Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-12-18
TEACHERS COUNCIL
CLOSES LONG WAR
Faction United Finally by Con-
stitution After DR.. Broome
Ends Deadlock
MAILED TO ALL SCHOOLS

The various warning factions ct the
teaching force of the public school sys-
TEN are united finally.
The Teachers Council long talked
of, is at last TO become n reality, and
the constitution Of the new organization
is being mailed to every school in the
city for ratification by the teaching body
on January J.
After many failures to form a united
body the teachers called upon DR..
Broomc. Superintendent of Schools, for
assistance. lie brought the represen-
tatives of the factions together and
! ironcd ont the difficulties that had pre-
vented unified action.
When Dr.. Broome was elected city
Superintendent two years ago there was
a movement on foot 10 form the coun-
/ ell. Representatives Of the twenty. six
branches Of the teaching fore" were
called together in a convention 20 adopt
4 constitution.
Representation an Obstacle
The trouble started through the fact
that the great mass of teachers are in
/ the elementary grades. If representa-
= tion were on an individual membership
basis. this group would outnumber all
tnc rest Of the departments combined.
IT, on the other hand. representation
we're on departmental basis, the great
number Of individuals would have only
ono twenty sixth of the actual repre-
SCntation in the council.
! Finally at q meeting of the Conren-
. ticn the delegates from many Of the
groups withdrew. The constitution
YVES adopted by those remaining, was
+ submitted to the teaching body and ap-
| proved by a bare majority. il was
/ then claimed that the council did not
1 represent the entire educational force.
When the schools opened this fall.
Dr.. Broome wGs asked TO cut the Cor
dian knot. Two weeks ago hr called
tho representatives Of the departments
in conference and laid before them plans
I for n revised constitution, which met
tho objections Of each group.
The new constitution on the question
of adoption calls not only for th" vote
/ OF thc delegates. but also for the ma
jority approval within individual.
groNips Of the educational system. Then
in order TO facilitate the action Of the
council, a former clause which d.
rcctcd that all recommendations of the
| delegates be submitted TO general ref
er"ndum was changed as follows:
"Whenever the council Of delegates
! shall have arrived at any decision call
ing for a recommendation to the Board
of Public Education or to the Superin.
tcndcnt of Schools, notice of such tic.
cision shall be sent to each school and
administration office within three days
after such decision has been reached.
Furthermore. when n decision has
been reached such recommends
ton shall not be made until q period
Of two weeks shall have elapsed from
The date of the meeting at which it. was
reached.
"On petition signed by ~ least 100
m"mborS of tn" council and duly pre-
sruted to the council Of delegates dur
ing The aforesaid period of two weeks
d referendum vote shall he taken hv
-, rec sealed ballot upon the matter in
question. ana the result shall he
binding upon the council of delegates. "
To BE Governing Body
Tie council Of delegates referred ~
j. 'hn governing body Of the entire
public school council and each of the
twcutN-sX groups OF the force is en-
,itIed to one delegate with the exception
"f III" high school teachers. who hay"
rwo delegates. The elementary school
teachers are divided in groups according
10 III" eight geographical school dis
triclS and eHch diStrirt has Il delegate.
In the rejected constitution the duties
Of III" council of delegates was de-
scribod rs 70 "ronsider all matter re-
fcrrcd to il by The board and sup"rin-
tcndcnt. as well as matters submitted
by its own members and shall make
such recommendations TO the board and
superintendent as shall be in conform
ity With the opini"ls Of the entire mem.
LcrsIip Of the Cuuuril.
This section outlining the duties Of
III" council has been changed 10 read.
"Tho council Of delegates shall net in
an advisory capacity, and shalt dea,
Wjru tn" >ubjo"I~ of interest To the en-
tire school system or in the council
'aS 3 WhoI'. 1t also gives the right
Of any lndIviduu group TO present mat
tprN pertaining 10 hat special grOup for
consideration on the vote of the ma.
jor!tv of the council.