Los Angeles herald., 1909-07-17
TEACHERS HAIL FROM
ALL PARTS OF WORLD
Los ANGELES SCHOOL MISSES
ARE PAR EXCELLENCE
Pick of English Speaking Countries
Come to Angel city-Exami-
nations Are to Begin
Today

The written, oral and physical eX-
sminations applicants must pass in
order to teach in Los Angeles public
schools will be commenced today.
Los Angeles school teachers are not
excelled by any teachers in the world
because Los Angeles draws its teach
crs from the schools of the world. This
is literally true. The superintendent s
Office has, from time to time, received
applications from almost every quar-
ter of the globe-Scotland England,
France, the Philippines, Porto Rico,
Mexico, Canada and the Hawaiian is
lands.
Because of this fact Los Angeles may
and does demand more of its applicants
than almost any city in the United
States, as a study of the method of
appointment in other cities will testi-
fy. And the natural and very desir-
BILE result of this breadth of choice is
e complete elimination of the in1lu-
ce of politics from its appointments.
rhe nature of the written eXamina-
n being merely on the theory and
ctice of teaching-and professional
refore, rather than technical-is a
one, and following the lines of the
tcher's work, is one not difficult for
to pass, provided she understands
7 business.
Standard High in Los Angeles
study of the letters received in re-
TO inquiries sent out to six of the
st cities in California reveal that
ngeles has the highest standard
uirements for its applicants of
~ in the state, except San Jose,
ich city the requirements are
lily the same as in Los Ange-
n Francisco, while having a
i've examination system, has
educational requirement equal
this city, and eXacts no phys
mination; while Oakland's
of selection is much similar to
n vogue in Los Angeles few
lis ago.
The present system of appointments
is a growth, founded on experience and
long study on the part of the super
intendent. 1t has been in vogue for
three yars. and has justified itself in its
results. The ratings of teachers have
been higher than in former years, the
percentage of teachers dropped at the
end of the year correspondingly lower.
The educational requirement alone
being a training equivalent to four
years of normal training and two of
high school training-should allow to
filter into the department only excel
lent teachers. But because of those
who might on other accounts be eligi-
ble but are physically unfit for the
work a physical examination is exact
women, by DR.. Laura B. Bennett a
physician employed in the health de-
partment of the school system.
Applicants interviewed
The oral examination is a quasi-so-
cial interview, with the object of en-
abling the teachers committee to judge
of the candidate through a personal
interview, which, after all, may give
these Judges a surer and clearer idea of
the teachers fitness to direct the minds
and guide the lives of children than
could be obtained in any other way;
for in the teaching relation, more than
in almost any other, the personal equa-
tiGn counts.
In order to be a successful candidate
for grammar grade or kindergarten
position-and an even higher standard,
as might be expected, is asked Of the
high school candidate-one must, in ad-
dition to having the six years of edu-
cation above the grammar grades, pass
a written and oral examination, and
must undergo a somewhat rigid phys
ical examination. No letters OF recon-
mendation are received except such as
are solicited from the references mem
toned in the written application.
Candidates for high school positions,
in addition, must have done two or
three years of postgraduate work in
university of standing, must have ma
turity of experience and a distin-
guished record as a high school teacher
on the whole, any teacher who sue
ceeds in satisfying the somewhat rigid
requirements necessary to obtain po-
sition in-Los Angeles may feel proud
of her achievements; and Los Ange-
les. on the other hand, has cause to
feel proud of having acquired that
teacher.