New-York tribune., 1870-08-18
EDUCATIONAL.
PENNSYLVANIA STATE TEACHERS ASSOCIATION
SEVENTEENTH ANNUAL MEETING.

LANCASTER, Pa, Aug. 12.-1he fennsylVania
State Teachers Association closed its seventeenth An
nua Session here last night Though not the largest IL
was one of the most harmonious and satisfactory OF its
oo,,,gs BEFORE the revision of the school law In 1884,
any one might teach school in this State who could In
duce the directors TO employ him certificate OF quail
caton character required The act 1884 pro-
yded that all applicants for the position OF teacher In the
common schools should be duly examined by the County
snperntendent ian Office established that year, for the
county wherein the person desired to teach and that any
school district employing person to teach who had not
been 30 examined and therefore not having certf-
cateu forfeited quota OF the State funds for that
| year. Under this act, the State Department Is
| sued certain instructions explaining the meaning
| and intent OF the law. County Superintendents
were instructed to examine applicants ana 10 Issue
certificates" to such only as possessed the
maximum degree OF qualifications set forth In the In
structons "provisonal certificates" might be Issued
10 persons OF inferior aainments, good for one year
onlyD The school officers OF the fact that sur
cient number Of welqualiaed teachers could not DO
found placed the maximum low, and provided, IN the
granting provisional certificates for yet grade
As teachers became better qualified the standard OF
qualification was raised. Examinations were made more
| thorough until finally permanent certificate" was
iss,ed TO those only who had attained high degree or
skill the OF teaching and who were masters OF the
branches required by law to be taught in the common
schools These certificates, however, were Issued by tho
| several County Superintendents, each with his own
standard and his method OF applying the standard
to the applicants for examination this fact coupled with
| the ND grade movement toward higher qualifications,
gave rise TO great inequality. Persons unable TO obtain
permanent certificate in county might cross the
line and take rank among the highest Another diihcuty
however found in the legal provision that certificate
either permanent provisional is good only for the
county in which it is issued The graduates from the
normal schools may, after teaching two years. and
giving evidence that they possess the legal qualifications
receive q professional certificate This whole arrange
men Of certificates unsatisfactory to the teachers and
every year an effort is made TO reconstruct It, but no
| acceptable scheme has yet been devised
At the meeting just closed, two Committees, that on
| Permanent Certificates" and again that State
Aid to Teachers the whole subject and pre-
sented different plans neither of which were acceptable
the Association The matter, referred TO new Com
mittee therefore goes to the next annual meeting
lust as has gone during years OF the life OF the
Association foolish Jealousy between the teachers
at the Normal schools and those educated else
where is the major difficulty the way OF hnal settle
state Board, before which, at appointed times
different parts OF the commonwealth all applicants for
admission the Profession OF School Teacher could
appear for examination is the most feasible solution
offered The records OF the examinations would be ned
that should be evidence of admission to the profession
might issued under the seal OF the Department TO
awho by the records Of the state Board entitled 70
The status OF Normal Schools and their relation to other
institutions OF learning in the state also remains an u
settled question. BY the act OF 1857 the State Is divided
into u Normal Districts and in each of these State
ths Whenever institution of learning within one of
these districts shall ask to he recognized by the state a
pointed TO proceed to the place and examine buil
ngs property apparatus and facilities for teaching; and
ciay in the item OF 'vaue OF property" then, upon
the report of the Committee the Department at Harris
burg shall recognize the institution as the state Normal
School for that District and shall case to be paid TO the
Trustees thereof the sum of $4,000 Provision Is also
Of a
at said school, and 81 week 20 any wounded soldier
studying there and upon graduation, and the signing O.
pledge TO teaeh u the 2olc schools OF the State two
/ years, the grai;iate rede;Ses $50
Five State Normal schools have been established and
under the provisions OF this act These by or
sate aid enabled TO offer cheaper rates 10 young
by the private academies. The NorYa schools are,
Therefore, crowded with students While only the first
them Many indifferent private schools have lost their
patronage are earning only scanty living or have been
poTn Of the leaving ine' he NORMAL be-
come teachers so that the Normal schools are in reality,
and friends of private academies demand there
| fore, that the Normal schools shall be made
or frahns not & that sno ts se
aid shall be extended to all such private academies
are willing To establish " normal classes" Many OF the
friends Of the schools fearing that the ambition to
rate high in the number Of pupils is keeping down the
In the demand that more professional character shall
be given to the instructions The curriculum is too
in teaching the elements of the called Common
school Branches and give but little attention to the
Professors employed in the Normal schools fresh
graduates from these schools and that there E there
fore lack or that depth and breadth OF culture so
necessary To the of the institutions and which
alone distinguishes the teacher from the hearsay and
senled by Prof wyers, proprietor OF what is
eonfessedy the best conducted private academy in the
the Normal school at Mersyille, on the other side
The discussion conducted in the spirit OF fairness, and
of M
monweaith, resulted in perfect understanding OF
the actual condition of the Normal Schools and their
institutions sufficiently endowed to dispense with
the patronage Of mere academic classes the public
Religious instruction" or the Bible in the Common
Schools occupied more time in the Association than any
this discussion has already been reported in The
TRBUSE Prof. Brooks the State Normal school for
the purpose, he said Of putting in form and re-
cording the sentiments of the Association
Association religion, instrcoa in the schools snd
that the Bible should be made such instruction
Opposition to this resolution from two sources
First from those opposed to religious instruction; and
lie expression their convictions Tme was given for
mn discussion several attempts we're made postpone
hy on the table or otherwise dodge direct vote, but
lofy subsequently resolution offered by State super
nr was adopted aselaming any desire
suit therefore amounts TO declaration ON the part of The
a. Se sed ~ ia toa 81 the Bible IN the common sehoo
the school each day, and TO be the basis oil such
time To- time nnar us the teacher may from
great precepts of the Bible, held and believed by ali
Christians and many OF them also by Jews as true and
which are at the foundation OF public and private moral
lty may and should be taught free fros secaranism
'a hi, ~ ier inat wt not offend any sect or party;
erinan Language In the Public Schools" presented by
tTtN Ifess Association, referred to the Executive
Committee and will ip for next wear
at the meeting In williamsport.