The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-05-21
SOON TO
 FORWARD PROTEST
 ON MERIT SYSTEM
Association in Annual Meet ing Raises Committee to
 Draft Communication.
Rochester Superintendent S Statement Adduced to Dis
 credit Local Method.

Formal protest against the so-caHed merit system that has been introduced into the schools of Bridgeport will be made a, result of the meeting of the Teachers association held yesterday afternoon. At one of the largest meet ings held since the organization of the association, committee was appoint ed to draw up | written objection; to the merit system as now operated.
 The protest will be either mailed to a committed This vii be decided at a later meeting when the pFnrasing of the document is approved.
 The teachers do not object to a merit system, it was brought out yesterday They do object to this particular merit Members of the association almost unanimously condemned the system as one that is not fair because it allows too great a latitude for personal feel ings of those who mark, to enter into the standings. It is also pointed out that some teachers receive not more than one or two visits in a year from a Supervisor and on those occasions the supervisors themselves conduct the lessons sometimes. For this, req son, it is asserted, the supervisors are not qualified to mark everybody That the tests of efficiency under the merit system are grossly inadequate, g and rest almost entirely on the per sona1 judgment of a principal or su- pervisor are statements made by the superintendent of schools of Roches- 1 ter, N. Y-,<writing October IA, 1911 to the Teachers association when he was asked his opinion of one maximum
 The remarks of the Rochester man, who has a vast system under his con- trol, were unsolicited as far as the I they are taken as opinions of much 1 weight. The questions asked him and 1 his answers follow:
 How long since your city adopted a one-naximum schedule? :? Ans. Since the organization of the school system, so far as. I know.
 Why was it adopted? AnsN. I sup pose on the theory that it would best 1 meet the situation.
 Has it been satisfactory? Ans. Yes.
 What are its advantages? Ans Its advantages are that it seems to take care of the. salary adjustment in a very satisfactory manner, on the Iwho1e
 Has it any disadvantages Yes. II has some theoretical disadvantages It is urged that such a schedule af- lords no incentive 10 the worthy and opportunity of seeing this. system work out in the grades along with the so=calIed merit system in the higt schools. In fact, as a high schoo
 principal, I, for five years, worked on the merit system of salary adjust H1ent- My experience was that tho tests of efficiency were so grossly in, Iadequate resting almost entirely or the personal judgment of principa or supervisor that there was far more loss in real bheart-spirit than there
 was ever gained do not believe that the small increase in salar, made. possible by the so-caI1ed nneriJ l system is going to influence success I fully a teacher who is naturally able and ambitious to make of herself the best possible success.
 Have you found that it affects teachers choice of grades, that is, dc you find it difficult to obtain teach CTS for any grade or grades? Ans No.
 | The officers of the association were reelected at the meeting. Miss Mary F. Mal1on is again president. Other officers are Vice presidents Miss Agnes Dennis, Mrs. Alice Thornbury and Miss Jane Anderson; recording secretary, Miss Bertha Wheeler; fl.
 nanciaI secretary, Miss Mary McNat
 mara corresponding secretary, Mis-. Ada HaI1ock; assistant corresponding secretary, Miss Augusta MendeI treasurer. Miss Hengfetta. Wyrtzen recorder, Miss Mary 7CondIey..