New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1921-11-25

| shall attempt brief discussion
of each of these phases of our task.
The Building of School System
The Average city school system is
the, type of school system that ought
to be achieved for the State. Its
main features are adequate supervis-
ion, a uniform standard for grade
work, a carefully selected teaching
body, a definite educational policy
and modern equipment for the
schools. We have no organized school
system in our state, we have a group
of systems more or less unrelated in
education conception and methods.
Each of our cities or larger towns
attacks the problem according to its
own ideas, and is law unto itself
in educational matters. This is true
of the counties, one may excel in
administrative excellence, another in
raising the teaching standard, third
may fall behind in one or both re-
spects. for often a little rural school
house becomes an isolated unit, self
directing, self-sustaining and also
at times poorly nourished,
Our fundamental need is for unity
in our school systems. Freedom and
initiative should be allowed in the
administration of city or county sys-
TENS or in individual schools, yet
there should be a unifying plan, a
determining policy directing all our
educational effort.
The whole group of educators
chn,tlI dnai1n uhat a1Ilpa tinna1 val
ues need most emphasis in our school
work, what methods are best adapted
to local needs, and what means may
be used to secure greater uniformity
in the schools of the entire state, and
better cooperation of the whole
teaching body. 1t should be the func-
tion of the State Department of Edu-
cation to promote these ends by call
ing frequent councils of the educa-
tors and by other means.
There should be more educational
organizations throughout the state.
We have a number of county teach
er's associations. There ought to be
at least an annual conference OF
/ County Superintendents and an an
nual round-table meeting of princi-
pals and city superintendent.
To every one who is really dedi-
Gated to service there comes inspira-
tion and enlarged vision. We ought
to share both our difficulties and our
/ inspiration. Educators in different
fields ought to know each other, ex-
change ideas and discuss plans OF
work.
Our State Educational Association
/ is the chief unifying element for us
now. We need to multiply such means
of help and inspiration.
The problem of raising the stand
ard of grade work in the rural school
to that of the city school standard
is also involved in building our school
system. There ought to be a uni
form standard of school work all
over the state. A third grade child
in Roswell or albuquerque and
third grade child in the most remote
rural district, ought to be fairly
equal in power. efficiency and ad
vancement, they should at least have
equally good training and be up to
the same standard of work for the
grade. This brings us to the second
phase of our Educational problem.
2. The Recruiting, Training and Or,
ganization of the Teaching Corps
The teaching force of New Mexico
is not adequately supplied by oui
Normal and High School graduates
We have also a more or less trans
cient group of teachers who drift
in and out from other states.
There is still a third group which
should have our most serious con
sideration. This is a group of young
people who have grown up in the
rural districts, attending the ruraI
schools. Some of them have man
aged to secure year or two in High
School or a summer term at a Nor
NAL, but many of them have mol
more than an eighth grade prepara-
ton with the addition of work al
County Institutes in summer.
We must frankly admit the un-
preparedness of these teachers and
their serious effect upon educational
progress in New Mexico, but we mus
not forget two vital considerations
in regard to this group of poorl!
qualified teachers.
First, We are totally unable &c
fill their places if it were fair tc
eliminate them. These teachers &c
into districts remote from the rail-
road, where living conditions en-
force great hardships and discom-
forts. the school buildings are pool
and the equipment meager. What-
ever their professional limitations
the teachers who take these schools
must possess a high quality of forti
tude and a most admirable courage
II would be hardly possible to in
duce experienced Normal grauates
to take such schools.
But there is even a more pressing
consideration in regard to thes'
teachers, they are our responsibility
their poor equipment for the profes
sion is our failure, they are the pro
duct of past school conditions II
New Mexico, that we are Struggling
to remedy. Our school system II
new, our public schools are very re
cent. and these teachers who are pro
ducts of our rural schools have beer
cheated of opportunity. They stand
before us demanding payment OF
lust debt. they have been robbed o.
their birth right. We cannot escape
the obligation to repay them.
1t does not at all solve the probien
to advise or insist that poorly quail
fled young teachers who are bread
winners and children Of the poor
shall leave the school room to entei
High School or Normal. We mus
devise means to train and quallfl
them in their work. We must follow
the plan of those crafts who trair
their workmen through apprentice
ship.
The details of this plan must d.
worked out by the whole body o
educators in New Mexico. In M
opinion we should arrange to distri