Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1866-03-22
For the CHRONICLE.
Communicated.

connection with their duty. now that the
time for another annual examination, and
for employing teachers for another term of
school, approaches.
One cause Of difficulty and dissati-fac-
ton, is the practice among some districts,
Of employing teachers without certificates;
in some cases the result Of carelessnesS or
neglect to enquire whether the applicant
has certificate in force or not
In other cases, teachers are employed
with the understanding that they are to
obtain certificate IS soon as they can
find a convenient opportunity to visit the
Superintendent for that purpose; and in
other cases, the district Clerk or Board
being personally acquainted with the
teacher, and being Satisfied either with or
without certificate, and having as they
suppose, complied with the law, which re-
quircs the school to be taught at least three
months in each year by a.qualifed teach. r,
are Indifferent al out the balance Of the
year. Now these are all wrong. and v DIRK
injury to our common school system, the
evil, Of which can only be remcdicd by a
thorough compliance with the law, and
ask the School District Boards throughout
the county as favor, not TO me pcaSonal
ly, but to the cause Which | represent, to
do their duty in This matter according to
law, ard not employ any teacher unless
legally qualified The law i. clear and cx-
plicit on this subject, and no district Board
has any legal authority to pay Gus any
public money, STATE, county, or town, or
any money riscd by district tax for
school purposes, for wages to any teacher
not legally qualified; and all contracts be-
tween school districts and such teachers
are, before the law, null and void, and if
contested, cannot be enforced. Several
cases have already ONE undersmy notice,
where, on account Of some misunderstood
Ing or difficulty between the parties, the
district Boards, taking advantage Of the
illcgality of the contract, refuse TO abide
by its stipulations, and have been APP
pealed to by the teachers TO come to their
rescue, which, Of course, cannot do
Those who TINS disregard their duty in
this matt 7, must expect trouble, and both
parties are liable to he cheated. And those
teachers who thus cndcavor to work thcr :
selves along through the term, as it were,
by stealth without being compelled to
produce a certificate II qualification, are
the very ones who almost invariably fail
to give SatiSlacti n.
Another cause Of complaint, and one
which my predecessor found to be a source
of continual annoyance, is the practice on
the part Of many teachers, of npgIectr Q the
public examinations, and afterwards ask
ing for private ones, with the expectation
of obtaining certificates on easier terms, or
without being obliged to come up to the
standard of qualifications required at the
public examinations have taken pains
to consult with other Superintendent on
this subject, and those of acknowlt dyed
ability and Efficiency, and fully agree with
them, that if private Examination are
granted at III, except for lawful and good
excuses, they should be more rigid, and a
higher standard of qualifications insist, d
on. This, trust, will remedy growing
evil in this county, as it has done in 9th
ers. Justice to the great majority of h. n
est and competent teachers, requires that
all be brought to the same test Let it be
Understood that those teachers who seek
employment and patronage without the
proper credentials, are not the ones to be
trlsted with the educational interests of
your county.
There is one more serious cause Of COM
plant which shall mention, although one
which has been repe teO'y urged upon the
attention of district officers. But the evil
still remains. That is the shameful neg
lcct on the part of majority Of districts,
in providing suitable ouibuidings. The
State Superintendent in his last annual
report says, providing these necessary
buildings would seem to be only needing
the simplest dictates of deccncy." at is
to be regretted that County Snperintel
dents do not possess the power of COMPEL
ing district Boards to remove the disgrace
that the lack of these brings upon orr
common schools" sincerely hope
shall not have occasion to mention this
subject again; but out of regard to the
cause of education, civilization and RI fine
mHnt, and common decency. and out of re-
gard to the health morals. and comfort of
the rising generation, shall not cease my
efforts in this direction, until shall have
accomplished my Object, and the school
house and its surroundings made pleasant
and attractiv".
In pointing out some Of the difficulties in
the way of the prosperity Of our common
schools, would not forget to mention with
pleasure the growing interest manifested
by the public generally in the advancement
of the cause of education, and the apparent
willingness on the part of district officers
to remedy existing evils, and especially the
fionriShnr condition Of a majority of The
schools, through the labors ola noble band