Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1866-04-25
RTE0Rn
ApriI Goth. 1866.

-bAAf CDO
Mr.. EDITOR Through the medium Of
the township correspondence, 1 wish to speak
a word upon a subject which interests us all,
1 refer to county examinations of our-dis-
trict school teachers.
To m and also to illustrate some
of the beauties (?) of the system, as it now ex'
lists, l will give the experience of our own
town girls who were examined this season.
There were five of them living from three 20
five miles from the railroad station. The
mud, on the day appointed, was as deep as it
usually is the first days of spring. As there
were no cars running to Warren on the NOR
ming of the examination day, they were
obliged to go in the day previous and
stay over. boarding at a hotel, until the day
after, making their expenses by the time they
reached home, five dollars a piece. They
each received, for their twenty five dollars
expended, the trouble and fatigue, a rejec.
ton. Two of them, to my certain knowl-
edge, have taught seven or eight terms &C
ceptably. The others, three of them had en-
gagged schools for the coming summer.
1t may be SAID there will be another op-
~pOrtunity this spring for them to be examin-
ed. Yes, and another opportunity for a re-
lection, another opportunity for spending
twenty-five dollars, making in all fifty dol
lars taken from the pockets of poor girls;
three of whom are orphans.
An educated and very gifted young lady,
known to many by the sweet songs she wrote,
but who is now singing among the angels,
told me once, her experience at one examin-
alton. She too wa, an orphan and almost
entirely dependant upon teaching for her
support. 1t was impossible for her to go into
Warren until the morning of the day ap-
pointed, and as the A. & G. w. railroad was
not then in existence, she started very early
by private conveyance. The mud was very
deep and the way long, and by the time she
she reached Warren she found the ex-
ercises had commenced; she hurried immedi-
ately over and was in time to join the read
ing class, but when it came her turn to read
she was so wearled out that her lips refused
70 move; and in all the branches in which
she was examined she made almost an entire
But one of the examiners at the
God bless him! was a man with a
heart, and knew by previous examinations
that she was well qualified to teach, had dis
eminent enough to see that il was physical,
not mental debility, and sent her a certiti-
cate.
1t seems to me our teachers are the vic
inns of a species of Tyranny which will not
much longer be endured.
Is there not in every town, men who are
competent, and who would be willing to per-
Orm all the duties of examiners? And is it
lot natural to suppose that a retiring, diff
ident young lady, would pass a better ex-
animation before one with whom she was ac-
than before an entire stranger,
Who might be inclined to puzzle her with
rocked questions?
Can we not, before another Legislature
meets, get up som strong petitions in behalf
f our teachers?
Perhaps it would be well to state before I
lose, that l nave never presented myself be-
Ore the county examiners for a certificate,
nd therefore am not a rejected candidate,
ut merely A CITIZEN.