Los Angeles herald., 1907-07-05
N. {. A. PRESIDENT
ARRIVES IN CITY
N. C. SCHAEFFER PROFITS BY
GATHERING
Says New Charter and Question of
Teachers Salaries Will Be lr1-
portant Topics Before the
Convention

state superintendent of public instruc-
tion and president of the National Edu-
cational ASSOCIATION, arrived in Los An
geles last night from Harrisburg, Pa.
On the train with him were fifty mem
bers of the association, most of them
from far eastern points. PRESIDENT
Schaeffer predicts that Pennsylvania,
despite difficulties over rates, will be
quite as we'll represented at the forth
coming convention as the keystone
state was at the convention held here
in 1891. He says. too, that big delega-
tions are coming from Ohio, Indiana,
Illinois and other transmississippi
states. A special train will be run to
accommodate the teachers of Indian
Territory alone. Every state in the
Union is expected to be we'll repre-
sented.
Mr.. Schaeffer came out over the Santa
Fe and had planned to stop off at
Riverside and to make trip over the
Kite-shaped trac,- efore coming to Los
Angeles This plan, however, was aban-
doned because of the heat. When the
Santa Fe pulled into San Bernardino
yesterday Mr.. Schaeffer says the ther-
mometer was flirting around the 109
mark.
President Big Man
The president of the N. e. A. is a
big man. physically as we'll as other
wise, and he candidly admitted that
this was too much for him. Conse-
quently he returned to his Pullman,
bought another palm leaf far from the
porter and continued on his way to Los
Angeles, hoping to find cooler weather.
This hope was realized, for when the
train reached this city a coolin breeze
had driven the heat wave ack into the
interior and the temperature was again
comfortable.
One of the first things the N. e. A.
president did after his arrival was to
utter a vigorous denial to the report
that he is a candidate to succeed him
self. Already he has served as head of
the association for two years, which is
quite contrary to N e. A. precedent. :.
Last year the convention was aban-
doned, owing to the San Francisco dis
aster, and all of the old officers held
over in consequence.
"The association" said Mr.. Schaeffer,
''has made rotation in office practice
seldom departed from. In fact there is
considerable sentiment in favor of put
ting provision in the bylaws prohibit
ing the reelection of either a president
or treasurer. This, with other matters,
will come before us when we consider
the adoption of the new charter granted
by congressional authority. This L be-
l1eV6 Is IIle IIlOSl lttllI IlilllS pSLOLC
the convention.
Teachers Salaries
"However, there are other important
matters to be discussed. The question
of teachers salaries for instance. We
q believe, as a general proposition, that
kteachers are underpaid. In some states
fpayment4s based. on tenure of service
rather than upon ability, and most of US
believe this is wrong. Then, too, there
is the question of putting men and wo-
men upon an equality.
IT talked that matter over with Gov.
Hughes of New York after he had
vetoed bill favored by New York city
teachers and which fixed the pay of
women and men alike for similar SER
vice. He told me he had vetoed the
bill, not because he didn't believe in
it's provisions so far as teachers are
concerned but because he feared it's
extension to other state departments.
Some of our members have argued
that if this were done it would result in
more men taking up teaching as a pro-
fession. Perhaps it would. Perhaps the
men would drive a considerable num-
Der of women teachers out. If so, be-
lieve it would be good thing. We
have too few men teachers. There
comes a time in the school life of every
boy when he needs the instruction of a
man. This he seldom gets in the public
schools of our large cities, under exist
ing conditions; and believe it is some
thing of which he should not be de-
prived.
Another important matter to be dis
cussed by the convention is the per-
sonality of the teacher. After all a
teachers personality is the most i'm
portant element in teachers success.
Bishop Conaty of this city is to read a
paper on that subject.
Economic Relations
"Still another paper that will prove
of Importance will be contributed by
DR.. w. o. Thompson president of the
State university, on The School in
Economic Relations"
The new charter which will come be-
fore the convention for ratification waS
granted by congress and would have
been considered last year had the San
Francisco meeting been held. 1t en-
bodies few changes and none of impor-
tance, being practically the same docu-
ment under which the association now
is working. However, some opposition
has developed to it's adoption, particu-
larly in Chicago. Miss Margaret Haley,
who opposed the granting of the char
ter before congress, is expected to be in
Los Angeles to lead the fight against it,
Last night party of boomers arrived
from Cleveland, Ohio. They will open
up headquarters and will seek to i'm