Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1864-10-14

:
Co. Supt.
QUALIFICATIONS FOR PROVISIONAL
CERTIFICATES.
sefar asis practicable, a uniformity in the stan
dard of qualifications of persons receiving provis-
ional certificates is desirable. The grades given
by Superntendents, in different parts of the State,
should represent, as nearly as possible, the same
attainments To secure this object, the following
instructions are prepared as guides for Superin-
tendents, to be followed so far as existing circun-
stances viii permit:
/. Moral Character. BY the new form of the
certificate. the Superintendent certifss to the good
moral character of the holder. Good moral char
acter is one Of the most important requisites, and
no person should be licensed to teach whose char
acter is even questionable.
IF Superintendent are not personally acquaint
ed with the applicants are in doubt as to their
character, they should demand testimony from
some responsible individuals, who are known in
the community, before certificates are issued
II. Intellectual A ttaiRme5,ts. is not expect
ed that all teachers viii be equally well qualified in
this respect but all who do not reach certain fix
ed minimum standard in each of the branches to
be taught should be rejected. 1t can hardly be
necessary nolo for Superintendents, in any of the
counties, to issue certificates with as low grade
at FIVE, and in but few should it be as low as four
in any of the branches Examining officers
should not either dispense with these low grades,
and then have taoo and three represent the same
standard of qualifications as would have been rep
resented by the lower numbers had they been at
tanned, Certificates whose grades say, good
'te,y good should be issued to those only who
are good or cely good teachers IF, however, the
lower grades are used, they should be given to
those only who have a knowledge Of the simple
elementary departments of the branches represent
ed in the grades, but who are not competent to
teach the more advanced classes in our schools.
The figures in the grades above four should
represent as nearly as practicable the following
degrees of scholarship:
Ortl5ography.-3. Ability to spell correctly,
orally or by writing, the words of the language in
common use, with some general knowledge of or
typography.
,. Ability to spell correctly the words in the
language that are in common use among our best
writer's, with a athoroughknowledge ofthe elemen-
tary sounds of the letters, aud the characters BY
which those sounds are indicated in the books in
use in the country.
l. Ability to spell correctly, orthographically
and phoneticaly, all the words in the language in
general use, with thoreugh knowledge Of the
principle of the science of photography
Reading. --3. Ability to readswith facility, and
enunciate distincy, with knowledge of the rules
Of punctuation
2 Ability to read readily in different styles of
prose composition, general knowledge of ortho
epy and elocutionary principles.
l. Ability to read well in different styles of
prose and poetry with the proper tone, infection,
nodulation, pronunciation and emphasis, with
thorough knowledge of elocutionary principles, as
found. In our more advanced readers.
WT-tating-3. A uniform plain hand, with
knowledge Of the proper position of the body,
and the method of holding the pen.
2 Ability to write good, fair hand, with some
knowledge Of the elementary principles involved
in the formation of letters.
l. A beautiful style Of writing, easy and rapid
in execution, with a thorough knowledge of the
art of penmanship, and ability to give the analy
sis and classification of the letters according to
some standard system also, a good idea Of the
proper classification of pupils, according to their
advancement.
Intellectual Aqittnlet,c.A3 Ability to solve
readily, explain clearly and with correctness of Ian
guage, any problems usually found in our prima-
ry arithmetics.
2 Power to concentrate the mind upon the
question presented, SO as to repeat and analyze
correctly problems involving the combination of
the four ground rules together with fractions and
percentage.
|. Ability to give promptly the most rigid an
aysis, with full and clear explanations of any of
the examples usually found in cur advanced intel
lectual arithmetics
Written A,athmetic. -3. Ability to solve prob
lens in common arithmetic as far as involution,
with good knowledge OF the principle of the
rules thus far.
2. Readiness in the solution of the problems in
volying all the principles found in our common
school arithmetic, with ability TO explain the op-
erations
l. A thorough knowledge of the science of
numbers, with ability to apply its principles to
ordinary arithnetical questions that may he pre-
sented, and explain fully and clearly, and in the
most approved methods, all the operations per
formed by the solution.
Geography. g.-s. A good knowledge of the def
nitions of terms used in geography, knowledge
of the boundaries of political divisions, location
Of chief towns, rivers and mountains with some
acquaintance with map drawing.
/. Athorongh knowledge of physical, political
and mathematical geography, with ability to ex
plain the phenomena connected Herewith thor
ough acquaintance with map drawing, and aptness
! In teaching by this method.
| Grammar. .--3 A general knowledge Of the
elements of English grammar, embracing orthog-
raphy, etymology and syntax with ability to give
instruction therein, and to compose readily punc-