Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-27
Priority in Teaching Positions.

The law giving priority to graduates
of the local normal schools in filling
teaching positions in the Washington
public school system involves the solu-
ton of two problems. The educational
problem is to find the best teaching
material available for Washington chill
dren. The economic problem is to JUS
tify the expenditure Of local tax revenue
on the normal schools by assuring their
students positions at home after gradu-
alton.
The action of the House in amending
existing law by inserting clause in the
appropriation bill restricting its appli-
cation only to those graduates Of the
normal schools of the District of Co.
lumbia who shall at the time of their
graduation rank within the first twenty
FIVE per cent of their respective classes, Z"
THIS placing the remaining seventy-five
per cent on an equal footing and COM
petitive basis with teacher applicants
from all parts of the country, is only
a partial solution of the educational
problem and constitutes, in addition, an
act of unfairness to the District in so
far as the economic problem is involved.
Careful reading Of the hearings on
the District bill, during which the pri-
ority clause was under discussion, dis
closes the fact that while members of
the committee sought the advice of
Board Of Education and school officials
on the subject, ana obtained II, they
disregarded this advice ana inserted a
clause which has no local backing or
support.
In discussing the educational problem
DR.. Ballcu declared that the present
law is unsound; that the District school
children should have the best teaching
material that is available, no matter
where obtained. But if the graduates
Of Washington normal schools are thus
to be placed on competitive basis with
teachers from outside the District, there
should be established in the District
Misunderstanding institutions which are
In position to compete with similar
institutions throughout the country. In
other words, DR.. Ballou called to the
committees attention the fact that if
the District-trained teachers must COM
pete with teachers from the country
at large, they should have the training
facilities available here that are else
where available. Four-year normal
school courses should be provided, In
stead of the two-year courses now avail
able or the three-year courses which
will be available next year.
The action Of the House in placing
all graduates OF the Washington nor
nal schools, with the exception of the
twenty-five per cent who lead their
classes, on competitive basis is ILL
timed and incomplete. Such an impor-
stant piece of legislation has no place
as rider on an appropriation bill
The change should have been carefully
considered and with it the various pro-
posals for establishing in the District
four-year normal schools, teacher col
legeB or Junior colleges. Leaving aside
sentimental or political considerations
. competitive basis for selecting teacher
material is sound, and obviously would
result in drastically wedding out de-
ficient or second-rate applicants. But
before being placed on such a competi-
tive basis District students who hope to
become teachers should have the same
educational opportunities offered to
their rivals from other communities for
positions in Washington schools.