Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 148, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 June 1915 — ARE JASPER COUNTY TEACHERS DISCARDED? [ARTICLE]

ARE JASPER COUNTY TEACHERS DISCARDED?

Republican in Receipt of Letter From Woman Who Complains That Supt. Lamson is Unfair. For a long time and particularly for the past year complaints have been made to The Republican concerning Superintendent of Schools Ernest . Lamson, generally alleging that he has discriminated against applicants for schools in Jasper county and hired teachers supplied through an employment agency and frequently of inferior ability. The Republican has known that some graduates from the Rensselaer high school who had taken a course in the state normal school had failed receive licenses, but their examination papers are always subject to review by the state superintendent and it would seem that a square deal was thus assured every applicant. On the other hand, it seems peculiar that the requirements for teaching a country school should be made so strict that a graduate of any reputable high school fortified with a normal course could not pass the examination. The apparent qualifications of the teachers secured from other counties of the state would indicate that in many instances much better material could have been secured here at home. Last year two Rensselaer people with long teaching experience were denied licenses and consequently unable to get schools. These two were, Mrs. John I. Gwiin and Charles M. Blue. Both have taught for many years and both are far above the average in intelligence and should have no difficulty in passing any reasonably difficult examination. At the time Mr. Blue, who depended upon teaching through the winter months for the support of his family, failed on his examination, he charged that Mr. Lamson had used that means of getting even wjth him because he had opposed his election as county superintendent and had not hesitated to express an opinion adverse to his management of the schools. At an examination held in the schoolhouse in the spring of 1914 Mr. Lamson had gone to the desk at which Mr. Blue wqs working and had demanded that the latter surrender a book of notes which he was charged with using. Mr. Blue denied that he <waa using any notes and demanded that he be searched. This was done and nothing was found and although it was. a complete exoneration for him, the superintendent, so Mr. Blue believes, made the accusation with a view to discrediting him and as a measure of retaliation for the fact that Mr. Blue had made remarks discrediting the superintendent’s ability to run the schools of the county. Mr. Blue says that his success grade as a teacher had reached the mark of 94 when Mr. Lamson began to cut dt dawn. When confronted with a

demand for cause of reduction Mr. Blue says Mr. Lamson informed him that patrons had complained about him, but admitted that his investigation had not justified the complaints. However, he had reduced the success grade because the complaints had been made. Mr. Blue states that he had made grades of 100 in arithmetic, 97 in history, 94 in geography and then had his grade on - teaching science, which is largely a matter of judgment apd opinion, cut below the requirement for a license. Mrs. Gwin states that her success grade was reduced and was the basis of her failure to secure a license. Either of these teachers, we feel sure, would get vastly better results in the actual worfc of teaching than 90 per cent of Ate imported teachers. Remarks are reported to have been made -by some teachers who were brought here from other places that they did not want to teach in Jasper county again because “it costs too much.” The communication which The Republican received for publication is from a woman who taught school for a number of years and is not an applicant and has no personal grievance against Mr. Lamson. She states that the things mentioned are the common talk of the country and that the impression prevails that to be sure of getting a schooUn Jasper county yon have to make application through an employment agency. She states that dn one township, where there are some ten or a dozen teachers all but three are imported. In another all but two are imported and that it had been rumored that the superintendent had remarked that these two would be out of jobs by another year/ If examinations are bring imposed that are too difficult for high school graduates and those who have taken normal courses to pass and too difficult for school teachers of many years’ experience to pass, then there » something wrong with the bad of examinations. If it is possible for a superintendent to defeat a candidate for license by reducing the success

grade then there is too modi liberty given a superintendent. If teachers’ employment agencies are exacting large commissions from teachers then they should be put out of business. And if county superintendents are receiving any part of the commission paid, such superintendents should be removed from office.

The success of our schools is an important matter, probably the most important matter in the county. Close to that success should be kept in mind the fact that the education of a child is a matter of a great deal of expense to the parent, especially if they are sent through high school and to a normal school, and unless there is something decidedly against the applicant to teach they should not be turned down and thus cause the parent to question the judgment of having invested in their education. Just what requirements are made of the imported teachers we are unable to say. Within the past year one was found who was teaching on a forged license. Certainly those responsible for the recommendation must have been readily deceived. The question would arise, “Why are these teachers unable to get schools m their home counties and are there so many smarter applicants in other counties than in Jasper?” The communication is held up for a time, but will probably be printed within a few days. In the meantime H would be a good idea for all to give some consideration to the schools of the county and to the charges affecting Mr. Lamaon. The Republican would like to have any information that would lead to a solution of the school problems and if there are any who know of irregularities in these matters we want > knew. If there is nothing in the rumors, which of themselves are enough to injure the school*, then in justice to Mr. Lamaon these rumors should be set at rest. The Republican has opened up the question only after many persons have discussed subject with us and with the hope of good results to the schools of Jasper county.