The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1845-11-01
sEcy's Orricr, (School Department,
Harrisburg, Oct. /, lS45.


responsible duties OF Superintendent oI
Public Schools and feeling deep sO'ici
M9e for their advancement in usefulness,
4 deem i,.my duly to make few -sugges
lions for your consideration.
have long entertained The opinion, that
the greatest, practical de(ec, in the operation
ofrhe system, is in ,he employment Of in
competent teachers, in many instances
merely on account of their services being
obtained at nominally low rate Of compsn.
sation Might not this in some degree. be
remedied by a more rigid examination OF
those who apply for certificates of their
competency TO leacll9 This examination
belongs to the Boards Of Directors. and
rs one OF lhe most importsn. duties they
have TO perform. The selection Of the
teachers belongs 10 the committees Of the
sub'disuicls, where such districts have been
-es.sbiished, andscommltlees regularly cho
sea But the examination OF The teachers,
and the regulation Of their compensation,
rbeIong 10 the Board Of Directors, and no
person can be legally employed as teach,
.er without having been first examined by
the Board OF Directors, and having received
"a certificate of his OF herfG Qualifications and
iiinees to tearh, signed~by a, least -four
~.nembers Of the Il oard. These examinations
ahere,is reason 10 believe, are conducted
tooscareesslv, and are in many instances
more a matter OF form than of reality This
-eoughl not to be so. Would /, not be well
for lhe Board to meet 8, stated periods for
sihe purpose Of examining teachers, and
sgive all who may take an ainlersSt there
in an opportunity Of being PRESENT.
The practice ofspersons making application
vio individual members of the Board for GER
eaiicales, and going from one member TO an
s'other to procure their signatures, is liable
~.to gres, abuse. aud its legality, to say the
,sleast Of it, may well te doubted. II the
eexaminslioas were made in public, and the
'FI)irec,ors were TO adopt the pFaciice, gene
rally, of sssocialing with shem sono oi the
snost competent persons OF the neighbor.
Y hood,-.lo take part in the performance ol
.shls duty 'it.w'eSaI add interest and soem
,nlly 10 the occasion, and would often pre-.
vent persons fIom making applications,
without having previously qualified lhem
selves as teachers.
So One great evil resulting from iuCompe
.'dent persons obtaining certificates is that
they underoid those no are competent,& IL
compel them TO retire from teaching, 10 seek
oiher employment. 1t may be said lha,
we must take such as we can get This
Cd may be true in some places, and 10 some
extent, bu, if so, il is Nhe result, in too
maau instances, of the want of encourage
ment 10 good teachers? principle
which governs supply and demand, will
hold good in ihiS, ssswell ae in other things.
Only create demand forgood teachers,
.al fair ratio of compensation, and you
Twill soon find enough Of them. The
Z difference in value between a well educ aled
aad cemPeient teacher, and one who is not
50, will not admit of any estimate or com.
parison. it,voald be better to pay the
ore literally for his services, Than to hav'
those of The other grslulousy. ln my
opinion il would be much better TO keeI
cN,i.e schools open for four months under
gooi Instructors, than tor six monlhs, ,under
lhosetOf an inferior grade, and So Of olhe,
portions 'oG ume
The greatest possible efforts ought to bt
made 10 elevate A,es, Character, and enlarge
she requirements Of the teachers Of oul
public schools. The business VI teaching
ought TO be esteemed what ii really is, no
only useful bnl a.hlghly honorable pro
fession. This elevation can only be attain
ed. by the jus. appreciation nf talent sac
-woIla by those ,nWusleG with The exam
nation aHI selection Of teachers. If so,
refuse 'oemplOy aieacheT,w Who is admltlet
10 be qualified for A.s task, merely be,
cause he demands few dollars per mont
more for his services than some other on,
less qualified. or perhaps uel qualified a
all, we can never hope for the services u
competent teachers, nor expect 10 see on
schools improve in usefulness, AMI grow il
favor with ihe people. Oa The contrary,
~ proper, ,diserlnInauoni Ia made in the em
ploy mentaOf teachers, between those VII
are known to be fl to perform their dnlics
and ihose ,who are inadeqaa,c; we ma
hope for agrsdua and constant improv,
Inent in their atquremenls, and lheir ~orl
and services will increase in public hstini
ton, in the Iaiio-ol theIr own adVaneemel
in learning aud useGuness.
Yhereis anOlheI.imporla dutybclonI
ing TO School Directors! which il Is aplr,
asaded is too much neglected 4. is IT,