Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-07-02
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
Instructions Touching the Mode of
Examfning and licensing school
6, 1ra m cheers. aud their QUALIFICATIONS. |

| Exanafnfng and licensing school
TEACHERS. and their Qualifications
| To Comfy Superintendents Of Public In
s.ruction Of Tennessee:
STATE SUPERINTENDENT OFFICE
| NASHVILLE, June, 1873.-The law makes
| il the duty OF the State Superintendent" to
prescribe the mode of examining and licens-
| inc school teachers, and their necessary
Qualifications In accordance with that
requirement, the following instructions az e
issued: Hs-f strt. -F
NECESSARY QUALIFICATION.
The qualifications necessary to entitle
one to teach any of the Public Schools of
Tennessee are declared to be:
1. Good moral character. 2 Sufficient
knowledge of the fllowing branches to
give correct instruction therein, to-wit:
photography, Reading, Writing, Arithmetic,
Grammar, Geography, History of the
United States. @
There being no textbook on Elementary
GecioEy of Tennessee yet prepared for use
in the schools, proficiency in that branch
will not, until so directed, be required. Vo-
cal music is not required by the law TO be
taught in the schools, and competency to
teach it therefore will not be counted as q
necessary qualification of the teacher.
MORAL CHARACTER.
The moral character of the applicant for
license is to be ascertained either through
the personal Knowledge of the Superintend-
ent, or satisfactory evidence to be furnished.
No speci Al amount or character of proof is
prescribed. Whatever satisfies the mind of
the Superintendent will suffice. .
By good moral character is not meant
character evidenced by conformity to sny
special standard Of religion, or denomina-
tionai creed or ceremony. Reputable ci:i-
zenship, responsibility of social standing,
freedom from notorious v ,ces and gross i'm
moralities such ss would bring reprosch
upon the profession of teaching and furn-
ish hurtful examples 10 the young-these
expressions rather, convey the idea here In
tended by the phrase "good moral charae-
ter; and such qualif5 alton should be held
of primary Importance by the Superintend-
ent. An applicant, failing in this regard,
intellectual qualifications.
ATTAINMENTS IN sCHOLARSHIP-HOw AS
CERTAINED.
The qualifications in scholarship must be
ascertained by an examination conducted
by the County Superintendent or by his
authority.
Should q Superintendent for any good
reason, not find it convenient or practica-
BILE to conduct the examination in person,
he may designate some person in his county
of known probity and competence, TO con-
duct the examination; though the certificate
must, in all cases, be signed by the Superin-
tendent. Such assistance, however, must
only re used with view of securing tho
rough and satisfactory examinations and
rot as mere resort for sbirking labor or
responsibility.
The mode of examination prescribed as
most beneficial aud satisfactory, is that by
both written aUd oral questions and an
swers; and this method is eDjoined in all
cases when practicable. e. written exami-
nation will be found valuable, not only as
touching the substantial correctness of res
poDses 20 the Inquiries propounded, but as
furnishing, at once, test Of penmsnship,
cr.hographv, owledge of grammar aud
comp siiion. Besides, being preserved,
either III case Of rejection or license, it may
become important to The Superintendent
for future reference. A miscellaneous oral
examination will be found important in
developing the ap, licant's general qualifca-
tons, and, perhaps, in modifying in some
cases the results of The specific written
one.
NO SPECIAL FORMULA PRESCRIBED.
For obvious reasons, no special formula
or line of interrogatories in the several
branches, for general use, will be prescribed.
To do so would almost certainly place it
within the power Of incompetent persons,
by special preparation upon the points
indicated, to practice frauds upon the Su-
perinte7dents. The details of the exsmin-
alton in this respect are left to the discre-
ton of the Superintendent, who may adopt
fixed formula for his own convenience,
or vary bis examination as he may deem
best under the circumstances.
ATTAINMENT-HOW GRADED.
The degree ei attainment in eacn branch
must be graded according TO scale rang
ing from l to 10-ten being highest, one
the lowest. When the average grade falls
below FIVE Except in extreme cases, the
nature OF which should be noted on the
certifcate), the applicant should be re-
jected.
FORM OF CERTIFICATE.
Upon a satisfactory result Of an exsmina-
ticn, the Superintendent will issue a certi-
fcate 10 the applicant in the following
form:
Tennessee public schooIs.-Teacher's
certificate 1t is hereby certified that
- known as person of good charsc-
ter, and having passed satisfactory ex-
animation, is authorized to teach the
branches specified below against each OF
which bis Cor ber) grade of qualification is
msrked) in any of the public schools of
county, for which - may be
employed, for twelve months from this
date.
Othography .........,....... ........
Reading. ........
WrltlDS .......,.....,..... s.......
Mental Arithmetic. ........... ...
Written Arithmetic. ......... ........
Grammar ........... 1900. ........
Geography ...........-...... .....
U.S. History. ................ ........
Theory and Practice of Teaching ..
- County Superintendent,
- County, Tenn.
This certificate will be good only in the
county for which it is issued, and for only
twelve months from the date of issuance.
The certificate is not graded. In view of
the macmillan c0 ditiOn of Our educational