Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-21

we may secure greater efficiency with
out recourse to any change in existing
statutes.
New Method of Promotion.
Promotion should be from salary
class to salary class. instead of from
grade to grade. For example, our third
and fourth grade teachers are assigned
to the same salary class (class 81 and
our fifth. sixth and seventh grade
teachers are assigned to another salary
class fclass a. Although the fifth.
/, sixth and seventh grade teachers are
recognized under the organic act as
equal IN rank and salary we REQUIRE
so-called promotion from fifth to sixth
one is eligible to promotion to the next
salary class-that for eighth grade
,eachers. AS matter of fact, there
~ no real promotion except where the
sa n Grass changes-the other So
cahed promotions are merely assign
ments and should be SO considered.
service IN any grade under a particu-
iar salary class ought to count in con
s,aerihg promotion to the next salary
class Promotion by salary classes
rather than by grade couId no ON 49,
,caiIN the same basis as at present-
tidt OF longevity and "excelIent" rating
III previous class. In SO far as the teach
are concerned, the new plan would
ton. pion'o
At present we must promo+e :.
oeather OF the fifth grade, who is ex-
~ htted for the teaching of
mat grade, on to the sixth and then
on 70 the seventh, simply to insure her
risnts TO promotion to the eighth grade
ana new salary. In justice to the
enllaren of the school we ought to
hep her IN that fifth grade, for which
a
sum let her service count toward the
eishtn grade and new salary class The
suggested plan means using the teacher
al ner point of highest efficiency.
Inc present plan makes necessary
man! transfers of teachers from build
ing 70 building that the suggested plan
woulu make unnecessary. At present
II orsa nizatlon requires the dropping
ot sixth grade and the opening of a
HIlh grade at any building We must seek
a reverse change elsewhere and transfer
out the sixth grade teacher and trans
Ter In NTH grade teacher. or else re-
uuce a teacher. denote her from sixth
TO Hith grade with consequent misun-
derStahdlng and feeling of lower rank
nder the new plan the sixth grade
teacher could take the new grade, if
deemed advisable. without loss of rank
Efficiency of Supervisors.
Good teaching goes hand in hand with
close, continuous and constructive su-
pervision Without such supervision
the full efficiency of system is lost.
The supervisor who is closest to the
teacher must be himself an excellent
teacher with capacity for leadership.
with power to supervise upward and to
help his teachers to develop them
selves. l believe this supervision at the
source may be secured gradually and
without disturbing any present eighth
grade teacher in her position by read
justment when vacancies occur and by
the establishment of group principals
in charge of three small or two large
schools. The buildings grouped should
be those located close together which
interchange pupils.
With the proposed changes started
| believe we will be we'll on the way to
the reassignment of our fine group of
principals, whose greatest
efficiency is not secured for the system
under our present plan. They may De
or to the educational supervision OF
larger units, or may be assigned to
control of new units OF
work that are now de-
velopng in the system. We need them
all, but we need to SO assign them as
to draw most fully on their higher edu-
powers. 1t should be remem-
bered that there is nothing to prevent
a broader use OF the supervising pTlH-
who are needed as general ofh-
GERS. The law seems to give us free
dom of assignment except over the
high schools.
Il have had the feeling for lonG
time that helpful stimulus might be
offorded our teaching force by the oc-
casional interchange of teachers be-
tween Washington and other cities.
Experiments along this line have been
started in d few other localities. The
thought is that Washington teacher
might be granted leave for one year
and might be placed by another city in
a school position at that citys ex-
peDse. In exchange an excellent teacher
might be brought from the city con-
cerned to Washington and given
temporary appointment in our service
for a period of one year. During that
year her work could be observed by our
our teachers work. In the meantime
the Washington teacher would be Civ
ing and gaining Inspiration. and would
return to our system broadened by her
Undoubtedly the plan
would result in a healthful exchange of
methods and ideas.
Il am more than ever of the opinion
that as a basis for securing good pen
manship in the public schools, regard
less of the particular system selected,
it is absolutely necessary to have defin-
its, practical training of the teachers
themselves. The teachers now in the
service must take a series of lessons in
the system adopted. Moreover, ] am
more than ever of the opinion, and my
officers have come to agree with me,
that there should be penmanship d.
rector in the schools. This director