Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1899-05-18
The Status of School Teachers,

Our attention has been called TO the fact
that the Jersey City Teachers Club, at a
very recent date. took cognizance of the
summary dismissal OF school teachers in
the city of Orange, by the adoption of
very string set of resolutions, and By their
dissemination throughout the State. The
following are the resolutions =
WHEREAS, The Board of Education of the CITY
of Orange. N. j., has in secret session, sum
MARTY dismissed FIVE teachers-Miss Laura NJ
Reed, Miss Grace A. Condit. SIS ]. CIotide
Brennan, Miss Martha Williamson and Miss
Hanna 0wen-from the public schools of that
city, without cause and without hearing;
now therefore. be il.
RESOLVED. That the Jersey City Teachers, Club
express its disapproyal of this action of the
Orange Board of Edncation. because it is unjust;
because it reflects upon the character OF the
teachers 50 removed, ami is calculated 10 infict
iffeparAble injury upon them, and because il
may prove q precedent dangerous to the teach
ers of the State who have always held Office
during good behavior; and be it fnrth+r
Resolved That such action is detrimental to
the welfare OF the public schools of this State
and should be resented by all Fl ends of popular
education and By every teacher In the state
and that teachers associations throughout New
Jersey are requested TO take action similar to
this of the Jersey City Teachers Club Signed
LYDIA K. Ennis, President.
FLORENCE L. 0ARRIcK, Secretary.
Subscribed to the resolutions is the fol-
lowing approval by another organization of
State public school teachers
st 3 meeting of the Teachers: Mutual Aid
AseocIafIon Of Hoboken. held this dav the ahove
resolut ons were unanimously concured in
Signed
ELIZABETH a. ALLEN President
MATILDA A. JEANsERT, Secretary.
The remarkable facts connected with
these proceedings are:
~. That the large army of school
teachers in this State, while actually serY-
ing the State in schools governed and TO
some extend maintained by it, they are
not officers or employees of the State, have
no official tenure, and no official standing.
Although performing official duties of
great deIicacy and importance, they are IN
no way protected in their official status.
AS individuals, with more OF less exper-
fence, they make their own bargains with
the municipal educational authorities
take what they can get out of serious
competition. and are subject to discharge
at any time without legal remedy. for the
matter or the manner of theis dismissal
~. That the recent organization of
teachers in scattered cities or municipalities
and 10 mutual aid associations. has already
borne fruit 10 the setting up Of friends and
allies to whom individual teachers may
look for q presentation if not redress of
their wrongs.
From the amount Of sympathy ELECTED
in favor of the dismissed teachers Of
Orange, and from the unwelcome n0toriety
given to the Board Of Education of that
city. it is apparent that condition No ~
90 sbove cited, IL making itself felt upon
condition No. ~. and that it will not be
long before the teachers Of the State will
fsd themselves protected by civil service
reform, which will compel local authorities
to recognize il them an important element
of State government, wholly worthy Of
being invested with proper compensation,
) decent tenure of office. and q controlling
spflnencs for EnefiteEious service.
True American.