The San Francisco call., 1903-12-31
ADVOCATES TEACHING PUPILS S
SUBJECTS THAT ARE USEFUL
Thomas J. Kirk, Superintendent of Public
That Minds of Children Are Filled
Are of Very Little Value to Them

applicants from all parts Of the State who are
only too anxious 70 come under its benign
provisions. Why, do you know that this ten
ure Of Office law is more binding than the
marriage ceremony? You may secure a divorce
from your husband or from your wife on &C
count OF incompatability of temper. but moth
ing short of death IS a sure release from the
tie that binds teacher to the San Francisco
School Department. Some Of the preceding
boards of education actually thought it pos
slhle TO dismiss teacher after preferring
charges and trying her. The present board in
the last year has paid s17. 600 rectifying errors
or this kind made by former boards. One at
torney IN this city makes a speciality OF such
2i.ses. and l understand he will take the case
~ p teacher dismissed for any cause, and,
'iht some phy sicians. guarantee mo cure, no
pff In fact, things have come 10 such a
tas5 no" that should teacher be dismissed
IfCin fne department she would not look upon
u az dismissal. but rather as an indefinite
leave q absence upon half pay-the attorney
receiN-aE The other half
SCHOOL DIRECTORS BLAMED.
You can readily see from this how very i'm
portant is the Introduction OF new teachers
into cur department. for it is with the intro
duction only that the school directors take a
real part. After teacher has PASSED through
the substitute class and has served her period
OF probation as a probationary teacher she
can only be elected permanently into The de-
partment upon the recommendation of the
principal under whom she has taught and Of
the Superintendent of Public Schools You
can sec from this that the responsibility does
not rest entirely upon that much abused class
the school director, but upon those who should
ability. It has been the custom TO lay all
faults. real or imaginary, existing among our
teachers, upon the school directors; their backs
are broad; criticism OF their acts Is neees-
sary accompaniment to their position; they
are used to it, although 1t is not always as
pleasant as could be desired, but as a matter
OF fact the real responsibility for the final
placing OF teachers in this department rests
not upon them. but upon the principals and
upon the Superintendent.
And when we have annuity fixed upon
in he an
feel that their remaining years are not un-
provided for, when the 81 monthly increase
TO their salaries is devoted 70 the annuity
fund. which / proposed some nonths ago and
which J have since advocated and shall con-
tinue 10 advocate until. trust, the desired
result is attained-when this comes TO pass,
then indeed. will our department and our
teachers be as near perfection as possible.
DISCIPLINE IN SCHOOLS.
School Discipline" was the subject
of the address of James A. Foshay,
City superintendent of Los Angeles
Schools, to the teachers. TIs pointed out
the best means of maintaining discip-
line in the schOOlrOom. In part he said:
Wo have learned that it is not the knowl-
edge alone. nor the training passed through to
obtain il. which makes the true teacher: but
as in all other departments of life il is largely
personality very important factor in the
formation OF the character of those who imi-
tate. Many children come to US from homes
are unknown, and the teacher is the first per-
son with whom they come in contact who
evinces refinement Many children wild
because mothers are too busily engaged with
the dressmaSer or in attending the club. while
the father must spend his waking hours in
gaming iood and clothing for his family. The
consequence is that the boy has little or no
restraint in the home. and the school is the
first place where he finds his purposes crossed
He is comparatively unchecked and orders
his life as he pleases The teacher takes the
boy with all these tendencies. and sees at
instil the right.
PUPILS SING SWEETLY.
Miss Mae ODonnen of the Fremont
Primary School brought forth an ag-
gregation of Emmy Lous" and stall
wart lads with sweet voices, and they
thrilled the teachers with a concord Of
sweet sound. If these children ap-
peared at any theater in this city and
sung as they did yesterday they would
score a decided hit. They rendered four
songs, but Auber's Morning" and
Fosters "Old Black Joe" were the best
The audience sat back in breathless
silence as the children's voices filled
the theater with the plaintive melody
of the Southland and tears came to
many eyes. The singing OF this youth
full choral did much TO prove the eff
cheney Of the local school department.
Professor s. H. Clark of the Universi-
ty of Chicago received generous
greeting when introduced by the presi-
dent His address was on "Interpreta-
tive Reading" and it surpassed his eff
forts of the previous day.
The speaker appealed to his auditors
to not allow themselves to be carried
away by the desire to gain riches, but
to pause and appreciate the beauties of
poetry and enrich their minds with
good literature He Illustrated his
meaning by allusion to the line "ane
never lifted up stone" used by
Browning in one Of his poems. Profess
sor Clark said he never appreciated
the meaning Of the line until he had
discovered it in William WORDSWORTH
beautiful pastoral poem Michael" He
grew eloquent in his narration of the
story in the poem and moved his lis
teners by the fervor and brilliance Of
his remarks. Professor Clark's lecture
was illustrated with stanzas from the
poets, which he recited with great ex-
preston. When he concluded his mas
terly address the teachers applauded
him heartily.
An adjournment was taken until this
afternoon.
FAVOR LOWER STANDARD