The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-12-03

10 amend tIlc
~ school law so as to bring TO
4. u teachers greater security Of
employment is before the
Legislative committee of Luzerne coun-
ty teachers for it's approval. In a let
ter 10 Professor Shiel, superintendent
of The Pittston schools and member
of that committee. a teacher now en-
ployed in Hazleton presents the fol-
lowing arguments in favor of the pro-
position:
In almost every other business oc-
cupatiOr, or profession, the most eX
perienced and talented receive the pa
trOnage with a fair remuneration for
same. but in the teachers profession
how often do we see the very best
teachers set aside to make room for
relatives of directors, with no exper-
ience and little scholarship? In fact,
this has gone so far that in many dis
tricts an application is not considered
unless sum of money Grom u
months salary upwards) is pledged.
Teachers must either submit or leave
y
work for Il mere pittauce. The same
story comes not only from different
parts of our county but also from
other parts of the state. Positions are
bought and sold like articles Of mer-
chandise, to the highest bidder
"The object of the increased appro-
priation was to lengthen the term and
increase salary, but in many places it
has done neither. | could point to dis
tricts where in addition to state aid,
both a school and building tax is
levied as high as allowed by law.
Salaries have apparently been raised,
which has brought many able appli
cants to the district. only to be turned
away because inferior ones We're will
ing TO pay the price, and the peoples
money went into the bOttomleSS poclt-
cts of politicians serving on school
boards. which has left the teachers
with lower salaries than before. I
could point to an excellent teacher,
whose salary is $50 per month, and
who pays a director $25 per month for
board-about double the usual price,
compelled to do so or lose her posi-
tion. AS the profession becomes more
crowded this dishonOrable business be-
comes more successful Politicians
and those who have no interest in edu-
cation, but who work for the almighty
dollar, are elected directors. A prem
illm is put on dishonesty, which drives
ment and thus leaves the instruction
of the boys and girls in the hands
of those whose moral standinsNis at a
discount. 1t compels the teacher, after
years of preparation and experience,
to work for almost nothing
what is the remedy? I believe
nothing hut legislation can abolish the
evil. More severe laws against bribery
will be of no use since we cannot en-
force those we have. But suppose an
act were passed abolishing the annual
appointment of teachers by directors.
and making the teachers term of Of
flee permanent after five years of
satisfactory service, the experienced
teacher would not need to resort to
bribery and the young aspirant would
come in where vacancies occur by
those leaving the profession. Not only
would such an act give more stable
tenure of Office to the hest teachers
but it would also aid in the election of
better directors. Prejudice, deadlocks,
bribery, with all their train of evils
would he driven from our school, sys.
TEN. So long as the appointment of
teachers is wholly in the hands of
directors, just so long will it be inn
possible to place the money levied for
school purposes where it properly be-
longs"
That the foregoing is not an OVER
statement of existing evils in many
localities will be generally conceded by
the well-informed. Its weakness is
in the suggested remedy Discretion in
the hiring and in the retention of
teachers must be vested somewhere,
and no better place for it can be
found than the school board. The per-
manent tenure theory is wholly un-
BUSINESS like since it would leave no
room for discrimination between those
worthy and those unworthy of reten-
ton.
The proper place to strike .at is the
personnel of the school board. The
public school system stands high in
the esteem even of citizens otherwise
indifferent. The people rally quickly
10 it's protection and support. Show
them that it Is being abused, how and
by whom, and they will do the rest.
The trouble now is that teachers who
best know just what is going on in
school circles seldom take the public
into their confidence. A banding of
them together for the wagng of re-
lentless war on the boodling politician
influence, while it might involve some
features, would be certain,
under intelligent direction. to carry
public sentiment With ii and result in
a wholesome cleansing of infected
school districts.
The new twelve-inch gun made for
the navy throws an S50-pound projec-