Milford chronicle., 1920-03-26
WANTS SCHOOL LAW
CHANGED AS TO TEACHERS
Glendale, Delaware
March 16, 1920

Eileuudlei OetdWdIt
March 16, 1920
Col. Theo. Townsend
Milford, Delaware
My Dear Col. Townsend
In lieu Of the fact that the gov
ernor has called a special session OF
the legislature, which will convene at
Dover on Monday, March 22nd inst.
am asking you to use your influence
TO give the sO-called 'self-made"
teachers legislative recognition.
The time has come when personal
matters must be laid aside. Many
teachers such as Professor Harring-
ton, Hydorn, Hardesty and others.
whom l could mention, have applied
( themselves assiduously for years to
make success in the school room and
elsewhere, and have manifested a
truly professional spirit at all times; ;
but the new code says explicitly that
for a man or woman to be a principal
of a fOur-year high school, he or she
must have a college diploma and at
least one year of postgraduate work,
unless he or she is an incument
Now, surely we, who cannot qualify
under the statute for new positions,
do not object to these requirements
where the word equivalent" inserted
in those sections of the code that
appertain to the teachers certifica-
ton What would be the results if
these defects were adjusted? Why,
the teachers and principals would
take state examinations of all grades
as heretofore, and then the commits
siOner of education and his corps of
assistance would judge the principals
and teachers qualifications and mer-
it's Would this be fair to the college
person? Would it be too narrow in
its function for justice to all con-
cerned The doctor and lawyer, re-
spectively, take examinations to prac-
tice medicine and law and are we as
teachers going to be members of
staff who are too exceptional and ex-
traordinary to do likewise?
Yes, Mr.. Editor. teaching must be
made a profession. 1t must be char
acterized by an unanimity of aim and
solidarity of feeling, besides its
more practical aspects. We are apt to
forget that professions as well as ma
tions are made up of individuals, and
their characteristics are about the
same as the ordinary persons COM
posing them. Surely, beyond the
preadventure of a doubt, every teach
er must strive to make teaching a
noble profession, for we must have
a standard for teachers as well as a
standard curriculum for students;
but why say to the men and women
who strive as Lincoln, Grant, etc. I
have striven that you must the door /
of promotion slammed bang! in your /
faces?
Again, Mr. Editor. as the president /
of the Ellendale Study Group for /
teachers, l do not intend to create /
an unrest educationally at this time, /
and as a staunch advocate of the gen.
eral provisions of the new code. feel /
that it (the code) is aiming to get
better teachers, and we sure do need
them; but l do say emphatically that
if a few persons are determined ID
act in autocratic way by striving to
prevent us from being heard at this
special session, l will stump the
county and state, too, if necessary to
get some recognition or considera-
ton at the next election.
Put the "self-made" person on a
par with the college teacher if he or
she merits the awards. Surely, when
we love our work because we love
boys and girls and when we put our
very minds and souls in the COM
development we are deter
mined not to be Inundated by such
.actics and by such inadequate sal
aries as we are now receiving. We
1nly ask you and the legislators to
rive honor to whom honor is due.
Many thanks for past and present
,ourtesies, / am
Yours very respectfully,
OTIS P JEFFERSON,
President of the Glendale Study :
Group for Teachers.