Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-05-18

per cent, of tho teachers employed 10
the schools of Pennsylvania have re-
ccivcd no education beyond that which
they received in the elementary school.
while not n single teacher of these
mcagcr qualifications is employed in
New Jersey. and only 1Si are employed
in Massachusetts.
Qualification Standards Vary
There arc 1g1 local supcrintehdcnts
in this state who are authorized to issue
teachers certificates. These supcrin-
tcndcnts are not governed by any state
standard or uniform system, and there
are. therefore, 10T different standards
of qualifications upon which teachers
arc certified. Such Il system of certify
ing teachers must. inevitably result in
the maintenance of low standard of
qualifications The effectiveness of the
instruction given in the schools depends
IN large measure upon the qualihca-
tlons of the teachers giving such in,
| StructiOn.
Equipment Affects Efficiency
The whole general equipment Of n
school affects vitally the efficiency of
the work of such school. Such equip
mcnt is generally dependent upon the
financial ability of the district to supply
1t. In some districts, therefore, build
ings have been erected which contain
modern improvements and up to. date
| equipment. In such districts provision
is made for the proper development and
care of the health of all children, for the
undcrnouriShcd and the tubcrcular chill.
drcn and for the backward and physi
! cally handicapped children. In other
/ districts of less financial ability all chill.
drcn are often crowded into improperly
| heated and ventilated buildings, and
without other adequate accOmmoda .
| tiOuS.
'From the short period of time which
school is maintained in many districts
of the state, from the limited training
aud qualifications which many of the
/ teachers possess, from the inadpuuatc
accommodations provided through many
! school buildings and their equipment
and from the financial inability of many
districts to provide sufficient funds for
school purposes there exists great in .
/ equality of educational opportunity in
many districts of the state and n fail
urc TO provide therein the efficient in ..
| Struction which the children arc en- ..
/ titled TO receive.
Claims Law Is Not Enforced
THE compulsory education law is
not generally enforced throughout the
rural regions of tho state. and it is not
properly enforced in many of the cities
Of the state. The burden of enforcing
this law has been placed solely upon
local school boards. The law authorizes
the payment Of 81 per day to attend
anHr officers, and suitable attendance
officers caunot be employed at this com O.
pcnSatiOn. Members Of school boards
fail 10 enforce the law in many iu
stances because Of the ill., feeling which
their action in enforcing the statute
would produce in the community IN
which they live. | am Informed thai
III many sections of the state Justice,
of the peace have shown sympathy with
parcnts who violated the law and tina,
convictions for, such violations hay,
bccu difficult
1t should be stated that n burca,
has been established in the Stute De
phrtmcnt of Public instruction for Tn,
, proper enforcement of the compulsor,
education law, and boards of director
have been given notice that the Law
must be enforced, and that for the fail
urc TO enforce il in any district of In
state the public moneys of such distric
0 will be withheld"