The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1910-08-13
AN ABSURD REQUIREMENT.

Inc people Oh THIS community WIN "
surprised and chagrined tolearn that Mrs
NJ O. Tusson, the lady who has for 6
dozen or more years conducted the
primary department of the Donaldson
vile High School with admirable eff
cheney, is threatened with a loss of her
employment in that capacity because of a
requirement recently adopted by the
state school board which appears to be
utterly unnecessary and absurd in its APP
plication to such position as Mrs. Tus-
sons,
Some time ago Prof. ]. [. Rusca, par
ish superintendent of schools for Ascen-
sion. received a communication from
State Superintendent of Public Education
Harris, stating that only teachers holding
frst-grade certificates could be employed
in the faculties of recognized public high
sehools-that is. high schools authorized
to grant diplomas to graduates and to
the support OF which annual contribution
is made by the state board that UNI
less this ruling Of the state department
was observed. the offending high school
would be removed from the list of aecred
tied higll schools of The state.
UpQn Eeeaip1 Of this iaLsl
Prof Rnsea. who had previously reen-
Gagged Mrs Tusson Tor the soiftiaB seholas-
tic year, advised the state superintend-
ent accordingly, and inquired whether
the state boards ruling was intended to
be or could be troactive-whether. hav-
ing already contracted with Mrs. Tusson,
he would not be compelled to employ her.
Prof. Harris made reply that the ruling
of the state board was adopted at a meet
ing of that body held las. January, action
being taken at that time in order to al
low the various parish superintendent
and high school principals ample oppor-
tunity to make arrangements to observe
the new requirement in engaging the
faculties of their respective high schools
for the 1910-191f session; that the pro-
ceedings of the board, or rather, IAN ac-
count Of the meeting, was published in
the daily press" and furthermore, that
the subject had been discussed at the
conference of high school principals held
at Shreveport in April Prof Harris con-
sideFed that this gave sufficient pub
licity" to the matter to enable all super
to guide themselves accord
ingly. He holds to the view that unless
tTs. Tusson obtains irst-grade certifi-
d . before the opening of the coming
cssS N she will not be eligible to teach
n meSstuized high school, and that if
he does tessc = in the local school with
nut such eert cate, the school will be
emoved from thsS t of accredited high
choos.
The Chief submits thu 0ssF kigid APP
,lication of the new reputation M this
Instance would be equivalent to the com
mission of an act of arbitrary injusticeI
the dignity of the state board
i public education and its executive Off
,ial. the state superintendent
BY reason of her long experience in
his particular position Mrs. Tusson is
wen bester qualified than almost any
older of a first-grade certificate would
e to conduct the primary department of
he local high school, She is OF quite a
age, though exceptionally we'll
physically and mentally, and
t her time Of life it would be practically
npossible to undergo off-hand the test
10 obtain iirst-grade Certif- |
ate. The loss of her employment would {
= a severe blow to her, and a poor re- i
lrn for years of faithful and efficient :
,rvice in the cause of education. |
The sympathies of the whole COM {
unity are aroused III Mrs. TuSsen's be- c
llf and keen resentment will be pro-
,ked by the rigid application of a ruling
at in this instance would be subversive [
common sense and common justice. f
is TO be hoped the state school authori- n
S will feel justified in suspendine the E
GRAFTON of the regulation in such a a
,ritorious case. II;