The Hickman courier., 1871-04-29
our CoarmoN sCnoons.


In your issue OF the 18th inst, lslu
pointed out the defects Of our connnor''s
school law. IN this issue il is my wish
to present, in part, system which shad
be free from those defects. nothing
more than a skeleton Of the agetsm vii
be given in these papers. except 1t be cu
points to which some one makes objso
tons.
| will begin with the most inpor.fni
officer in the system, the Commission
propose 10 have a Commissioner i0f
each Senatorial district, with pay Of BE-
less than one thousand (l.000) nor mcff
than Il ,500) fifteen hundred dollars. tht
amount to depend on the number oi prb
schools actually taught in the 1istrici
The Commissioner 10 hold certifes
of proficiency in three rcspccta ki-r
a thorough knoRle1ge Of the <ir-
of the branches to be taught n ths car
mon schools Second. great capacity SO
teacher Third, good adminisretire
powers, aud also to possess good ncr
al character.
This certificate, to be given sftsr *
aminstion, by State Board Of Exssr :
iners, appointed by the Board of Zoo
cation of The State and TO consist of 1To
teachers, viz: two common and two h'rh
school teachers, and one college pro'ea
sor, each of unquestonabie capacity -
an educator The examination 70 hs
first, on the subjects to be tsught 5T
questions oral and written, Of whic7
ninety per cent. must be correctly 'n
swered second, on such works ss "Csl-.
kin's New Primary Object Lessons.
Mrs. Phelps on Education. III
brooks Normal Method" "Nor,hens .
Teachers Assistant" Herbert Spen y
on Education" and "Mahan's In;elec;r
al Philosophy" To this list some beuk
on school government should be added
| am also of the opinion that at leas
fair knowledge of algebra snd plain
ometry should be required Of this 81
portant officer. The Board should be
sure the man did net bold all taco
knowledges as a jug holds water; thi G.
an examination on the common echoci
system and the manner of its executinn
The method of appointment of this oia. .
GER will be Of little importance. 90
Commissioner must be held responsil l.s
for the schools Of his districN must , q
a man of one work, going from schoc q
school, spending day or more with
each teacher, especially those OF whose
capacity there may be any doubt; noi %
errors aud correct them, and, as Xcasior
! NAV demand, teaching 4 class TO illus
trate methods, etc He should determine
! the time Of opening the schools OF bis
district, one half in spring, the sem;in-
der in the fall, in such manner as nay
be the most advantageous seeing to y
that the teacher has employment Tor Ten
months. lie should examine teacher u
/ the presence Of some intelligent gen-ls
man, both orally and in writing, traus
mitting the latter, with remarks, to thc
Superintendent of Public Instruction 90
be referred to the Board of Ezaniner.s
af their annual n,ettif, ----l-..-:ss.-
I association, for REVISION.
There should be three grade cf
tificates for teachers Fer ff-
the examination should conform rs
Of District Commissioner. *
intellec'u phi osnphica aies bsA
| plain geometry for seeo q grale
two thirds the first grade aDG T.
! third grade about one third the f.
| The commissioner should hold CO.
institutes for the instruction Of tae
ers. the exercises consisting Of exau ~
tions on course OF study prescESsrl
the annual association, ILLUSTRATES re
lures upon modern teaching, deb, ,es
essays, etc. This system wiiienaoie
annual association to supply The "
a normal school Each teacher ,iar ,u
be required to present ia writing =
Of the condition Of his school, tof
with observations on certain points -e-
sred 10 be considered by annual assscls
tionS. The county iosti e. byaepr-
mi,iee, should make a written reps
based on the reports of the teacher
be sent to annual association and rea
that body by a delegate elected bs -ls
county institute. This 40 S.ete apo
commissioner should be reqpiFed -
tend the association. the latter preseD
written report. The association sht
in its printed proceedings include
per based on all the reports Of the corr
institutes aud of commissioners. r..
annual association should have the sc
thority to determine the details oi ~
system it should not only be comp5st
Of one delegate from each county, ~
the commissioners, but also each collie
should be permitted a representative l-
the person Of one Of its professors, pro
vided the college responds 20 all prop
calls for aid in advancing the interests G.
common schools Each high school 81
the State should be allowed one delegsts
Untold advantages would result, for 9
would be united in effort.
An amount not 70 exceed one thot
sand dollars should be allowed for the
use of the Association in publishing
their proceedings, providing means for
illustrations. demonstrations, DC. Prop
erly executed, such arrangement would
provide the State with competent com
mon school teachers in a few years, and
very rapidly advance the knowledge Of
the theory and practice Of teaching A
method would thus be provided which
would mass the requisite number Of facts
to form the basis on which could be erect
ed the structure of the science Of teach
ing. The Board Of Examiners should
be changed every two years, excepting
one or two members. The Commission
ers' certificate should be good for fouF
years. at which time, after an addieions.
examination, diploma should be gives
him il worthy Of it. The teacher e.ceT
tifcate Of fret grade should be given fo-
one year. when second exauiinatio
should be made, and at the end D fo
years, or at any previous perip1,
! teachers should be permitted % IRE
himself to the Board Of Examiuf
examination. whieh Board, after4
examination, Of the teacher hssnp rt
employed for four years. may gfan'
| the teacher diploma. A.
| SOME hundred years ago Prizes hi
trich<tein sold bis SileSian pronl rty
L~e5erfck the r. roof for ana 44lII lucf