The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-01-08
TEACHERS ARE
IN DREAD OF
CONSOLIDATION
School Board Creates
Dismay.
EVILS THAT WILL BE REMOVED
FACTIONS OF DIRECTORS FIGHT
FOR CONTROL.
EVILS THAT WILL BE REMOVED
Members of the Minority Seeking to
Inform Themselves on the Finan-
cial Condition of the
Department.

The far-reaching effect Of the impend-
ing classification of teachers out of the
School Department is beginning to be un-
derstood. 1t was at first thought that the
proposed reformation of the new School
Board would concern only the newly
elected teachers. This is not the fact,
however, as all teachers in the depart
ment irrespective of their time of serv-
Ice or their efficiency, are subject to the
new rule of the board, and may be
dropped from the rolls under the condi-
tions that were fixed last Wednesday
night. The classification is not to be upon
a basis of merit but upon the attendance
in each class of each school.
BY the orders of the board, the last
teacher appointed to a school must go
where the attendance is not up to the
| established standard. This means that
many of the teachers appointed by the
last board will go, but many will remain,
as they have been located in schools
where the attendance of children meets
with all of the requirements demanded by
the Directors. On the other hand, there
are many schools in which the teachers
have taught for years. These schools are
below the established standard, and can
not be raised to it. The teachers, there
fore. must go.
This problem has created great deal
OF uneaSinesS in the department, and some
OF the older teachers are threatening to
institute legal proceedings to prevent the
| board from taking action. 1t is not be-
HeYed, however, that any proceedings, le-
gal or otherwise, will interrupt the plan
of the board. The board is determined
above everything else to remove such evils
as are presented for example in the jack
son Primary School on Stanyan street.
This school exists as an unwarranted eX-
traVagance created simply to provide a
place and principalShip for a relative of
Directors Under
scheme of classification adopted last We'd
nesday night this school would at once
the plan suggested by Director Head II
would be abolished and several hundred
dollars month would be saved
To free the department from such evils
as this school presents the Directors are
fixed in their determination to proceed
even If some of the older teachers may be
injured in the process. After the CONSOLE
cauon of the day and evening schools
has been effected attention will then
be directed toward the special de-
partments, which, present a verita-
lation of the evening schools the greatest
dishonesty has prevailed. Even under the
attendance limit of fifteen, fixed by the
last board, these evening schools are
frauds.
When an investigation was feared or
expected the rolls were stuffed and the
critical times take into their classes chill
dren wherever they could be found. This
was done for a night or two until the In
vestigators were hoodwinked and then the
old laxity would be resumed.
The majority members of the board are
preparing now to place their favorites in
the department. Janitors, store keepers.
! laborers and watchmen will be appointed
and the members of the minority in the
board can do nothing except to look on
and criticize within their limits They
promise however, that if the majority at
tempts to place unfit men in positions the
public Will hear a vigorous protest The
financial affairs of the School Department
are a closed book to the members of the
minority, and every diligence will be used
by the members to inform themselves
without delay.
The club fush' believes, individually
and collectively, that questions of expen-
diture may then be more intelligently
| in nothing more material than emphatic
protest to the action of the majority 1t
is evident, therefore, that the coming his
tory of the School Board will be a lively
one unless the minority is given at least
q small place in the government of the
department. The men who constitute the
minority are strong in numbers and ag-
gressiVe. They are seeking nothing in
their own behalf and claim to have no
favorites to reward.
On the other hand, the majority re-
plies that it seeks to establish no broad
line of division between it and the min
GRITTY. By force of numbers it has the
right it insists, to the fruits of organiza-
ton, but on ali points affecting the GEN
eral welfare of the department it asks the
cooperation of the minority and a har-
mony of action that will be of substantial
benefit to the public schools