The San Francisco call., 1899-12-26
THE TEACHERS CONVENTION.

IRON the Teachers Convention which assem-
bles to-day in Sacramento much is to be ex-
pected for the outline OF work prepared for
the meeting includes many important issues and the
foremost educators OF the State are expected to be
present and take part in the discussions upon the
problems involved Much OF the time OF the con-
vention will OF be taken up in the technical or
routine work OF the Teachers Association, but that
will prevent due consideration OF other subjects
OF deeper import and OF wider interest
According TO the programme which has been an
nounced OF the principal features OF the proceed
ngs will be discussion upon the surest and prompt
est OF eliminating personal and political inter
ference with our public school system For the pur-
pose OF getting authoritative views upon the issue,
the teachers have invited number OF eminent men
to address them and take part in the debate The
discussion therefore promises to be one which will
suggest at least OF limiting, If not wholly
putting end to- what has long been recognized as
one OF the most serious difficulties in the way OF
earnest educators
The management OF public schools in either the
city or the country is never easy matter under the
best circumstances. There are q thousand obstacles
in the way OF success The teacher has to deal with
the perversities OF childhood augmented by the in
fuence OF numbers which inpes every unruly child
to be unruly than he would be at a school
where there lesser numbers; there are the per-
verses OF parents who do not always exert an in
uence that is helpful the teacher; there are also
difficult problems arising out OF school laws; and
when TO all these added the push and the pull OF
politicians job seekers forever interfering will
be that the career OF public school teacher is
that calls for about much patience diplomacy
and energy any other in the world and receives but
small reward
1t has been frequently pointed out that among the
greatest evils that affect and injure our system OF
public education the frequent uses OF the schools
parts OF the spois OF politics. the use OF school
positions and school funds perqusites by munich
pal bosses reward their followers the occasional
selling OF school positions by corrupt trustees: the
trading OF positions in the schools for the purpose
OF obtaining positions elsewhere and the wasting OF
school funds either by careessness or by fraud
Much has been said OF these evils and they have
been again and again exposed and denounced by the
press and sometimes by grand juries Up to thi,
time, however, really effective method OF getting
rid OF them has been devised Evidences OF tbe;-
existence are 10 be found everywhere from New Eng
land to the Pacific Coast There can be no question
OF the readiness OF the people to apply remedy 4
one can be devised, for subject are all classes
OF any American community more united than ON
that OF keeping politics OF the schools r. there.
fore, the convention at Sacramento can formulate
any plan OF action well designed to eliminate the evil
it will achieve great benefit not only for the teach
but Tor the State and for that reason its
ings will be watched with than ordinary interest