Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1859-01-01
(vor the Daily Democrat.J
Geeplv 81 the Teechess % she School
hoard.

rectore in this city may have tendency to
mislead some persons Is to the position as
sumed by the teachers, in the city schools,
We propose to give brief statement Of the
matter a. it appears to US.
In the first place the Board established
rules requiring ali applicants for positions
in the schools in this city, 10 submit to an
examination by the County Superintend-
ent and his two assistants, appointed pursu-
ant to law. Those applying for principals
and first assistants situations were required
10 obtain first grade certificates, "a assist
ants % grade, DC, (see Rules and Regula-
tioBs
andy. All applicants for principals sit
nations were required to pass second ex
animation in the higher branches. to wit:
Algebra, Geometry, Physiology and Theory
and Practice Of Teaching ami obtain what
may be termed first grade certificates at
such examination. Applicants for first AS
sistants' positions were required to pass ex-
animation in Algebra and Theory and Prac-
tice Of Teaching.
Inasmuch as the preliminary, or county
examinations, were contemplated by, and
necessary under the schoo! law, the appli-
cants felt that the requirements of the
Board were just, 90 far as such examlna-
tons were concerned, and submitted to
them accordingly. And, inasmuch as the
law provides for an examination in the
higher branches, in cases where the Board
of Directors are of opinion that the posi-
tions applied for may demand it. We all felt
the necessity Of complying with the require
ment of the Board in this particular, before
presenting our applications. Il may be
we'll here to state that these rules and regu-
lations were adopted with but one dissent
ing voice, nearly four months before the
echools opened under their supervision, and
before any Of the principals (save one) had
been examined. In compliance with the
above requirements the teachers were ex-
amined, duplicates of their certificates duly
filed with the Secretary, and they were
elected and entered upon the duties assign
ed them in their respective situations.
But it so happened that no person applied
for the principalship in snb-district NO. 2,
who. had obtained certificate as required
by the school law and the rules and regula-
tions of the Board Whereupon the Board,
upon the recommendation of the local di-
rector of that sub-dstrct, elected Mr.. A.
A. Griffith principal until another examina-
ton could be held, he (Mr. g. proposing to
teach without compensation until that time,
provided he did not succeed in obtaining
the certificate required by the Board. Al
ter about two months the examination was
held, and Mr.. Griffith failed answering on
" AZ out of 60 questions. or 10 per cent,
90 per cent being the standard The same
cards were used which were used at the
first examination under the present school
law, and upon which some OF the teachers
had been examined and answered the re9ul-
site number of questions, and everything
was considered eminently fair and proper
until the time Of Mr. Griiith's failure. IN
event of this nature of course placed the
matter in very different light. Con plants
were at once made that the examination was
not a fair one, that Mr.. g. had not had a
fair opportunity, &C., and the Board after
first declaring the office of principal of the
school in No. 9 vacant, proceeded to instate
Mr.. Griffith Us tutor, until the next exami-
nation.
The next examination day arrived, and
Mr.. g. failed second time, answering only
orr per cent more of the questions than
he did at the former trial. A majority OF
the board (still determined to retain their
favorite at all hazards) after some quibbling,
repealed all the rules and regulations provi-
ding for the examination of teachers, and
the grade certificates, and elected MIR.
Griffith principal of Sub District No. for
the remainder of the present school year.
This action, the teachers could not do
otherwise than resent. They had been com
PEELED to pass not only the preliminary ex
animation in which Mr.. G. so signally failed
but have been subjected to another and
higher examination before obtaining their
positions; and now all rules relating to the
qualifications of teachers aud the grade Of
were repealed, anu man who hal proved
himself incompetent when subjected to the
same test upon which the other teachers
were declared competent to fill their re-
spective positions, was placed in one of the
highest situations in the city schools, in ut
ter disregard of ali consistency whatever.
Believing that injustice had been done
them, about two-thirds of the teachers, in
Guiding four of the five assistants under Mr.
Griffith, resigned. Their designations, how
ever, were not formally presented to the
Board until few days since, thus giving a
fair opportunity to the members of that
body to restore the rules and regulations
under which they had been employed. il
they chose to do so.
Finally, the Board met and restored the
rules and regulations, with proviso, the
substance Of which is that the Board may
at its discretion appoint a committee o.
three persons, who shall re-examine the
cards Of the applicant or applicants, as the
case may be, and compare the same with
the cards used at former examinations, and
add to or take from the percentage of certif
icates granted by the superintendent, as in
their judgment may be deemed proper; the
action of this committee to be final,
This was nothing more nor less than q
DODGE, for if the Board desire to raise the
grade of certificate which is held by any