Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1858-06-24


ID EDITOR CHRONICLE: | perceive col
= munication in the Independent Republic0
If signed J. Perkins, which presents soc
e inconsistencies, and with our leave l W
'' notice few of them. Friend Perkins a
: pears to be one of the educators of Il
e country, and not only undertakes to il
struct youth, but also to enlighten the pu
tic, through the press, on the very impo
tant subject of Education. This is all ,
it should be; but while thus engaged, h
steps aside from this laudable undertaken
to vent some spleenish feelings at tn
Board of Examiners, who, it appears, hav
not pleased him in their mode of examina
tion and granting certificates. He
particularly incensed at the Editor of tn
CHoNIcLE, because, in a note in said pa
per of 29th April, the "Hon. Editor in
formed the public, and School Director
particularly, on what principle the Boar,
of Examiners issued cert lficaies to teach
ers. 1t seems that the length of time fo
which certificate is given is reckoned ,
standard by which to judge of a teacher.
scholarship and ability. This idea Mr.
Perkins combats in long article com.
menced in Republican of May 27th and con-
cluded in issue OF June 10th.
In the latter paper he commences, "We
have shown the Inconsistency, the absurd
ity, the utter impracticability of making
the time for which a certificate is valid,
the absolute standard of teachers schol-
arship, or ability of teacher That
there was neither law nor reason for such
course of procedure. That the reason
for shortening the certificates of teachers
must be considered upon other grounds" !"
Then, after some interrogatories to the
Editor, and giving what he supposes pro-
per course for Examiners to pursue, upsets
all his reasoning on the subject by making
this admission: sand it is not supposable
that an inferior teacher should obtain a
certificate for as long time as superior"
Now this, in my opinion, is granting the
point contended for, and giving up the
question.
MIR. P. must excuse me if I criticise his
language as well as his logic; for an Edu-
Gator is expected to use good and chaste
language, when he comes before the pub
lie. The gentleman, in speaking of the
Board OF Examiners and Board of Drec-
tors, calls them sometimes sthe boards. -
at others "the board" He says, "It should
be remembered by the board of examiners
that boards ct directors do not employ
strange teachers upon such poor recon-
mendations, q. e. the certifcates) They
make other inquiries relative to their abil-
tiles; they make inquiries after their repu-
tations as teachers; they inquire how long
he has been teaching, what wages he has
received, how long he has went (gone) to
school, anG where. They frequently in-
4uire into his scheme of teaching, and his
mode of conducting a school" | make
this quotation to point out the grammatical
errors. The pronoun he, evidently is in
tended to stand for teachers, and it is a
violation of grammar rule to use singu-
ar pronoun FOR plural noun. Again, the
lrSt past tense of the verb go is used in
stead of the first past participle. He SAYS,
They" (reierring to Board of Directors)
frequently judge of the qualifications of a
eacher, by the branches they are compe-
ent to teach" Who competent to teach!
The Board of Directors or the teacher1-
IF teacher is qualified to teach the higher
branches of Mathematics, it is evident that
lie is qualified to teach the primer ry
branches OF Mathematics; or, if he is a
inguist, it is not probable that he under
tands his own vernacular." Now, these
propositions, | think, need some limita.
ions or notifications; although the last
nay be true as it stands, in the gentle
mans own case; yet | do not think that
vas what he intended. | infer from the
,entleman's communication that he has
pent years in acquiring know ledge of
he higher branches of mathematics and
he languages, that he has a diploma in
lis pocket; and applying to the Board of
Examiners for certificate of qualifications
o teach common school, the said Exam.
ners paid no attention to his diploma, AMI
hiding he had not rubbed up the rusty
dement's" gave him a certificate for lim-
Ted time. Now it would no! be surprising.
rom this specimen Of bis, in the "vernac-
lar" if, when he "trots" again before the
Board, his certificate is still more limited
n giving what he supposes a proper plan,
II course, for the Board of Examiners to
ursue, in the examination of applicants
or certificates, he says, at is neither the
business Of the board of examiners nor
heir duty 10 PROFOUND questions, puzzling
II unscientific, neither to puzzle them nor
o see how deep they are. But to examine
he applicants faithfully and impartially
Without any attempt to display their learn.
ng or talent" A display of whose learn
ng, the Examiners or applicant'sl Take
t altogether, this is queerly constructed
and after some study one may
lrrive at the authors meaning. | would
llso infer from the gentleman s article that
le thinks the Board of Examiners do not
'ay the attention they ought, 10 the moral
qualities OF applicants, and that they should
irst examine them sin respec: to a good
moral character" Now what can tie
Examiners do different from what they have
lone in this matter! Can they 90 behind
he applicants Recommendation from those
Who are acquainted with him! or must they
nterrogate thesapplcant whether he swears,
les, or steals! or must they examine him
n regard to his discrimination on theslogic-
i points, No sir this will not do; this
lind OF examination would not be satisfac-