Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-27

points; none Of them was without faults.
Moreover. any one Of the bills enacted into
law as It now stands would, In her 5udz-
ment, result in a vast Improvement over
the present condition of affairs. She thought
1t was absolutely necessary that there De
the barrier OF an entrance examination TO
prevent undesirable material from being
Incorporated In the teaching force. This
was the method in many. OF the large cities
of the country, some OF which had model
school systems. The personnel OF the teach
ing force here being very high. she thought
II would not only be unfair to the present
members of that force but also to the pub
lie and to the school children to admit any
one as teacher without a rigid prelimiu-
airy examina ton.
If the examination were not made obllga-
tory the local teaching force would be
obliged to come In contact perhaps, with
undesirable people, whom it would not be
desirable to know either socially or profes-
sionally. 1t was the attitude of the Public
Educational Association. Mrs. Gitterman
said, to make this matter of an examina-
ton absolute and final. She did not believe
1t would be well. in fact, she thought 1t
would be quite TO the contrary, to compel
teachers to take an examination in promo
items from grade to grade. She thought
promotions should be automatic after the
entrance examination for period of ten
years. and that there Should be another ex-
animation when teachers were to be pro-
NOTED from the elementary department to
the high schools
superintendent Stuart's Explanation.
In this connection Superintendent of
Schools Stuart explained that the local nor
NAL school supplied most of the teachers
for the elementary grades, and that such
outside help as was needed was only
cured without examination from several of
the very best normal schools of the coun-
try. When candidates were accredited to
normal schools which, in the opinion of the
board of education. were not particularly
strong or thorough. the applicant was
obliged to undergo an entrance examination
as well as physical tests
He fell in line with Mrs Gitterman-s sug-
gestlon as to entrance examinations to APP
plcants not accredited to the local normal
school. =
These two points, the first of salaries and
the second of examinations Mrs. Glitter
man requested the subcommittee to give
most thorough and careful consideration.
Mrs. Darwin, secretary Of the Public Edu-
cational Association, briefly addressed the
subcommittee, seconding the request of
Mrs. Gitterman, that the subcommittee give
special attention to the questions of sala-
rles and examinations. She thought the
teachers should be paid living salary and
she thought 1t was not generally recognized
what an important place in the community
was filled by the teaching force. The chill
dren of today would be the men of the
next generation, and in her opinion the in
structors of these children would be in
great measure responsible for the sort of
men into which they developed.
AT IL o'clock the subcommittee adjourned
to meet again at $50 o'clock tomorrow
morning. when Mrs. Gitterman will take
up several points of Importance in con-
nectiOn with the school bills,