageously, but these
instances are very few and are found
only where teachers are not fitted for
the positions they hold. But in cases
where the instructor has made his or
her chosen profession a life study and
has become proficient by many years
of experience, a teacher should not
be removed merely to make room for
some favorite Of Director. This has
been the policy of the Shenandoah
School Board, under both Demo
cratic and Republican administra-
tions, and the recent attempt to de
yiare rom mat established policy met
with the condemnation of the great
majority Of our citizens, regardless of
their political proelivities.
1t might be well for the members Of
the local board to give the subject
some consideration. The election of
teachers for term of three years is
only in line with the tenure in Office
Of superintendents. No one will
question the advisability Of electing
the latter for three years, and the
same principle is applicable in respect
to other instructors The course
adopted by the Freeland School
Board will likely become general,
il it be found to be legal, and