Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-06-14
MANY TEACHERS
WHO CAN'T SPELL

WHO Can I SPELL
seheeI inquiry Committee Bears Out
Report Of Professor Elliott Of Wis.
consin, Who Has Been Exsmirine
Ratings Of New York City School
Ma'ams-0rastie Reforms Urssd.
Many teachers both in the e!euen-
$ary and the high schools II New York
city are unable to spell correctly aud
are deficient in the proper use 1t the
English language. This fact has be-
come known as the result ct an exan,t-
nation Of the letter iles In the Office
Of the city paymaster. made recently
by committee which has been iuvesti-
eating the schools for the New York
city board Of education
The committee searched the files in
investigating complaint that the
teachers and principals had not receive
ed their pay promptly. Representa-
tives of the board Of education assert
ed that this was a good reason why the
city department should not have con-
troll over the payrolls of the board Of
education. The attention of an exami-
ner was called to several letters ad-
dressed to the city paymaster by school,
teachers now in service and substi-
tutes, which showed illiteracy on the
part of the writer's.
A collection of these letters covering
one month was inspected. Out Of 300
letters fled In the month 10 per cent
contained mistakes in spelling and
grammatical construction, and larger
percentage. it was said, showed disre-
gard of proper form In letter writing.
Elliott Confirms Report.
Professor Elliott Of the University Of
Wisconsin confirms this report in a let
ter to the committee after examining
the ratings Of the teachers.
There are today hundreds OF ste9fh-
ers in the elementary schools Of New
York whose services would not be ap-
proved in any progressive school sys-
TEN, primarily on account Of the use
Of broken, highly accented and incor-
rect English"
The committee agrees with Profess
sor Elliott in stating that the, presence
Of illiterate teachers in the schools is
because 1.-The professional examination
conducted by the board Of examiners
Is pure form and all one needs 10 to
comply with the letter and not with
the spirit of a thorough understand
ing"
Here are two of the letters:
Dear Sir am q Teacher at -. was
Whent to the School to dy to ind my
check was sent back to the pay masters
Office I was told to write to you and you
would send me a receipt to sign which !
believe have to return before you send
check Trusting this will meet with your
apporuval and will receive prompt re-
ply. I remain. Sincerity.
Dear Sir: Kindly sent me my June and
July check am q resuler teacher. -
In P. g. No - Queens Borough. -
Respectfully yours.
Letter From . Lecturer.
Another letter written by one Of the
lecturers employed by he board Of
education IS as follows:
Dear Sir. am returning her With receipts
for my lectures fees ha e been sur
prised learn Of disguid corrispondence.
but beg to inform you that I did noti-
ned the Board Of Education Of my change
Of address since September. 191l-Since
then will call my mail at my residence.
where mo leaving since four years.
Also am subscriber to telephone with d.
rector number -. Hoping these lnfor.
nation will be Of some help in the future.
The committee asserted that these
letters had q direct bearing on the
report prepared by Professor Edward
G. Elliott Of the University Of Wiscon-
sir The committee said:
"As q result Of his careful analysis
Of district superintendent and princi-
pals rating Of teachers. Professor Ell
lott declares that the present inspec.
lions and reports upon teachers are
merely formal and wholly insufficient
and tend to insure their continuance
in service after they are once admit
ted IN the system"
The report concludes:
"In. the light of the Incredible Is.
norance on the part Of even few
public school teachers. a careful in.
spection Of the present examination
system is indeed urgent This de.
partment of the board Of education
has not received from the school au-
thorities the serious attention it de.
serves"