The San Francisco call., 1898-01-11

This method of proceeding is an abso- iute waste of time and money. Mega tive testimony has absolutely no hearing on the issues of the case. I do this individually because the expense is a large one and the inconvenience to the teachers here is great. 1 sim ply wish to enter this as a protest"
 Added interest is given by these facts to the homily delivered tonight by Chairman Davis on the duties of those intrusted with the welfare of the pub lie schools. In part he said: Tt is not improper, I think, that as I aa Sume the chair this evening I state briefly the objects we shall endeavor to carry out this year, in order to place the schools upon a different basis from that occupied by them for some years, and especially during the past year. The public schools are cherished as among the most sacred of our institu- tiOns; attack them, impair their eff ciency, use them for political ends, or let eXtortion or corruption worm into them, and every mother and father of the community is alert and resentful.
 The people have intrusted to the School Board the guard and guidance of this branch of our Government; in it is vested the power to make or un- make any one of the hundreds of teach CTS and employees: to add to or do away with studies; and to control, almost untrammeled except by public opinion. the education which the children shall receive. As a natural but unfortunate result of this power. the Board of Edu- cation. composed almost invariably of new men each term, who are often ig- nOrant of the duties of the office and as often so small as to be inflated with pride in the power, have an influence over the school department and over the teachers individually, wholly un- warranted in reason, and which may grow demoralizing and even dangerous in its effects: and if in addition to ig- norance on the part of the board, there be added a willingness to sacrifice the schools to political or personal ends, or to use the insdiouS power over the 1 teachers and employees. to plunder or cOerce them, the effects may be unjust and outrageous.
 Tt is my feeling that there should be a radical reform in all matters where our experience shows there is wrong which may be righted; and that | especially there should be a change in the matter of employing and continuing | teachers. They should be employed | only after a careful examination and l the preference, other things being equal. should be given to those having | the most liberal education. The teach CT. once accepted. should be assured Of a certain permanency of tenure, de- l pendent upon efficiency.
 1 'The business side of the department l also needs improvement. The method of purchasing supplies is unsatisfactory and sometimes open to suspicion, be- l cause it apparently affords easy oppor- tunity for crookedness. with difficulty l in detecting it. Other cities employ methods that give good results and feel it is our duty to adopt them ol ! some other plans which will satisfy tn. public and ourselves that these affairs
 are managed with the same care as i: employed in any properly administered l trust.
 Our people demand these reforms
 they demand that the schools be kep
 free from the whitening touch of the
 politician CT the self-see<er; and they
 demand of us further that a deeper
 broader. more patriotic spirit shal
 hencefOrth guide and control the board
 "I feel assured that a majority, i
 not all, of the board will give -cheerfu
 aid in accomplishing this work Ou
 duty is plain. Let no man falter bu
 let each bear his mart in the work O
 improvement which has fallen to ou
 school department from the shame O
 the past year, and that we may leave
 at the end of our term, a departmen
 with work so SystematiZed and guard
 ed that a repetition of that sad histor,
 shall be impossible"
 Investigation before the Board o 1 Education will be continued to-mor. | row night.