The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1919-06-24
ORGANIZED N LABOR .!!:!.
AND EDUCATION
American Federation Has
Adopted an Extensive
Policy on Subject
ALL TEACHERS
SHOULD JOIN UNION
Would Have Labor Represented On All
Local Boards of Education, Teachers
Better Paid and More Independent
Continue Medical Inspection.

ATLANTIC CITY, Y. j., june 24.-The I
educational policy of organized labor CON
sisting Of a comprehensive report Of the |
committee on education, was adopted Sun
day by the convention OF the American |
Federation of Labor.
1T is unquestionable that teachers have
no right to impose their personal views
on pupils the report said, but it is
necessary in some quarters to emphasize
that neither do school authorities have
that right 1t is further necessary to
ask this convention to indorse with all
It's power the principle that men and
women, in becoming teachers, do not
Fthereby surrender their rights as Ameri
| can citizens, and that inquisition by
school authorities into the personal re-
| lgious, political, and economic views OF
teachers is intolerabe in a free country,
strikes at the basis Of our public school
system and can result only in the develop
ment of mental and moral servility, and
/ the qualification OF teachers and pupils
alike
This was read with applause by tie
delegates 1t is understood the reference
Ito the ''mquisition' was aimed at recent
action hv education authorities in New
\ orL, Washington and other cities III
examining teachers as to their personal
opinions.
..Ihe committee recommends that this
| convention urge all state and local cen
trail bodies to make committee on edu
I cation one of their standing committees
where this has not yet been done, and t
make vigorous effort to secure adequate
representation of organized labor ON oil
boards OF education, the report contln
/ ued The right of teachers TO affiliate
with organized labor is beyond question
and il that connection the right OF teach
4 crs to hold meetings III school bindings
outside of school hours, for the purpose o
4 discussing organization, should not b.
D questioned Boards oI education have II
Z proprietary right IN thesschoos, but ar
slHpiy sfrtsteess Cor tifss fablics isfs aasaes
the teachers are part.
n TO secure more democratic admin
4 istration OF ON schools. to develop a spir
il of cooperation, and to gain for tn
B community the benefit of the experience
4 aud initiative OF the teaching body, board
4 Of education and superintendent 9
z schools should confer with committee
4 representing organisations of the teacl
h els choice in all cases of controversy b(
d tween school authorities and teachers. an
n should consider and make official publ
\ record OF suggestions dealing with til
4 conduct of the schools, submitted by tn
h teachers through such committees.
Teachers should have tenure Of hos
ton during efficiency There should l
no dismissals without full public hearln.
before commission on which the teacl
ers a.c represented
Other recommendations were: :"
I thoroughgoing revision upward Of the sa
any schedules of teachers in public school
4 normal schools and universities, to me-
u the increased cost of living.
The liberal ungrudgmg reorganizatiC
and increase of school revenues as the o
4 " means Of maintaining and deveopir
the efficiency Of our public schools
Hearty support should be given to Il
increasing demand for well-consder,
methods Of vocational guidance in o.
schools
In all courses Of study, and particula
" in Industrial and educational course
the privileges and obligations of intel
gent citizenship must be taught vigorot
IL and elfectively and. at least in
industrial and vocational courses an n
B biased industrial history must be taugl
4 which shall include accurate account
H the organization of the workers and
h the results thereof, and shall include
summary &c all legislation both state a
federal, affecting the industries taught
4 THE basic language of instruction
all schools, both public and private, shor
4 be the English language, foreign languag
a to he taught only as subjects in the c,