The herald., 1898-01-11
School Board Reorganiza-
ton Goes On
PRESIDENT DAVIS ADDRESS
NO POLITICS AND BETTER QUAIL
FLED TEACHERS
Standing Committees Appointed
Minor Matters Attended to.
Investigation to Proceed

The possibility of something of an un-
usual nature happening attracted a
large audience to the regular meeting
of the board of education last night.
There was nothing in the least sensa-
tional in the proceedings, but the reor-
ganized board started its years labors
in a manner which showed that there
will be plenty of good work done this
year If the wishes of President Davis are
carried out. The new committees were
announced. There was a suggestion that
a new secretary be elected, but this was
withdrawn, as there was not full men,
bership in attendance. Messrs. Mathis,
McInerny and Braly were absent and
Mr.. Bartlett arrived late. After the ap-
proval of the minutes President Davis
took the floor and delivered an address
in which he stated Just what he desired
and intended during his term of office.
He said:
| 1t is not improper, think, that, as
! assume the chair this evening, at the first
| regular meeting after the election, 1 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 institutions.
Attack them. impair their efficiency. use
them for political ends, or let extortion or
corruption worm into them, and every
| mother and father in the community Is
alert and resentful. 1t is natural that the
| schools should be so cherished, for in them
is trained the citizen of the future-in
them we are implanting the ideas and cul-
tivating the duties which will guide, or at
| least greatly influence, the child in after
| years, and which. according as they are
based upon sound or unsound principles,
tend TO either strengthen or imperil the
state, and civilization itself.
| The people have entrusted to the school
| board the guard and guidance of this
branch Of our government: in 1t is vested
| the power to make or unmake any one
of the hundreds of teachers and employees;
| to add or do away with studies, and to
control, almost untrammeled, except by
public opinion, the education which the
children shall receive. AS natural but
| unfortunate result of this power. the board
of education, composed almost invariably
of new men each term, who are
often ignorant Of the duties of
the office. and are often so small
as to be inflated with pride In the
power. have an influence over the school
| department and over the teachers indi-
| vidually. wholly unwarranted in reason,
| and which may grow demoralizing and
| even dangerous in its effects; and II, in ad-
| diton TO ignorance on the part of the
| board, there be added a willingness to sac
| rifice the schools to political or personal
| ends, or to use the insidious power over
! the teachers and employees TO plunder or
coerce them, the effects may be unjust and
outrageous.
To meet the difficulties of managing this
great part Of our government in its pres
ent condition OF short terms, changing Of
ficials and unpaid service with important
duties, Is one of the problems to be con-
sidered by those who frame our new char
ter. Our problem-the problem of this
boards to determine how we can man
age the vast business of the schools, with
its five hundred employees, its fifty build
inss and its half a million of expenditure
annually, with justice to the public and
with credit to ourselves
This can be done, 1t seems to me, only
through a carefully planned system. Such
a system does not exist today. For the past
year, and in some preceding years, the
business has been largely In the arbitrary
control of a few men on the board; the
results, both In appointments and In the
purchases, have been unsatisfactory, and
in soma cases deplorabe.
| 1t Is my feeling that there should be a
rdQlcal reform IN all matters WneFe our
! experience shows that there is a 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 preference, other things
being equal should be given to those hav-
ing the most liberal education. teacher
needs more than a knowledge Of the tech
nical studies; he or she may pass a good
examination In the various subjects
taught, and yet lack the broader educa-
| ton of refinement, culture and good breed
| ing natural to lady or gentleman, which
| ought to be deemed essential in those
whom we place before the pupil as exam
plars of manhood and womanhood-per-
haps the only ones the child can ever
! know.
The teacher, once accepted should be
assured of certain permanency of tenure,
dependent upon efficiency She should fur
ther be encouraged to feel her calling a
dignified profession, and should be made
ambitious to advance in it; and she should
have the same inducements to improve
ment which experience has shown wise in
other callings-there should be advance
ment by merit and increase of salary with
increase of proficiency. By these means,