Omaha daily bee., 1919-11-07
Proposal to Split State
Teachers Organization Into
Smaller Groups Discussed by
| Leaders at Special Meeting.
PRESIDENT URGES
NEW CONSTITUTION
Effect of World War on Edu-
cation and Future Problems
Explained by Nationally
Known Speakers.

Leaders in the state teachers as
sociation at a special meeting yes
terday afternoon in the Auditorium
expressed their opinions on the pro-
posed new constitution which is to
be submitted to the teachers by
referendum vote within the next SO
days.
81 certainly shall not vote to split
up this association in any way that
will curtail the central meeting"
said Superintendent True of the Nc
Cook schools. "The, three days |
am spending here in Omaha are the
happiest days of my whole school
year.
Another reason why / oppose the
new constitution is that it will take
away the referendum vote from us,
which is the most democratic thing
I know. And l oppose it because
it will involve payment of all addi-
tional fee and hiring paid secre-
tary."
Says Body Powerless.
F. M. Gregg, president OF the as.
sociation and one of the principal
hackers of the reorganization, de-
clared that the present organization
is powerless. :,
"Our organization is impotent,"
he said 1--WE come down here once
a year and have sort of Billy Sun
day revival and go home, We have
no power in legislation in this state
such as we will have if the organiza-
ton is effected. i.
"We will have membership OF
10000 when the ~arious district as
sociations are formed.
Keep Central Meeting.
"And this big central meeting will
not be done away with. The legisla-
tive council will meet once a year
and it will be just as big as any of
the meetings which we have had
Prof. A. H. Waterhouse. superin-
tendent Of the Fremont schools, de-
clared that the reorganization must
be effected in order. to give to the
10000 teachers Of the state. the bene-
fits now enjoyed by only 5000.
Superintendent w. R. Pate OF the
Alliance schools declared that the
reorganization must be effected in
justice 70 the sand hill' teachers.
Bars Western Teachers.
"Do you realize" he said, "that it
involves almost as much of a trip
for us to come to Omaha from Nc
Cook as it does for you to make a
trip to Chicago. We come a dis
tance Of 425 miles. And only four
teachers were able to come here this
year from our county because OF the
distance"
The question will be taken up fur
ther at the close of this morning s
meeting in the Auditorium.
The new constitution and organi-
zation TO be voted on by referendum
mail vote in the next 80 days pro-
vides for organizing district assoeia-
tons in any part of the state where
400 teachers car join. These associa-
,ions and their members will be at
filiated with the central organiza-
ton. The former are to hold meet
ings each autumn and the latter will
hold its meeting in the winter or
spring Of each year.
Break All Records.
All attendance records of the Ne
brasak State Teachers association
throughout its So years of history
were broken yesterday when regis
tration of teachers went over the
5000 mark.
The highest previous registration
was at the convention of 1914 in
Omaha, when little more than
1900 teachers were here.
More than 500 teachers registered
yesterday morning before $50.
The lobby of the Rome hotel, con-
vention headquarters, was clogged
with line that wound all the way
around the big room as the teach
ers waited to register. The line
moved rapidly between the ratings
provided for expeditions registra-
| ton of the teachers.
Special Permission Given.
At 10 o'clock yesterday morning a
special train from Lincoln arrived
bringing nearly 500 more teachers.
Special permission was given 4 to
teachers arriving on morning trains
to attend meetings before they regis
tered, and this provision brought an
immense crowd of registrants to
headquarters during the noon hours
at is certainly most gratifying
said F. M. Gregg, president of the
association. "The reason for. it is
the alertness of Nebraska teachers
to keep UP with the best and most
advanced thought in their lines,
Nebraska has the lowest percentage
of illiteracy among the states of the
Union. Another reason. may be
that we had no meeting last year. II
was called off on account of the
| flu epidemic which was raging al
that time"
Many teachers from Iowa are also
Continued On Page Tive. Column NOne.l