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THE CHEMAWA AMERICAN
being imposed upon by stubborn, lazy, and inefficient employees; but
at the same time many of our superintendents are not capable of select
ing and directing the best employees. But leaving out these things for
the present we will enter the discussion of our subject.
Granting that the service has many employees doing inefficient work
it does not follow that dismissal or elimination would be the most
economical or wisest plan for securing competent help. The best and
most business-like plan is to stimulate and improve if possible the
present force. Every state and large city, and most of the smaller
cities, have systematic plans for improving the efficiency of employees,
and especially of the teaching force. Of all plans tried the hope of pro
motion acts as the greatest stimulus the immediate increase in salary
and the opportunity to do further preparation for advanced work being
the two great incentives. The latter is best for both employee and em
ployer. The following seem to be the most common agencies employed:
1. Advanced certification for additional study. Nearly all of our states
have found it a wise plan to provide for higher certificates for teachers
after getting into the work. For example, a temporary certificate good
for a limited time is first granted, on completion of further study and ex
amination a life certificate may be granted. The Civil Service has but one
examination, which is very general in its nature, and which often is not
a test, or at least not an excellent test. There ought to be some method
of officially recognizing advanced certification based upon successful
work and study and finally on an examination. Where the supervision
is not professional and skilled it is not always just to the employee that
ratings be made wholly by the superintendent or supervisors. Such a
plan places too much power under his control and sometimes subjects the
employee to the peculiarities and personal whims of incompetent super
vision, often too distant from the teacher's work.
2. Certificate on affiliation. In most of the states graduation from
certain first-class colleges and normal schools even of other states than
those in which the school is located offering definite professional
courses, entitles the graduate to a life certificate. The plan is working ad
mirably and is working wonders in improving the teaching force. If cer
tain strong schools, coming up to a fixed requirement, and offering pro
fessional work suited to the Indian work and approved by the commis
sioner were selected the mutual co-operation would furnish a class of
splendid teachers. If some educator closely allied with our Indian
schools, a person of university training himself, were sent to visit these
schools and to discuss and explain the requirements of the Indian Service
great benefits wonld result to the Indian work. The Indian schools
must be brought closer to the sources of teacher-preparation. Our pres
ent system, or lack of system, supplies us with people who know prac-