New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1921-11-25
EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATION
HOLDS MOST IMPORTANT
SESSION SINCE ORGANIZED

: since the state owes an education
to the unqualified teacher who is
| product of our rural schools. i
our teaching corps and our schOo
system were properly organized, W
should be free to assign teachers {,
different posts of duty exactly as thu
army assigns men to do the worl
needed.
In the larger city school systems
of the United States the teacher is
not allowed to choose her school, bul
is assigned TO the locality where she
is most needed or best fitted fol-
work.
If the teachers of the State of New
Mexico were an organized army,
pledged to loyalty 10 our system, re-
sponsible to a centralized control and
interested in our problem as a whole,
it would be possible TO study the
needs of various localities, such as
II mining camps, Indian puebloes
or remote rural districts and to send
teachers especially qualified TO work
in each locality. Teachers might
serve a time at n post and then be
allowed a transfer. This would do
much toward achieving a uniform
standard in school work, it would
broaden the individual teacher and
it would call Out the highest quail
ties in the profession. 1t would de-
velop an efficient earnest body o n
seerated to service. The school sys-
ten would be run on a strictly bust
ness basis. No factory hires employ
nc aud allnus than To p,aEn hophaz-
ard choice of work regardless of per-
sonalities. The needs of the factory
are above individual preferences. 1t
would tend to raise the standard of
efficiency not only to exchange teach
ers within the state, but also to fol-
low the plan of some other states who
encourage an interstate exchange.
Colorado follows this plan. Any
teacher in Colorado may ask for n
year in another state. The city of
her choice pays its own teacher her
regular salary which she erves in
the other state. This affords oppor-
tunity for a teacher to broaden and
to bring home new ideas to her own
state.
There is beginning to be more OF
a demand for qualified teachers.
teachers who are in full accord with
American ideals. A teacher who can
not only instruct, but who is able to
develop character and the very best
qualities in her pupils, cannot be paid
what she is worth to the community,
while the teacher lacking in these
fundamental qualities is dear at any
price. In order to secure proper
school conditions, salaries, living
conditions, social recognition and the
like, must be such that the very best
will be attracted to and held in the
teaching profession. Just one more
thought. Fifteen thousand New
Mexico boys went to Europe or to
army camps in this country during
the great war. Many thousands OF
these lived in the rural districts and
it seems a safe bet after touring Eur
ope and seeing Paris, they are not
going to be satisfied with the poor
est equipment, the poorest buildings
and the poorest teachers" in the
schools where the children are
taught.
Burton Holmes travelogues and
u dtnt sNtNS Ntthiy arc piihbihb a.
world to our doors with the ease and
rapidly of the magic carpet OF Ara
bian Nights. Even the people in the
country have extraordinary opportun-
tiles OF keeping in touch with the
world and they are going to demand
better schools and better teachers
or quit the country. Only the other
day | heard of an entire family NOV
ing away from a rural district OF
New Mexico to go to Los Angeles to
get better schooling for the child
rem"
All our plans for raising the edu-
cational standard in New Mexico in
volve not only the best thought and
effort of the educators, but the APP
probation and intelligent support of
the public and this involves our third
point.
3. Securing Community Cooperation
And support
The commonwealth is a unit and
good citizenship gets away from a
strictly local consciousness. The poor
schools of the most remote district
are the concern and the duty OF the
best equipped most prosperous school
district. Our progress, our prosper
ity. our growth must be measured
not by counties or cities, but by a
state average. Education is the bust
ness OF the state and its administra-
ton should be more centralized. In
order to take care of the varying
owe the state, schooi
funds should be levied on the basis
of a state unit.
Under the present system of the
as a unit, we are not utiliz-
ing the full resources Of the state.
The poorer counties have not enough
for the schools, the richer ones have
money than Is needed. In Sc
curing the change TO the state as a
unit in school taxation or In any
other step toward progress in educa-
ton, we must find means to influ-
ence public sentiment. The school
must achieve closer contact
with the public. not only with the
homes that are direct patrons OF the
public school. but also with the busi-
ness men, the general public. The
plans and aims OF our educators
ought to be kept before the people.
Our difficulties are manifold, our
problem is complex. but the hope OF
achievement of our educational ideals
lies wholly in the spirit that moves
us. If we are filled with a desire to
serve, we shall find strength
inspiration in our task, whatever II
be. When we get away from
considerations and narrow
conceptions and lose ourselves IN a
desire to give the best mat
is in us. then the five loaves and
fishes of our limited environ
will be multiplied for us until
the thousands be fed. The spirit OF
will illumine drudgery, glor-
ify hardship and sweep away dill
.:o I-oloc= n taacher gets this