The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1845-11-01
COLUMBIA DEMOCRAT
NQFEaABERI ls45.
iNIpORrANr CIRCULAR,

wealth. The suggestions made by mel
Superintendent, ill attended TO, cannot lad
To have most beneficial influence in pto
noting the selection Of competent pe'sons
as teachers. One OF the greaI drawbacks
u9on the Advancement G the system, has
been the evL complained Of by the S"Per'
iptendent. Il ii were removed, eur P"h'cl
Schools would not only increase an public
favor, bu, would be what they are lu'endedI
TO be, the 'buwark Of oul liberties
Dan Union,
SEcy's Oe,Nqg, SrhOoI DpartmeaVI
Harrisburg, OcL l. Isa5
CrNrLEMgN:-- Being lntused with thtl
responsible duties of Superintendent olI
pubc,Schools, aRdieeiOg deep sOIc
ruGe lur lhei. a3vaRcement in usefulness
ld,em il my duly to make q few sngges
tions for your considerations Il
have long entertained the opinion, that
tbo greatest practical defect in the operation
ol the system, is in the employment OF IN
compe,ent teachers, in many instances
merely on account of their services being
db,sued al a nomlnally low rate OF eos'pen-
,sltion Might DOT this, in some degree.oe
remeaied by mare rigid examination oi
those who apply for certificates o! IheT
ccmoetency TO teach! This eXamnanoe
belongs to The Boards Of Directors, and
is one of the most important duties they
have TO perform. The selection ol lhe
qeaeheIs belongs 10 The committees OF HE
.snh.dislric,s, where such districts have been
established. and cOmnNIlees regularly emo
,eea But the examination OF The teachers,
and the regulation Of their compensallnn'
belong 10 the Board Of Directors, and no
person can be legally employed as a teach
.er without having been first ezanlned by
the Board Of Directors. aud having received
n certificate OF his o, herquadics'ion5 and
lilnees 70 teach, signed by at least sloui
.neube.s Of the B 1ard fAsse examinations
There is reason 20 bekeVe, are contacted
TOO carelesslv, and are in many instances
more matter OF form than OF reality lh's
ouvh, not To be so. Would it not be well
for the Board to meet at stated periods IoI
-,he purpose of examining teachers, and
--eiaa all who Clay take an tinterest there
The practice oil persons making aFPuUoupi
10 individual members ni the Board, Tor GER
iifcales, and going from one member 10 an
other to procure ,heir signatures, is liable
;,t 10 grea, abuse, and its legality, TO say the
'oIeasl Off. may well te doubted. If the
examinations we're made in public, aud the
Directors were to adopt The practice, gene
rally, Of associaIing with them sonc OF the
most competent persons OF The ncighbor'
, hood, 10 take part in the performance OF
this duly ilswould ada interest and solem
MY TO the occasion, aud would often pre-.
ven, persons from making applications,
without having previously qualified them
stlves as teachers.
One great evil resulting from iucompe
len, PERSONS obtaining certificates is that
they .underbld those who are compelenl,&
compel Ihem,to retire from teaching, TO seek
oher employment. 1T may be said that
we must laks such as we can get Thls
may be true in some places, and 10 some
extent, bul if so, it is the result, in 100
Aaany instances, Of The want Of encourage.
mcnl 10 good teachers!-The principle
which governs supply ind demand, will
hold good in lhiS, as well asin other things,
= Only create demand for good lescheEs,
at a lail ratio OF compensation, and you
will soon find enough Of them. The
difference in value between well educated
and competent teacher, and one who is no!
50, will not admit Of any eslim or COM
2arison. It wonld be better TO pay the
ore literally for his services, than to have
,hose Of the other ggaIutOusIy. Ia my
opiniGn it would be much better 10 keep
the schools open for four months under
good instructors, than Tor six months under
those Of al inferior grade, and So Of other
portions oi lime.
The greatest possible efforts ought 10 be
, made 10 elevate HE character, and enlarge
the areuitcments Of the teachers Of our
, public schools. I'he business Of teaching
ought TO be esteemed what! really is, MOI
only useful, bat, a highly honorable pro.
fpssion. This elevation can only be attain
ed. Oy 'he )ue' dpP'ec'd'ou "A AieHI ahu
worth by those ln'rusIeG with The exami
naon ant selection ol teachers. If you
g refuse 10 employ a IeachoE,who IS admiled
to be qualified for tie ;sak, merely be.
cause he demands a (eW,d8llars per month
more for his services than some other one
less qualified. or perhaps not qualified al
all, we can never hope rtha services of
competent teachers, nor expect to see our
schools improve in usefulness, and grow in
favor with lhe people. Ga the contrary, if
proper discrimination 10 nede in lhe EN-
poymeul OF teachers, between those Win
are known TO befI to perform their duucs
and Ihosc.who are Inadequate; we mas
hope for sgraduaI and constant improve
menl in their requirements and their worlh