Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1865-11-09
RUTLAND HERALD.
WEDNESDAY. NOVEMBER 8, 1866.
school Teachers.

school Teachers.
We take the following from the Brat
Ueboro Phoenix, which we commend to
Che attention of all those whom 1t may
concern:
"The season draws nigh when school
committees will be looking around for
teachers for winter schools, and when
those intending TO teach should be pre-
paring for the work. The examination
q candidates for this important service
will soon take place, and Town Superin-
tendents are already beginning to think
about the time, place and manner of ex-
animation. II, OF course will be public,
open to committees, parents, and all In
terested in the welfare of our schools.
Il should be conducted so as TO ascer-
tain the qualifications of the candid
ates, and at the same time to furnish
them with important hints as to the
mode of teaching and governing chill
dren and youth. A part of the examin-
alton, should, we think, be conducted by
writing. Let paper, pen and ink be put
In the hands of all the candidates pres
ent at an examination. Let questions
be given by the superintendent and writ
ten down by the candidates, and then
let them have a reasonable time TO write
the answers.
In this way all may be employed at
once, and the answers will serve as a
test in penmanship, the use of capital
letters, and TO certain extent in gram
mar. These examinations should be
more thought of, and more should be
made o. them than is usually done"
In one view of the case 1t seems alb
surd that teachers should be from year
to year subjected to the ordeal of an ex-
animation. "Once approved, always
approved" would appear 70 be correct
principle. Why should teacher be re-
quired to get a new certificate every
year any more than a doctor to get
new diploma If the standard o. quail
ifcation was sufficiently high, and the
examining committee were truly COM
petent, faithful and conscientious, there
could be no valid reason for a second,
third or thirteenth examination.
In point of fact, however, q majority
of teachers who receive certificates are
but imperfectly qualified for their du-
ties. Most Of them are young and mex
perienced, II they continue in the BIZ,
ness for a length of time and are actua-
ted by true spirit Of improvement,
they will at some time look back upon
their first endeavors, and wonder at
their own presumption in undertaking
TO teach others while they themselves
knew so little. A day, or an afternoon
spent with such teachers by superin-
tendent who Is master of the situa-
ton" is calculated to benefit them by
bringing to their minds many things
which had escaped their attention.
There are great many teachers who do
not know how to use common spelling
book. For instance, we have heard a
teacher pronounce the word ,cand so as
to rhyme with hand, when he ought to
have seen, as indicated by the notation
of the book, that this word is to be pro-
nounced precisely as it is when it con-
stitutes the first syllable in scander. We
mention this as one of the thousand,
more or less, of matters and things that
are apt to be " left at loose ends" few
of which a good superintendent might
bring to the attention Of teachers when
brought together at the regular examin-
alton. If he could afford to spend the
time, he might by frequent visits in all
the schools, and by calling the teachers
together in teachers meetings, carry out
the plan to greater perfection. But he
is allowed a dollar day for actual ser
vice, out of which he has to pay, if he
can, at least dollar and half day
for horse hire What probability is
there that any competent man will
spend much time at this rate? We per-
ceive in the reports of legislative pro
ceedings, that bill introduced, we be
lieve, by Mr.. Walker of Ludlow, pro
vides for increased pay to School Super.
intendents. We have not seen the bill
but the report says it provides thai
towns may add something to the Stat
dollar per diem if they would like to
This is we'll calculated to cause smile
of satisfaction to steal over the features
OF those who are truly initiated. Ii
our minds eye we can already see thu
towns at their next March meeting vot
ing " a dollar or two" to their schoo
superintendent and we can "phancy
that all those who have been grumblin.
for the last six or eight years about tn
STATE PAP which the Superintendent
has been drawing for nothing, have beel
suddenly converted, and are now goin,
TO bring forth fruits meet for repentance
We shall see that which we shall see.