The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1922-04-21
System of Rating Teach
ers Attacked BY
Directors
Would Eliminate Grade
Supervisor and Some
Attaches
Subject To Be Brought
Up Again At Meet
Tonight

While no action was taken OH
any OF the matters discussed III the
meeting OF the board oil education
at the high school building last
night, there was nearly three hours
OIL htate pro and con discussion on
SUBJECTS OF SCnool interest and an
Otner meeting mas been called Ior
$40 this evening when the matter
Will receive tuTtner consideration.
General GUSTAV Widell opened
the verbal batteries when he maze
what was found to be the opening
statement in long argument Tor
economy in school management and
lor doing away with several super
VIsing posts as well as the present
system OF rating the efficiency OF
teachers IN the Mankato schools.
In his opening statement GeenraI
Widell said: Il do not advocate
any reduction in teachers wages
as | think the wages now paid art
reasonable. The salaries OIL teach
ers In the past were too low 10
make the positions attractive ana
get the pest results. We must ar
rive at some plan whereby expens
es can be reduced in the running of
our schools and practice the strict
est economy"
1T will be necessary to make a
little change in-the, management Oh
the present system, for instance
can we not for the present at least
defer or do away with some of the
supervising and let those teachers
teach classes? The principal in
each school and the superintendent,
| believe, can keep in touch with
the other teachers and see that the
work is done properly. Also ELI
inmate some OF the minor special
activities and teach more OF the
important subjects for college ad-
miLtance. In order TO accomplish
haps to make a few changes in our
present system of working in our
schools which | think advisable"
The general continued: There
is a good deal of dissatisfaction in
the present system OF rating teach.
ers efficiency. In order to bring
this matter before the board / de
sire TO make this motion, that the
action taken by the board some
time ago to rate the efficiency OIL
teachers according to our present
system of rating be rescinded and
the present system OF rating De
discontinued"
System of Rating
In the Mankato schools at the
present time all teachers are given
a rating according to their marks
made in forty tve phases OF teach
ing work and the grading is done
by the supervisors, the principals
and the superintendent OF schools,
f. S. Selle. Salary increases are
based upon the increase a teacher
may make in a years rating.
kA C-fa nv1t
l.. +. JEFFERSON stated that at the
time the rating system was insta,-
led he was heartily in favor OF it
but he has had it on reliable au
thority that it does nothing here
but stir ur discord and dissatisfac
ton and that since such is the
case he favors dropping it. Judge
Evan Hughes, another member OF
the board was particularly bitter
against the system. He said that
it was system that did nothing but
incite personal feelings between
teachers who are doing the same
class OF work but who get different
ratings. He stated that he had op-
posed it from the beginning and is
opposed to it now. Judge Hughes
man nature such a system in the
schools will cause trouble and said
that a number of teachers have
come to him and spoken against
the rating usage. He then urged
the strictest economy. He stated
that the public of Mankato is will
ing to pay for the Lincoln and I'm
ion schools and will pay for any
thing essential to good education
but he said that in return for that
feeling the board is bound to cut
out any necessary items and get to
rock bottom. He outlined the tax
situation and showed several in
stances where taxes have become
almost umbearable. When asked by
w. d. Willard as TO how he would
go about cutting expense, Judge
Hughes stated that he would cut
out the grade supervisor whose
salary is $500 and would cut the
grade music supervisor who draws
$3.50. He then reviewed the facts
of hiring the present teachers who
were taken on when wages in all
lines were at the peak Stated that
every other line of industry had
taken a cut and that in some in
stances it might be necessary TO
reduce slightly among teachers.
EngwaIson Joins Talk
+. A. Engwalson of the board,
arose to offer a chance to save
some money for the schools. H..
stated that during the present year