The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1913-03-01
TO INCREASE EFFICIENCY
or SCHOOL SYSTEM.

The need for an adequate national
organization for all American public
school teachers. in which politics shall
not figure, and which shall have as
its sole aim the increased efficiency
of the country's school system, was
emphasized by Henry Suzzalo, of Co
lumbia University, at the opening ses-
sion of the National Council of Edu-
cation meeting in Philadelphia
The meeting. which is one of the
many subsidiary conferences being
held in connection with the annual
meeting OF the department of superin-
tendance of the National Education
Association, focused attention upon
the fact that the national association,
as it now stands, is dominated by
personal politics. The cry Of sex dis
elimination was echoed throughout the
meeting, says a Philadelphia exchange.
Prof. A. Duncan Yocum, of the Uni
versity of Pennsylvania. in discussing
the address of the chief speaker, de-
clared that a new organization would
be likely to fall into the hands of the
women who overcrowd the profession
or would run the danger of becoming
a veritable trades union swayed by
class interest.
After years of desuItory and repre-
sentative organization" said Professor
Suzallo. "the teaching profession ts
without a code of ethics which is
sound in principle or binding in its
effect upon teachers.
1.-THE influence of partisan and per-
sonal politics still interferes with a
full rendering to the public Of an ex-
pert educational service. Teachers
and books are still selected, In too
many places, by boards of education.
rather than superintendent. Teachers
still split their fees for the first
months work with teachers agencies.
the chief purpose Of which is COM
mercial. not professional. Textbooks
and supply houses still exploit the
public schools for their own ends.
'"The teacher or superintendent who
stands against these influences en-
counters immediate hostility. without
the backing of an organized profession
for his professional ideals of public
service, he is not more likely to lose
his position than not. Thereafter that
ono failure to hold his position is, in
matters of reappointment or promo
ton with boards of education. a pre-
of Incompetence, rather than
of superior training and standards.
Thus the present status of profess
sional organization permits a handi-
cap to be placed upon superior cour-
age and 1dealism maintaining hign
standards of service"
In summing up the ideal of teachers
association which would be without
the faint of politics and the stigma
of commercialism. the speaker advo-
Gated state associations, OF teachers
guilds, with authority vested In rep
resentative council. these to be GEN.
tered in a national council with all
states having full representation
The primary purpose of such an or
ganization. 1t was pointed out. should
be the Improvement OF the public SER
vice rendered by teachers, and the
secondary purpose to improve the
status OF teachers by creating a high
standard of professional conduct, re-
all need for commercialism.
and petty politics, insuring educators
better chances for advancement and
positions and seeing that
the administrative power OF schools is