The Chronicle-star combined with the Moss Point advertiser., 1949-10-07
Tardy Word From The Teachers

In the letters column on this page there is an interest
ing communication from the teachers of Wade school.
They object vigorously to our editorial of last week en-
titled Lets FUNK The Deadwood"
We welcome this letter for, instead of being a state
ment in opposition to our remarks of last week, it is exactly
the kind of expression our editorial called for.
The main peeve aroused among Jackson county teach
ers by the editorial stems. we believe. from a leaping at
conclusions. The teachers are in arms because they think
we called them ~"deadwood." We did not. We said that
the chief opposition to the proposed equalization program
was based on an unwillngness to take a national examina-
ton which. to some extent. would determine their salaries.
We are asked where we got our information, and it is
suggested that 'the removal of some lead would be a big
assistance in helping you editors stir around to see what is
really happening" Our information came from Associated
Press and local newspaper reports of the various teacher
meetings held throughout the state. These reports, in
every instance, said that the main opposition to the entire
plan was the examination. There was no elaboration, no
report of any specific facts being brought up to show the
examination feature is wrong.
Now, on the face of it, such opposition to examina-
tions-iust plain opposition with no charges specified
against the exams-looked to us as if it were being offer
ed by persons not too sure of their ability to pass examina-
tons. And we added this, which we respectfully ask the
teachers to read again. =. the WORTHY ones are, by
their silence, allowing the lowest common denominators
among them to speak for the whole"
Now. we have this letter from the Wade teachers. Now.
we are seeing some specific reasons why the proposed ex-
animation may nc: be Z good thing at This time. Now. we
have heard a statement from teachers who apparently are
not afraid of the examination.
And that brings us down to the Wade teachers state
ment that the whole program was just lodging the ISSUE
and passing the buck With this we do agree. The Legis-
lature, unwilling to appropriate funds to raise salaries of
Negro teachers, seems to be offering up this stalking horse
to lure the teachers into an ambush. If the teachers had
voted for the program and the state lost the suit now pend
ing by a Negro teacher, equalization would have meant a
lowering of their salaries to allow a proportionate increase
in Negro salaries.
We are intellectually in favor of seeing the Negro
teachers get a break after their long years of riding in the
rumble seat. A teacher is a t-eaeher-whether he be black.
green. blue. yellow. fat. tall. skinny or walleyed. Teachers
Of the same training. experience and responsibilities. re-
gardess of their purely physical characteristics. should re-
ceive the same recompense. But the problem should be
met honestly and not by such a ruse as this.
But we will not back down on this: There is deadwood
in the state school system. The letter from the Wade
teachers accuses us of attacks ON the school teachers of
Mississippi We have made no such attacks. We have
attacked only the deadwood. Over and above, beneath,
beside and outside the proposed plan, we repeat: Let's
funk the deadwood. Only the deadwood can object to that.