The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1853-09-29
Flom the Ohio Journal of Education.
Common Schools and School
Examiners,

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THAT there ought to be some improve
ment made upon our present system Of
! Common Schools, as it exists in the coun-
try generally, there can be no doubt
Many of them are in lamentable circum-
stances, on account of the qualifications
of their teachers and the supineness of
/ their directors. we are also warranted
in the belief, that if our teachers were
better qualified than they generally are,
and more literally remunerated, they
would become more elevated in public o.
pinion; and that the profession, instead
Of being rather diSreputable, would be
looked upon as one of the most honorable
callings of our day. We are aware that
prejudices have existed, and still do exist
against the teachers Of Common Schools;
but have not these prejudices chiefly a
risen from the dependent state of the
teacher, his humble origin, his want Of ca
pacity, or his deficiency, of requirements?
This system of education, on which the
moral and intellectual soundness of the
country so essentially depends, is in a
deplorable condition. Except in some of
the towns and few country places,
teachers Of Common Schools are as unfit
for their vocation as a Hottentot is to
teach Theology. Their want Of knowl-
edge, of seif-reSpect, and manners, can
hardly be surpassed. a great number
of them, On account Of their incapacity,
are unqualified alike to govern and in
struct, to set example and command re-
spect. In truth, they are disqualified for
everything connected with education be-
cause they are almost wholly uneducated
themselves. They are generally too ig-
norant or feeble-minded to be engaged in
business in which intellect and knowl-
edge are requisite, therefore they become
schoo'masters, and teach their scholars
bad English, bad manners, and too often
bad morals. We do not aver this to be
the case with all, but it is true of q great
number of those with whom we are ac-
quainted. We know teachers who can
not teach tie five fundamental rules in
Arithmetic without a key. There are
hundreds who have not the least idea of
the number of elementary sounds in the
English language, and it is doubtful if
they all know the number of graphic char
actcrs Of which its alphabet is composed,
unless they have book to count them
from
The only remedy that We, at this time,
propose for the above evils, is, that the
board Of school examiners, in order to
prevent the public from being so grossly
imposed upon, adopt a more thorough
course Investigation into the qualifca-
tlonS Of those who present themselves for
examination. The examinations under
the old law were in many eases entirely
useless, and nearly rendered the law
which was intended TO protect the people
from imposition-a perfect farce. The
law requires that the teacher shall be
qualified to instruct his pupils in certain
branches, and when the Legislature made
use Of the word qualified, they intended
that it should mean: fitted by attainments
or endowments. The attainments of
some of our teachers are wonderful in
deed The examiners certify that they
have diligently examined the candidate,
and find him qualified to teach, ETC. Now,
with such q certificate as this from the
examiners, teachers are prepared to prac-
tice any amount of fraud upon an un-
suspecting people, who should be war
ranted in presuming that the individual
presenting such certificate is competent to
teach.
The public arc beginning to wake up
on these matters. Many of our new ex-
aminers are making thorough work of it.
Their examinations are critical and Sc
we're; none get certificates as a personal
favor; and if they continue to pursue the
same independent course, our Common
Schools will be renovated, and impostors
banished from our school houses.
IRVING z. BEACON.
JEFFERSON Co, ONO.
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