The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1953-06-17
PEOPLES FORUM

provement in the Monroe County
Public Schools which have taken
place since l came to the County.
| make no claim to having done
anything alone to improve the
schools, but l can show statistical
evidence of many good practices.
much improvement in academic
achievement on the annual achieve
ment tests and the introduction
of good technics such as the
testing of hearing, sight, mental
ability, etc, which somehow came
by coincidence during the past
four years and not before. | hum
bly, submit that / have brought
honor to the County school system
by serving as President of the 10th
District of the Florida Education
Association, then Vice President of
the same District including Bro
ward, Dade and Monroe with over
1000 teachers represented; BY
being selected as Chairman of a
number of State Committees of the
Florida Education Association,
elections, Credentials, etc.; by
being the first educator of Monroe
County to be elected a Director of
the State organization of over
$4,000 teachers; the Florida Edu-
cation Association, representing
Dade and Monroe Counties. As
there is said to be less than three
In every 10000 people in America
who are selected for their accom-
plishments in their chosen field TO
be listed in who's Who in Am.
erica" ! felt |. had brought honor
to the Monroe County Public
Schools to be asked TO send my,
biography to the publishers of that
well known reference book which
lists me as Educator and Au-
thor" | am also listed in Who's
Who in American Education" Yet
apparently | am not good enough
to be retained on the County
school staff in the opinion of
some.
The present non.understandable
method of re-electing staff men,
berS reaches a new low in achieve
ment in the firing of a man who
proved his ability as a coach BY
bringing the first State Champion
ship in Baseball to Key West High
School. Coach Paul Davis came TO
me some time ago and told me
he was not being re-hired. He
heard it first in Tampa at the
State Teachers Convention last
March when a fellow coach asked
him why he was not returning as
coach to Key West H. S. This
other coach had been informed By
local authorities that there was an
opening for a coach to replace Da-
Wis. according 10 my information.
/ then wrote several letters TO Prin.
cipals whom ! knew recommend.
ing Paul as the kind of man whom
/ would be proud to have on my
staff. In my files is letter from
one Principal telling me he is glad
to offer Davis a position on his
staff.
II makes person wonder just
what qualities are looked for by
the County School Office when
personnel is re-hired. II is more
dangerous to be popular and we'll
liked than it is to be Inefficient.
Russell was considered OK for re-
employment for four years, then
suddenly considered unfit with liz.
lie warning. Why the sudden
change?
There are many fine. efficient
staff members employed. wonder.
ing what assurance they have thai
they viii not be next. unless il Is
established that doing a satisfar-
tory job, contributing 10 the edu-
eational progress of pupils and The
school system, and doing things
which bring honor and credit TO the
| schools and the city like winning
a State Championship are consl.
dered worth insuring a persons
Unemployment. II Is strange that
those doing the re-hirlng have such
an unusual method Of evaiuaiing
ability.
Sincerely.
Leland s. March