The San Francisco call., 1898-12-28
THE TEACHERS ASSOCIATION.

C OMETHING of qualification IS to be found 1T
 the fact that the first gathering after Christmas AD to discuss matters of public concern has beer the meeting of the Teachers Association at Santa Rosa Our public schools, despite the efforts oi politicians and bosses rule and ruin them, re- main just pride to the State and one of the best proofs of the efficiency of popular government
 That the school system has been maintained at so high standard and has been made useful to the community is duo almost wholly to the high char acter intellectual attainments and personal worth of the men and women who have enlisted i'll its service as teachers As rule School Boards have injured it rather than helped it, for while noble exceptions to be found here and there, most School Directors have used their positions more for the purpose of getting poodle or rewardng political friends than for the advantage of the schools. The public, too has been through indifference more or less antagonistc the work of education for the people have in too many instances voted for incompetent School Di- rectors and elected to that office men who are ut terly unfit for the place
 In spite of the careessness of the voters on cleo ton day, and in spite of the incompetency or dis honesty Of Directors in office, the earnest band of teachers has gone in the great work of upbuding the schools until from small Beginnings our system of popular education IS one of the best in the Union, not inferior to that of the most progressive States.
 With what has been accomplished the general pub lie may be satisfied but the teachers are not Their thoughts and their energies are bent upon the at tanment of higher levels of work and fuller educa tional results. At every annual meeting the most earnest discussions are those concerning improve ments which may be made in the aims or the meth ods of teaching Almost every teacher who attends these meetings IS to some extent benefited by them and carries back to the management of the school truer conception of a teachers duty or a broader knowledge of how best to train the minds of the pupils.
 However indifferent the people may be with respect to the election of School Directors it is gratifying to note there IS indifference with respect to teach CTS The demand for honor, honesty, ability purity and zeal Tn the teaching body is as notable as the carelessness of such requirements from School Di- rectors. As consequence even the most corrupt of School Boards has dared to place upon the list o teachers any wholly unworthy person That ia voritism has been shown in the appointment of teachers, that bribes have been demanded in pay nen for positions is undoubtedly true but there has been well-deined limit in appointments which even the stupdest of School Directors has been able to understand, and that limit none has dared to pass
 We have therefore, body of teachers worthy of our school system and of the State. This fact is everywhere recognized and full credit is given to the teachers for their worth and their work Wherever they hold their meetings they are received with wei come and honor. Santa Rosa has on this occa- sion the privilege of showing forth the esteem with which the teachers regarded throughout the State, and she is doing it with whole-souled hos pitality that rebounds to her credit