East Cleveland leader. [volume] (East Cleveland, Ohio) 1942-1970, 1954-04-29
Teachers Pay
Their Tribute

Their Tribute
Editors Note: The following is
the tribute written by Miss Win
nifred Savage on behalf of the
faculty of Chambers Elementary
School and read at the testimonial
dinner honoring X. o. Vermillion,
for twenty-five years the principal
at Chambers.
The reference in the opening
lines is to NJ. E. Williams, then
principal of Chambers and being
transferred to a similar position
at W. H. Kirk Jr. High School,
just being opened.
Twenty-Five years ago, parents
and teachers sat in the Chambers
Auditorium under circumstances
similar to these. Honors, long past
due, were being bestowed on a
principal of Chambers School. The
principal was not leaving East
Cleveland. Fortunately, he was to
serve his community for many
years. The late Mr.. w. H. Kirk,
then superintendent of schools,
aware of the feelings of those pres
ent, made promise to them. "Do
not be disturbed about this change"
he said, 81 will see that you have
a good man."
Naturally, teachers looked for
ward eagerly to the fulfillment of
that promise. "What will the new
principal be like ?" "What will he
think of us and the way we do
things?" we wondered. In due
time he arrived, a tall, friendly
man who seemed possessed of the
same idea-to see what we were
like. go on as you've always
done" he said. Determined to prove
our ability, we accepted the chal-
lenge.
In and out of the rooms for
whole year, he went, watching
children and teachers, inwardly
taking notes on what he saw.
Finally we realized that no pattern
was to be given to US, no orders,
no comparisons with someone in
southern Ohio "and this is good"
we said.
We can be old, we can be young,
we can be dowdy, we can be smart,
we can be serious, we can be frivo-
lous, we can be happy, we can be
ourselves, we are a family-and
this, you may not realize, is the
greatest privilege a principal can
give to any teacher.
1t is not easy to summarize the
next 25 years in a few minutes.
The years went by, some unevent-
full, some exciting. But, as in all
good family life, plans were made
and problems were solved, to-
gether.
Chambers is one of the first
schools in the country to put into
practise the idea of giving children
their first two years with the same
teacher. Chambers has a cumu-
lative record form, unique in the
city, carrying through the ele-
mentary school a child's history.
eve haven't the equipment to
carry out our plans" can never be
complaint of a Chambers teach
er." continued Miss Savage who
said no sooner a need expressed
than the principal enlists the aid
of the PTA and there it is-a
screen, a stage, silver bells pur-
chase like rare pieces of china,
few at a time; and many other
things all adding up to what seems
to be the principals slogan What
you need for your work, you shall
have" A sympathetic understand
ing man.
If there could be one test of
school mans success, continued
Miss Savage, " it would be in
child's faith. The children at
Chambers have found friend be-
yond the swinging gate that leads
to their principals office val
entines, cookies from the birthday
party, a piece of buttered corn
bread they have made, two clean
hands, are for the principal.
So the promise made so long ago
has been fulfilled. A good man
came to Chambers School. Tomor-
row will be another school day
and it is good to know that wher
it comes, the man who has bee,
our friend, will be working beyon
the swinging gate, the gate the
opens to teacher and pupil alike
Yes, good man came to Chan
bers School.