Evening star., 1925-09-15
TEACHER SHORTAGE.
IN DISTRICT ENDED.
Schools Have Surplus of
Qualified EIigibIes for First
Time Since War.

Instead of a shortage of qualified
teachers, a situation which has been
a nightmare to school officials pre-
ceding every new school year since the
war this year finds the schools pre-
pared to begin another term with an
oversupply. With only a few vacan-
cies to fill, there are more than 125
eligible teachers. including the entire
June graduating class of the Wilson
Normal School, clamoring for these
positions.
Indeed, finding places for these
teachers, whose names are listed as
eligibles. has become almost as serious
a problem as that during the postwar
period, when a frantic cry was broad
cast for persons to take the teacher
less classes. Some idea Of the condi-
ton now existing due to the excess OF
qualified teachers was given today IN
an announcement by the officials that
certainly not more than 10 members
of the Normal School graduating class
of last June would be appointed be
fore October |. There are 65 mem
bers in the June class, as compared
with 63 last year. Every graduate of
last years class had been assigned to
a teaching position by October J.
New List Must Wait.
The eligible list of those qualified TO
teach through examinations, which
contained 81 names last year, also was
depleted soon after the beginning of
the new term, but the new list created
as a result of the examinations In May
probably Will not be drawn from for
months, officials indicated.
A number of factors, 1t was explain
ed, have contributed to the unusual
teacher situation this year. Foremost
is the fact that the designations dur
ing the Summer have been far less
than in preceding years, the increased
salary provided in the Keller bill hold
ing those teachers now in the service.
The vacancies also are less numerous
this year because of the policy adopted
last year in making but few temporary
appointments. The temporary ap-
pointment was one OF the expedlents
for filling vacancies during the teacher
shortage, and resulted in putting into
the school service teachers, not up to
the high standard of teaching ability
| now required in the District.
BY raising the standards Of teach
ing requirements, Supt. Frank w
Ballou has weeded virtually all of the
incompetents out of the system. All
| temporary teachers were given exam
nations. Those who passed were re
tained in the service, and those who
failed, and they were In the ma jority,
were shunted out of the system.
Regulars on Leave Back.
Two other factors also have con.
tributed largely to this years over
supply. One is due to the unusually
large number of regular teachers who
have been on leave of absences and
who have applied for reinstatement
The other comes a a result of certain
adjustments in the school organiza-
ton. whereby eight teachers. six at
the Thomson School and two at the
Seaton lost their classes through
transfers to the junior high schools
These eight teachers have been as
signed to fill vacancies in other
at the expiration of the leave of alb
sences will fill other gaps in the
teaching personnel.
The board of education had adopted
very definite policy regarding the
appointment of teachers which as
| sures those returning from leave of
absences priority over all other eligi-
bles. The Normal Schol graduates
are next drawn, while those on the
eligible list created by the examina-
tions must wait until every Normal
Schol girl has been given an ap-
pointment.
School officials plan to fill all va.
cancies in the teaching corps tomor-
row when the school board holds its
final meeting before the beginning of
the new term.