Evening star., 1953-05-10
Sen0i-Pros Invading Teacher Ranks

der constant surveillance by
some one. Many small cornmu.
mites have their own self-ap.
pointed Mrs. Grundys and Paul
Prys. On a higher level, cer-
tain members of Congress have
conducted Investigations in q
manner which has brought
charges Of character assassina-
ton from some teachers and
professors.
Many woman teachers have
given up their positions when
they have married. Indeed.
in many school districts, mar
riage was the greatest "sin"
which a woman teacher could
commit. The time should
come when marriage and
motherhood may be regarded
as assets for the woman
teacher, rather than liabil-
tiles.
On the positive side, II
teaching is to be made a more
attractive profession. it is Sug-
gested that, in addition to
higher pay. teachers should
receive better social recogni-
ton. that teacher retirement
systems should be improved,
that teacher contracts should
include health and accident
insurance, and that summer
training and travel should be
provided for teachers at pub.
lie expense. Without such
benefits. the competition pre-
sented by other types of life
work is too severe.
If more young people are
attracted to teaching as a ca
reer. all of the States should
start to clamp down on the
issuing of provisional and sub
standard certificates. No pro-
visional certificate ever should
be valid for more than a year.
In order to secure its renewal,
the individual should be re-
quired to present proof of pro-
fesSional progress and growth.
Usually, such proof would con-
sist of enrolment in evening.
Saturday or summer classes
in education, professional
reading or writing, travel un-
der desirable conditions, or
community service of an ap-
proved type. These require
ments should be raised annu-
ally until the individuals to
whom they apply can qualify
for full and regular certif1ca-
ton.
Better Teacher Troininq
Inherent in any plan de-
signed to drive the semipros
out of education there must be
a plan to bring further i'm
provement in our teacher
training institutions. Whether
provement in our teacher
colleges or departments of edu-
cation within the universities.
they should receive more lib
eral financial support. Pro-
feSsorS of education should
have adequate secretarial as
sistance so that their attention
can be directed to the business
of education rather than to
writing letters and keeping
records. Both professors and
students in education classes
should have travel allowances
adequate for them to attend
professional meetings and to
visit outstanding schools
especially experimental and
demonstration schools. For the
students who wish to become
teachers, there should be more
scholarships and fellowships.
Any program of improve
ment, such as that which is
suggested in this article, will
require time and money. The
changes cannot be accom-
plished overnight and they
cannot come about unless the
people are willing to pay for
them.
While decisions are being
made and while new teachers
are being trained, we shall
have to be reasonably content
with the fact that the current
supply of well-trained and
properly certified teachers
must be supplemented by
thousands of others whose
preparation is substandard and
who fall into the category OF
semipros.