Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1858-05-12

produce cons szaetly the opposite IS thoss
iintendei ~ annual exsniinalions. Esefy tedeher
AT each renewal of Ais 81 her icdte ought t06e
more cTssicallY erapained dIl tbs trdnchss on
ssohich he Of sas had formerly passed and II this
lust and important rule il constantly put in
standard Of qualifications will be surely elevated
wheits neglect will prevent much OF the good IN.
tended to be produced BY these annual renewals
8. It is clearly the right Of the examining Com
mite to test the character and qualifications OF APP
plicants for license to teach by enquring into their
disposition to avail themselves Of all the proper
means within their reach to prepare for the faithful
discharge of the duties of the vocation to which they
aspire. ~
A number of measures, designed to facilitate tho
improvement of teachers have emanated from this
office, and been sustained by public opinion; and
they have the recommendation of being within the
pecuniary means of all, and Of having been USED
with eminent success in many other States.
Among these is the formation of State, District
and County Educational Associations; and the pub
LEGATION of Journal wholly denoted to the interests
of education and freighted with contributions from
experienced and intelligent teachers of every class
and in every part of the State
Every teacher is able to take one copy OF TINS
Journal and to pay the cost of membership in an
Educational Association; and respectfully suggest
that it is part of your duties to examine all ap-
plicants for certificates to their disposition and
conduct with regard to these matters.
A male teachers,
should be asked if they have Joined the State Ed
ucational Association, are members of any Coun-
ty or District Society of the kind; and if they an
in the negative, it is proper to enquire into the
reasons of their failure to avail themselves Of such
means Of improvement.
The nature and objects of such Associations
should be explained to them and they should be
given understand that proper efforts to aid in Or
ganizing County Societies of teachers for mutual
improvement are part of their duties, and cannot
be neglected without affecting their general charac-
ter and standing with the Examining Committee.
would especially urge that you ask all, male and
female if they take the North Carolina Journal of
Education; :" and where teachers of experience are
found to be without this or any other educational
periodical or any work the subject of teaching,
wholly neglecting such means of improvement, that
they be examined with the most critical care, and
with the least allowance for Deficiencies
1t is the manifest duty of all persons following &C.
equations in which others interested to use all
means within their reach to qualify themselves for
their vocation and it has been constant subject
of complaint that many Common School teachers
for the want Of means of knowing better, or from
other causes, do not readily abandon bad habits, or
acquire more enlarged ieeas of the duties Of their
Calling they should, whenever it is practicable, be
forced into positions where, without hardship or
any burdensome expense, they will at least be in
the way Of improvement.
They owe it to their own characters, and to the
public deeply interested in their characters to avail
themselves of all such means they well afford, c
gain information necessary to the faithful and useful
discharge of their duties and to be unwilling to spare
a single dollar for such purpose argues narrow
ness of vision, Indifference to the sacred obi
cations of teacher which the public should know,
and which should meet with your unqualified dsap'
probation.
4. Since my last communication to you, l have
prepared and had published, under the sanction OF
the law, Common School Register; and copy for
each School District of your several counties is al
ready soon will be in the hands of the Chairman
Of your respective Boards of County Superinten.
dents. This Register is Blank Book, with cap
teacher to keep on its pages perfect record of the
SCHOOL, and it is made part Of your duty to examine
the record last kept by every applicant for renew
al of license to teach
The Book is very neatly gotten up and conve-
niently arranged; and while it will be but pleas
ant recreation to the faithful teacher properly to fill
its blanks, the record, intended to be permanent,
when properly made, will be of ncalculable utility.
This regulation will be means of stimulating pu-
pills to eater diligence, and the record will be
full to parents, to the public and to posery while
the filling out of this record will be of inn
provement to the teacher, and his method of per.
forming this duty will be an additional and by no
means unimportant criterion by which your to
judge of his qualifications. One copy of this Reg
lister is TO be reserved in each county, for the of
the Examining Committee; and you will thus be
enabled, from the explanations which it contains
fully to understand its objects, aud the method of
keeping it.
Permit me earnestly to request you to use your
opportunities of having this whole matter fully un.
derstood by all whom you license to teach-to adj
monish every one to see to the careful preservation
of the book, and to require each to make the nec-
essary record of the school, and to exhibit on ap.
plcation tor new certificate, the record last made,
for your inspection.
This is a provision required by law; and as it is
founded in wisdom, let at once form the habit of
strict and universal compliance with its demands.
5. would suggest that you conduct your exam
nations in such way as to let teachers understand
that they ought to know something of the history,
character and situation of State. AS yet it has
not been deemed proper to issue certificates con.
tanning History as branch of study which Com
mon School teachers are to be generally examined
nor is it intended by the above suggestion to require
that teachers should be we'll read in books concern
ing our local interests. But it is we'll known that
in times past there has been lamentable want of
information in regard their best interests on the
part of the people of North Carolina and this want
of information was naturally followed by want OF
interest in the character of the State.
Atone tme-and in fact until recently, it was hardly
possible for the masses of the people learn much
of the true character and of North Caro-
lima and not only was this the case, but the
occasional mention of our State in text books, was
generally in way by no means calculated to attach
the people to their homes
A certain amount of State pride is essential
to the success of its public schools well as of ts
industrial interests and teachers and officers of the
Common Schools having an important influence in
moulding the disposition of the rising generation,
should know enough of the history, position and
sources of the State to Undue them with that re.
spect for its character and welfare which ought to
be impressed on the minds of its children.
There is no longer any excuse for ignorance on
these subjects; and although have acted an hum
bic, but earnest and laborous part in the prepara
ton Of a School Literature pervaded with proper
ideas in regard TO North Carolina, have pecunary
interest, direct or contingent, in these works, and
Long and careful observation has satisfied me that
one of the chief difficulties in the way of the i'm.
nro1 ament Of our Common School teachers il their