New-York tribune., 1903-03-29
Cantinaed freA arst page,

the assessment was interpreted to bis women sub
ordinates by one man in the following way:
..It's your duty to pay this Assessment. You ows
vour position to tine party and its leaders You
owe II to yourself and to the men who got you 20 IT
lob te settle particularly IL you went to keep your
place
Another principal related with indignation q
further example, Said he:
IVY assistant cane to me and showed me the
notice.
Shall Ray ,hisT he inquired
You Just applied for & promotion. didn't your
.sy4s hut I don't want to pay this. I don't be-
lleve in the system that reduces teachers to this
position
Well. Of course. they raay never look 1t up
then again they may. It would be safer 10 pay
bat / won't advise you"
MY janftor and went down together, SAID an
other He paid / per cent on $50, and l paid 2
per cent on my salary. You ask me Nny palo'
do not doubt but that 1t seems to you moral
cowardice, but many teachers reasoned II out as
Aie Had I been young and Independent, then l
might have said go tor AS it was I was old and
had q family arc paid But when you ask me
II this doesn't destroy the selfrespect must an
sver .yesr It puts merit out forever, and makes
position depend upon payment
The foregoing comment was perhaps the most
distinctive remark made by teachers on their con-
dition Teachers in whose districts the sectional
board was stl from political control expressed
the confident expectation that before long the evil
would be upon them too Absolute terror OF me
machine was manifested in the tone and attitude OF
mere than cne teach.r. Some talked in whispers,
some refused to talk
- will not discuss the system Seid one OF the
highest ofaciaIs IN the educational field. Not BE-
cause I am = craven and q coward, but because I
dse1 IL bettee 70 get the best out OF existing ciF
circumstances. The system is-Gh-embsrrassine,
but Sfll not Il. Ill send you to friend OF
mine; he'll understand.
another was asked to name some Of ths wards
sn which politics ruled exclusively.
II can't DO IT," was tn. frank answer Il don't
dare 20. I'm afraid"
"You may bEY with perfect truth. SAID one
rethctpAI, that every teacher IL this city feels
the growing Of politics feels the degradation
e Nts position and realizes that the outlook IL
a,sonr Il is true that yet nc ore who re-
f1saE TO pay the assessment, and many CID. has
bSen punished BY the loss Of his position. "nAt
the effect would be II he tried for promotion 1
eAFaoa say. But there is no one Sho Doesn't feel
Shs tiehten.ns Of the reios-
There lie also 4 class Of teachers. happily rare
%ho acc4pt the situation and say openly that they
a1n pay and p-oAt They say: II don't OBJECT to
p4y4nE - or 80 q year, p9of1oed can ger tAken
cSPe e. am willing TO put up q percentage IL l
za4 sn xncreAee" Here. then, So the effect OF the
eve,err IN teacher: II MADE him ready ioboyiSt.
p4eoarsa 70 go shares with politicians for an IN
ereas4- in saAry This furnishes htting com
ssantary On the eject Of the system On the morale
II the teaching force
TTE SYETEK AND TIE SCHOOL.
The snachiHt has always asserted that the school
tthA4 aIS not suffer. since the teachers were all
esresAeated snd Il was sinspfy OF politics in
cheoeane among competent ones. To answer this
TIA teachers position Gs given in the following:
ssYou can't too stronEly emphasize the denor-
eItzAtlon in some sehcoEs" said principal Ffrst
thA subordinate. knowing that her position comes
f@esa the boss, rot as the reward OF good work.
aetr accordingly. The principal Is In many In
Stances w4thoot authority OVER his suocrdtnAtes
Tier the chiidfen scent the situation and recognise
kAE pr1Erapais sitnatter aac then you have oisct'
el,se eone Aod you SafII be surprised 10 know
fAat politics even gets into cases Of discipline
TheA the srster Of choosing the teacher gives IN
eqnentiy teachers who rTcunise te be failures. tn
s.eA4 Of others who show promise. Every prtnci-
sAI fs the city Is esfrytnS deadwoo6, and sees