39 l'ol. 12, No. 1 THE JOURNAL OF THE NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION can Library Association, 78 East Washington Street, Chicago, Illinois. ATTENDANCE AT FIFTY CONSECUTIVE SESSIONS of the Iowa State Teachers' Association is the remarkable record of President Homer H. Seerley, of the Iowa State Teachers' College at Cedar Falls, Iowa. In recognition of this fact and of President Seerley's labors in behalf of education, a part of one of the sessions of the State meeting was given over to the appreciation of his work. The president of the Iowa State Teachers' Association, Superintendent L. H. Minkle, of Fort Dodge, presented Dr. Seerley a life membership in the State association, and President William B. Owen, of the National Education Associa- A LIFE MEMBERSHIP in the National Education Association was presented to Secretary J. W. Crabtree by the members of the headquarters' staff as a Christmas present. MR. E. G. DOUDNA, formerly superintendent of public schools at Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin, assumed the duties of the fulltime secretary of the Wisconsin Teachers' Association on January 1, 1923, at a salary of $5500. IN THE FIELD OHIO DEFEATS UNDESIRABLE AMENDMENTS-Two constitutional amendments voted upon by the people of Ohio, in the recent election, were defeated. "An important element in the opposition," according to The Bulletin of the National Tax Association, "was the attitude of the State Teachers Association which took the ground that the proposed rate limitations endangered the future of school revenues. This was perhaps a somewhat debatable conclusion but it proved an effective criticism, as is evidenced by the result at the polls." FLORIDA PASSES IMPORTANT AMENDMENT— According to a letter from State Superintendent Cawthon, the Florida Constitution was amended by a large majority at the recent election so as to provide for a district levy of ten mills instead of three mills. It is now possible to levy a total of twentysix mills, including State, county, and district support of education. THE ILLINOIS EDUCATIONAL COMMISSION will propose to the coming session of the State Legislature changes in the method of distributing the millions of dollars of Illinois State school funds, which are said to be the first attempt at a scientific distribution plan, according to the Illinois State Register. Mr. A. M. Shelton, director of the State Department of Registration and Education, is chairman of the commission. CALIFORNIA DEFEATS AMENDMENT which would handicap educators-An amendment increasing the number of signatures required for an initiative measure was defeated by a majority of over a hundred thousand in the November elections. The measure was vigorously opposed by the California Teachers Association, on the ground that it would make it more difficult to submit to the people measures for increased school support. THE MISSOURI COUNTY UNIT LAW passed by the last legislature and appealed by referendum to the November election was defeated according to reports received from the Association's State Director in Missouri. INCREASED DETERMINATION on the part of the forces behind the State education program in Washington is reported to be the result of the defeat of the "thirty-ten" plan at the November election. With the State Education Association and the ParentTeacher Association renewing their efforts on behalf of this measure, success is predicted the next time the issue is brought before the people of the State. CANCELLATION OF WAR DEBTS was advocated by President John Grier Hibben, of Princeton University, in a recent address at Rice Institute, Houston, Texas. THE GENERAL EDUCATION BOARD, of 161 Broadway, New York City, has created two new departments. A division of college and university accounting, under the direction of Mr. H. A. Thorkelson, will assist institutions wishing to improve their system of budget making and accounting. A division of school surveys, under the direction of Dr. Frank J. Bachman, will work in cooperation with State and city departments of education. THE CONGRESSIONAL LIBRARY now exceeds three million volumes and is growing at the rate of a hundred thousand volumes a year, according to the report of the librarian recently submitted to Congress. This enormous number of volumes which fills many miles of shelves, is supplemented by many millions of manuscripts, maps, photographs, and pieces of music. MRS. WINIFRED MASON HUCK, who has succeeded her father as a member at large from Illinois, in the House of Representatives, has announced her intention of supporting the Towner-Sterling bill. AS A RESULT of a recent decision of the Mississippi Supreme Court, the friends of education in that State are facing a campaign in which the State equalizing school fund will be the issue. In 1915 the State adopted an initiative amendment to its constitution. In 1917 the Supreme Court decided that this amendment had been constitutionally adopted. In 1919, working under the amendment, the people of Mississippi voted an equalizing school fund, to which the State Legislature appropriated the sum of $1,268,741. On October 23, 1922, the Supreme Court reversed its decision of 1917 by declaring the initiative amendment unconstitutional, which means that action taken under that amendment is void. This is a thunderbolt out of a clear sky, and unless some solution can soon be found, spells disaster to education in many Mississippi counties. SUPERINTENDENT ROY L. WHITE, of Gallup, New Mexico, is president of the State Association for 1922-23. Mr. T. W. Conway is the full-time secretary of the State association, and Miss Isabel Echols is State superintendent-elect of public instruction. ONE OF THE ANNUAL FEATURES of the meeting of the Idaho Education Association is a banquet given by the Boise Chamber of Commerce, at which the business men exhibit their enthusiasm for education. TWO NEW EDUCATIONAL magazines have been announced to appear in January, 1923. The School Executives Magazine will be published by the University Publishing Company at Lincoln, Nebraska, under the managing editorship of Mr. J. W. Searson. The American Review (bi-monthly) will be published by the Public School Publishing Company, of Bloomington, Illinois, and will "undertake to serve those men and women through the country who are giving intelligent and thoughtful consideration to a formulation of the purposes of American life." A SURVEY of the high schools of California is being made under the direction of Dr. C. E. Rugh, of the University of California. The survey will include studies of unit cost of the different high-school subjects and of the load of principals and teachers. THE VOTERS OF CLEVELAND have approved the $5,000,000 bond issue which had been requested by the board of education. This bond issue was necessitated by the fact that school rooms to accommodate 12,000 pupils will be needed by next September. Two years ago the voters authorized the borrowing of $15,000,000 for the erection of new school buildings. Ε THICS FOR TEACHERS-The Iowa State Teachers' Association adopted the following code of ethics at its meeting on Friday, November 3, 1922. The code was prepared by a committee consisting of: F. T. Vasey, Mason City; Anna J. Johnson, Ft. Dodge; Margaret Coulter, Sioux City; Mittie M. Pile, Council Bluffs; Herbert Martin, Des Moines; L. H. Minkel, Ft. Dodge; and F. C. Ensign, chairman, Iowa City. He who teaches should have faith in his calling and should believe in boys and girls. The expression of this faith involves a fivefold ethical obligation: I. To self (1) The teacher should be neat and cleanly in person and of noble mind. (2) He should be faithful in the discharge of duty; able, after closest selfexamination, to respect himself. (3) He should seek to improve himself in all qualities essential to one who is to direct and modify the lives of others. II. To the children-(1) The teacher should always be courteous, kind, and sympathetic. (2) He should respect personality and seek to discover and develop the abilities and capacities of each. (3) He should train for citizenship, inculcating respect for law and order and the habit of obedience to properly constituted authority. III. To the community-(1) The teacher should demonstrate the importance and significance of education. (2) He should identify himself actively with civic and social interests. (3) He should protect the rights of children. IV. To fellow-workers-(1) The teacher should be courteous, appreciative, friendly, and frank. (2) He should stimulate scientific inquiry and should freely share the fruits of his own investigation. (3) In seeking appointment, he should be sportsmanlike and fair. (4) Between the teacher and the supervisory or administrative officials there should be full and generous confidence and coöperation. V. To the profession―(1) The teacher should stand for the highest ideals of educational service. (2) He should recognize that work well done is in itself partial recompense for his labors. (3) He should maintain an open mind towards all forms of professional progress. (4) In business relations his conduct should be such as to dignify his profession. (5) He should perform his daily tasks so skilfully and so joyously that some of the choicest spirits will be inspired to carry on his work. with the rules and regulations under which 3. To apply for a position held by another 4. A situation may develop in a community in which no ambitious or self-respecting teacher could hope to succeed. Under such circumstances others in the profession should inform prospective candidates of existing conditions; and it should be considered unethical to accept such a position without a change in conditions. 5. Teachers should not make special requests to individual members of the school board. If an unusual or extraordinary condition should arise, a teacher may go direct to the board, but this should be done with full knowledge of the superintendent or principal. The practice of teachers going direct to the board with complaints or for favors should be condemned as opposed to a professional spirit and as counter to principles of successful organization and management. 6. A superintendent or principal should regard himself as in honor bound to accord any teacher due consideration and justice, and be prepared to give any complaint a fair and impartial hearing. His attitude toward his teachers should be governed by the principle of merit alone. 7. That harmony and unity may prevail in the work of the school, teachers should observe a respectful attitude toward each other and to the principal and superintendent of the schools. They should not indulge in criticism of each other or of the principal or superintendent, excepting when the good of the school is involved, and then only under conditions which will permit of defense. 8. It is most unprofessional and unethical for a school superintendent or principal to issue a testimonial to a teacher ascribing qualifications which she does not possess. In giving a verbal or confidential estimate of a teacher's qualifications for a position, school men should be absolutely frank with one another and altogether act without any mental reservation whatever. 9. It is unethical for a teacher to recommend to any school board a teacher for a definite position unless said position has been officially, legally, and conclusively declared vacant. 10. Bad opinion of the members of the board of education, of a superintendent, or other superior school official, no matter what the reason for such opinion, can never justify a teacher or other inferior official in public expression of such opinions as long as such official relationship exists. Those in authority are in turn duty bound to withhold from the public information and opinions as to the personal qualifications or the personal attainment of teachers so long as said teachers are under contract. 11. Obtaining and securing positions by fawning upon members of boards of education or others in authority by courting their personal favor, or by doubtful relations with them will be regarded as undignified and unethical by respectable and self-respecting teachers. The election of teachers to office should be based solely upon merit. No other should be so quick or so zealous to insist upon elections under such system as teachers themselves. 12. In communicating with parents or guardians, teachers should exercise the utmost candor. They should hold inviolable information as to the financial limitations of children or wards, their physical or mental defects, their genealogies, or any other information the public discussion or mention of which would tend to prove displeasing or discouraging to said parents, guardian, children, or wards. 13. Teachers should fearlessly expose corrupt or dishonest conduct in the profession, and there should be no hesitancy on the part of teachers in exercising the utmost diligence to disqualify and debar the criminal teacher whose conduct at any time becomes a reproach to the profession. 14. It is perfectly proper at all times for teachers to seek preferment and promotion by legitimate means; but any sort of endeavor to establish reputation or to obtain position by innuendo, exploitations, complimentary press notices, or advertisements, is undignified and unprofessional. 15. It is undignified and unprofessional for any teacher desiring to succeed to a given position to use any influence whatsoever or permit his name to be used whereby the incumbent may be handicapped or vacancy created. Social, political, religious, or denominational prejudices should never be aroused against an incumbent by a prospective candidate. 16. A superintendent or other official to whom is delegated or entrusted the power to employ teachers should not knowingly employ a teacher without the knowledge and consent of the employers of said teacher. 17. Adverse criticism of a predecessor or of a teacher employed in the same system, particularly of a teacher of a lower grade is unethical, and should not be indulged in by those who are mindful and regardful of the dignity of teaching. Such criticism, if made, should be made only with the intent of serving some good end. 18. It is the duty of every teacher in Mississippi to become a member of the Mississippi State Teachers' Association, to pay the membership dues annually, and to spond cheerfully to all demands for service made on him by the association. re 19. A committee of three may be appointed by the president of the State Teachers' Association to investigate charges or reports of violations of this code of ethics as heretofore set forth and to render to the president a decision sustaining the said charges or reports or exonerating the teacher. This committee should be so appointed at the written request of any teacher against whom such reports or charges have been made, or at the written request of any teacher desiring to charge another teacher with the violation of the code of ethics. a Published monthly, except July and August, by the NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES Entered as second class matter October 28, 1920, at the postoffice at Washington, D. C., under the Act of August 24, 1912. Acceptance for mailing at special rate of postage provided for in section 1103, Act of October 3, 1917, authorized January 26, 1921. Power to think clearly and speed in reading with better comprehension are the known results of teaching silent reading. More power and more speed are obtained by pupils using The Silent Readers (Lewis and Rowland). THE SILENT READERS A series of six readers for grades three to eight, inclusive Teach pupils to read rapidly Teach pupils to read understandingly Teach pupils to analyze and make outlines Test pupils for speed and comprehension Solve the problem of thought getting TEACH PUPILS HOW TO STUDY Comparative tests for power, speed, and comprehension in reading have been given in Tests made at Salt Lake City, Berkeley, Cal., Saginaw, Mich., and Allentown, Pa., are indisputable. THE JOHN C. WINSTON COMPANY CHICAGO PHILADELPHIA TORONTO SAN FRANCISCO T Educational Achievements—1922 HE BEST CURE for pessimism about educational progress is a survey of what is actually being done. Early in December THE JOURNAL sent letters to three people in each of the various States asking for a brief statement describing the one educational achievement in the State which they thought most significant. Letters were sent to State superintendents, to State directors of the National Education Association, and to secretaries of State education associations-all persons who are on the firing line and who are in a position to observe the sweep of the educational advance. In spite of the pressure of work which precedes the holiday season, replies were received from nearly all of the States. In most cases the progress made strikes at the very heart of educational needs. Such topics as increased civic interest, improved teacher training, stronger professional organizations, consolidation, and equalization of educational opportunity receive emphatic emphasis. Alabama-The organization of a citizens' conference paralleling in organization the Alabama Education Association, with six hundred members present at the first meeting and with the expressed determination of seeing the job through until Alabama stands educationally at least up to the United States average.-H. G. Dowling, secretarytreasurer, Alabama Education Association, Cullman. Children are remaining in school. Increase in high-school attendance this year over last, 18 per cent, though school population increased only 2 per cent.C. B. Glenn, superintendent of schools, Birmingham, and N. E. A. State di rector. Arizona-The adoption of new certification regulations requiring continued self-improvement of the teacher in service and aiming at complete elimination of the untrained teacher by 1927.-Elsie Toles, State superintendent of public instruction, Phoenix. The application of more scientific and effective methods, not only in teaching, but in administration, demanded by the SCHOO CHOOL AND SOUND CITIZENSHIP - The school must save democracy and civilization for progress by nurturing the constructive impulses of the common man. The greatest safeguard against future wars will be found in the intellectual perception by democracy of the unity of civilization, and the active participation of the common man in the social and political questions of the day. The school must give the knowledge upon which sound citizenship is founded, and the moral fiber which active citizenship demands.— W. G. Cove, president, National Union of Teachers, England and Wales, Rhondda, Wales. State Colorado-Growing professional solidarity evidenced by greatly increased memberships in educational organizations-local, State, and National.-H. B. Smith, secretary of the Colorado Education Association, and N. E. A. State director. Colorado won both first and second place in the classification of the ten best consolidated schools in the United States. -Katherine L. Craig, State superintendent of public instruction, Denver. Connecticut (1) The establishment of a department of standards; (2) the compulsory education law which required that two and one half hours be devoted to physical education each week for every child; and (3) a teachers' certification law which is sure to promote professional training.-L. T. Garrison, N. E. A. State director for Connecticut, regional supervisor, State Board of Education, Willimantic. A State system of certification of teachers became operative July 1, 1922. A new normal school plant at New Britain cost $750,000.-A. B. Meredith, commissioner of education, Hartford. Delaware-We now finance our schools so that it costs a local district no more to run a good school than to run a poor one.-H. V. Holloway, State superintendent of public instruction, Dover. Adoption of the State unit as a basis. for school support. Thus the handicap of dependence upon local support has been removed and equality of educational opportunity assured. Agnes Snyder, secretary of the Delaware State Education Association. District of Columbia-The passage of the new salary bill for the District of Columbia public schools by the United States Senate without debate. Similar action by the House will make it a law.— Harry English, N. E. A. State director for the District of Columbia, head of Department of Mathematics, High Department of Schools, Washington, D. C. The awakening of public interest and civic activity in the support of an adequate constructive school program. |