The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-03-09
Our School System.

Editor of The Times:
Sir,I have read in your valued paper
the articles from DR.. Cline and other
Virginia teachers And like Mr.. Weiser.
1 think politics has entered too much
into our public schools for the welfare
OF the same.
First politics enter into the public
schools with the superintendent, who for
some political service and other kind
may be he has rendered to the member
of the Legislature, he is appointed super
intcndent, not for peculiar fitness for the
position of superintendent, The next step
by which politics enters into the public
school system is the district trustee. VINO,
like the county superintendent, is APP
pointed for some service which he may
have rendered to the Commonwealth s
Attorney, County Superintendent, or
Judge, and I know Of one trustee who,
thoroughly incompetent, was appointed
fer no other reason than he was a mem
Der of the church to which the superin-
tendent belonged, and was also a politi-
cal henchman of the COMMUNICATING at
torney. The third step through winch
politics enters into the pubic School 10
with the teacher. Very often when inc
district board receives an application the
first question asked is to what Sliulch
and to what political party does the ap-
rlicant affiliate? And has the applicant
rendered any service for which we are
under obligation to him for! Ihese are
some Of the questions which entered mo
the appointment of teachers, ana tiie
question last asked is what grace ceI.l-
ficate has the teacher and Where ecu
Gated?
Dr.. Cline in his article calls attention
to the insuf1iciency OF capable trained
teachers. Why is it that teachers VII
not spend much money upon an eou-
cation to fit them to teach as they VIII
for legal or medical education! tlrst
is the small salary which teacher re-
ceives: second, the short term; and third
the uncertainty of employment at all.
WHY are these conditions existing? FIRST,
the sum of thirty thousand dollars, Which
should go to pay the teachers, go to pay
enc hundred county school superlhtenu-
ents, who hold an examination two Gays
in a wear, receive reports and visit the
schools as often as practlcaDie. or III
other words as often as he sees lit, s"hlch,
in nv county the superintendent generally
visits the schools about five minutes
only the wears in which the Legislature
meets and very often not as frequent in
others.
The work which is done by the superln-
tendent could easily be done by any conf
petent trustee.
Now, as to the uncertainty Of employ
ment, very often a teachers ability to get
q; position depends upon their polltlcal
/
to belong to the political ring who has
hecn teaching for tho past thirty years
on a third grade certificate and during
.l,a+ time don't think he has ever taken
an examination.
I know of an instance where a young
man who had been teaching three years
held a first grade certificate and was an
alumnus of William and Mary College,
and at the time of making application last
summer for the school Which ne had
taught the previous summer. was then
at the University, taking summer
course in order to fit himself better FOL
| the position of teacher. When this young
| nan, who had given satisfaction at every
| school he taught, applied a second Time
! for this school his application was re
| jected on the ground that his appltca-
| ton was not properly worded, but really
| because he was personally disliked by
/ one of the district board, who was able
| to influence another OF the board
This board had previously passed res
/ olution by which. when all things being
equal. that tho preference of the schools
should first go to the teachers resident
| in the district. This young man, who had
superior qualifications. was rejected, and
| a young lady from a distant county, not
/ an applicant for the school. was appoint
4 ed
And the thing to which would like
/ TO call pubic attention is the contract
| which teachers are required to sign.
which provides that teachers shall cut
wood. carry water, very often from a
srring or q well q mile. perhaps. from
the school. sweep and do ether things
! which no teacher ought to be expected
4 10 do. When ono enters profession
no expects to perform the services re-