National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1870-01-07

Secretary's report, PIP. 80 and Is,
appendix. DR.. Worcester says -
1T SCENE to me very obvious that
there should be some other method
of examining teachers than that at
present generally practiced. The
town superintendent are left prac-
tically to form their own standard
of qualifications, and in very many
eases the superintendents personal
interest would apparently be COM
promised if he should reject appli-
cants with whose qualifications he /
is not satisfied. Practically, in very I.
many towns at least, every applicant
receives a certificate, whether quail /
fed to teach or not. Could not the
Secretary furnish uperlntendents
with series of questions in the va
rious branches Of study, and tell
how large proportion of these
questions should be required to be
answered correctly, in order to entl
tie one to a certificate Could he
not at least let us know IN some way
how thorough the examination sho'd
be, and how well this examination
should be sustained? The eXani-
nation at Institutes and Normal
schools is well so far as it goes, but
at present there seems no hope Of
securing a full supply Of teachers
who can pass so rigid an exsmlna-
ton"
Mr.. Fcrrin SAYS: 'From the Secre
+. tary'S annual reports the last year
+. and the year before, it is obvious
{ that the examination at the Teach
E cIs Institutes is destined to be fail
, ure, except as "a stimulus applied to
. a few. The great body of our
schools can never be supplied with
J, teachers through these examina-
g tons. The law, contemplating this
If in two or three years more, must be
4 modified. Yet the examination of
Y teachers is one of the most import
G ant duties done by any of our school
i officers. The Secretary of the board
Y should have some hand and some
II influence in it. These things are cs
i. pecially needed i'll these cXamina-
n. tons First. greater thoroughnc IS
N In many towns 1t Is now very loose
" IS done. In some hardly done al
@. all. This must always be so under
m our present system when superln-
o. tcndents are often changed and clio
re sen without much reference to ca
10 pacity. Second, we need to ann a
ct greater uniformity in the diitercn
ii towns and in the same town ycal
sc after year Third, there is need o
Sc something Ike a standard that shal
4 be recognized and recognizable
rs And this standard should be gradu
O. ally raised till it is at least rCSpCCta
lc bic. These needs cannot be NE
n without the superintendent aud Ia
hOrs of one man who shall make III
~ influence felt in every examination
,ir And yet uniformity and high stant
~ ard cannot be insisted on i'll ever
,lS case. There are various Clrcum
,ol stances which must determine par
he ticular eases. will suggest tina
ey the examinations be all held on til
us same day, established by law, {
81 10y appointment of the Secretary
he that the Secretary furnish u list {
ID. printed questions Imcluding whf
80 the attaiumcnts of the candidate
III. ShouM bc,) to each superintendent
H. to Ice used rs basis in the exam
a nation; and that each Supcrlntcu,
bc cnt use these questions under II
structions from the Secretary, var!
nd. ing them only as he shall Judge Is
bc pecial circumstances to require
yer We will add that Nh rcrlin, al
- we think other supelintendcnts,.
Wn hay, sent to Secretary Rankin f
art such lists Of questions, and obtain,
Ihc them, and have conducted the g.
IKE animation with their aid, with vc
'rm satisfactory results. We uudcrStal
too that willie the secretary docsn
his wish 10 assume any authority
+ in present IN q matter so important
ere. this, he is willing to furnish amy /
ON pcrintcndcu; who requests them,
was printed cards for the public cXai
nd nations. We hope he will cont.n
one TO do this, and also prepare cir'
p u lm OF suggestions or instructions
the regard 10 their use, to send with
for cards. Let this method bc gcnci
ONE ~ tried next spring.
ONE -
This at is said that the doom of
,,,d ThumnS l.. Powers, of WoOdStot
'N, as Assessor of Internal Revenue
'"'' the I'd Congressional District
ali this state. Is sealed. The cum