The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-12-22

professional position of the county su-
perintendent? Each political party Sc
lects from its ranks some man to pre-
sent to the electors for their votes. He
is not selected for his ability to do the
work any farther than that he is usuai-
ly school teacher, but sometimes a
lawyer or other person is chosen. The
county school board system would have
a tendency to do away with such d
system and put it on the same basis So
in the cities. Under the present sys-
TEN men are elected without any special
training for the work of supervisor,
and must receive the training at tile
expense of the public treasury.
In cities and consolidated districts
the superintendent has the recommend
ing of his teachers. Under these sys-
TENS all the teachers know is that their
cases will be passed upon by an expert
who really knows something about
school work. OF all professional classes
the teacher-~is- the only one thar IS
passed upon by an unprofessionaI bocy
OF men. AS the situation exists today
we employ county superintendentS TO
keep accounts and visit schools.
Longer Normal Course.
I'VE need in this state a longer nor
NAL course. In earlier days the stu
i'm life, and when they came out they
were far more mature for the work. At
the present time il is not so much more
scholastic acknowledgements. that VIII
not go amoss-as maturity in judgment
and development in character that IT
needed. Then, again, some means should
be devised to prevent the employment of
mere children just out of the grades Or
with one or two years In the high
schools. Such Subterfuges as employ
ing them as assistants and then giving
them a room should be prohibited.
when these changes are made teach
ers. when employed. should be required
to pass a satisfactory examination ana
be for the first two or three years placed
upon a probationary list. If they have
shown by examination ne =s-scessars
scholarship they should be empIoye ed
permanently.
~All teachers who have shown their
ability should be hired permanently,
subject TO removal upon the recon-
mendation Of the superintendent and
upon the approval of two-thirds of the
board. When men and women do not fit
in the social condition of one town or
school the larger administrative unit
will allow a change without dismissal.
We recognize at present that teacher
may be entirely successful in one school
or locality and unsuccessful in another.
Pensions Are Urged.
Last of all, the teacher should, after
long and faithful service, be pensioned.
Teachers are needed who are free 10
stand for the best in every town anc
village in the state. Placed in a posi-
ton, free from want, present or future,
where they can give a devoted service
to the salvation of the boys and girls.
Pensioned so that want will not stare
them in the face in their declining years
after a life's service to the common
wealth.
At the conclusion of his address Pres1-
dent Thomas named the following COM
mittees and adjournment was taken IN
til evening:
Audit Committee-A. c. Nelson, state
superintendent; Lewis McCarey of
Cache county and Miss Title Petersen
of Weber county.
Committee on Resolutions-Superi
| tendent Marcusson of Carbon county,
Superintendent Boyden of Summit
county and Superintendent J. w. Smith
of Salt Lake county.