Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1873-03-18
REPORT OF THE COUNTY sUPERIN-
TENDENT.
The Common Schools Ia GSaut County II Oh.
eP Qualifications In Teachers Necessary
Distinct supervision Normal
schools.

uhNo NlSlbcu Ouo uuuuTeu abu
ten different schools and have made
one hundred and sixteen visits il
being more necessary to visit six OF
OF the number second time, than to
visit where l had not been. In
hese visits have told both teachers
and pupils what deem their "shor.
comings," ny taking hold and setting
ihings TO running as | think they
should go. By so doing, perhaps
my own errors have been exposed,
but It Is my duty to strive 10 cause
the schools and the teachers to i'm
prove as much as possible and Thu
goes to show that said duty has moi
been neglected
EXAMINATIONS.
have examtoed tour hundred and
ninety applicants for certificates OF
their qualifications for teachers and
have granted three hundred anG
ninety-two certificates. Nineteen OF
them first grade, Lwenty.one second
grade and three hundred and forty
two third grade. | still continue u
render my questions suggestive
what teachers should know and should
be able TO teach, beyond that which
they do know and are able 10 teach ;
and this | deem as necessary as TO
render the questions test of their
learning and ability. In my examin
ations / still continue the practice OF
teaching. that is, of dnSWering my
questions, and thus deVeioDiog what
.oor suggested by them. This is
done as Institute work after they
have handed IN their questions
Teachers have said repeatedly that
the examination was as good to them
as term of school; and they ma,
DO right for what is there taught liz
not SIMPLY "book lessons" but prac-
tloal knowledge that can be adVan-
tageously employed in common ev-
eryday life, as well as 10 the school,
room.
QUALIFICATION OF TEACHERS.
Our standard of qualification tor
teachers is far too low not only in
regard to the spirit of what is con,
tanned in our textbooks, but in re-
gard to q general knowledge OF
things, Of the effect of example, per-
sonal influence, surroundings, habit
etc, upon the moulding character OF
he young and IN regard to an un.
Outstanding Of the law of nature,
physical laws, the laws Of the phys
zeal system, and the laws of mind.
The great needs of our common
schools are 4: % Teachers who hay {
had experience and are possessed OF
much intensely practical knowledge
net found in our text books, in add
ion to the required literary qpahfi.
cations o. Tue agents aud facili-
ties for causing aud assisting teachers
10 improve rapidly, both theoretical.
" and practically, or experimentally
3D. Complete, natural, sufficient and
elhcaclous supervision.
Our Normal Schools and Teachers
lnstilutesare partially supplying the
second want enumerated, but aeIther
the Normal Schools nor the Teach
ers' Institutes can "cause" or compel
teachers 10 improve and if either or
both Of these could cause, or compel
improvement in teachers, that I'M
prOvemenL would necessarily DO al
most wholly "theoretlcal," and b, I
very slightly practical, or "experi.
| neutatJ IUr In'neiLner OF those iusti.
tutiOns can teachers get real prac-
tice, or experience in teaching a.
teachers OF our common schools in
the country or in small villages, and
il is simply folly to expect il, because
the well organized Model Depart
ment" with its we'll trained, thor.
oughly disciplined pupils whose pa
rents are never allowed any direct
Interference with the school govern
ment, il il a very different thing
from the unOrganized country or viii
!age school with its untr, ined undis
ciplined children, some of whose pa
rents NEEDLE with tue school gov
eminent and dictate modes of teach
ing.
County SUPPLEMENTARY is, also,
partially supplying the second and
third need but IL Is unnatural for u
county officer to have the supervision
Of the minute of any tom affairs
and bis supervision, be LIE never SO
good man for the place, must nee
essarily be insufficient, and therefore,
notifications.
All three of these institutions are
very good things and very necessa>
ry they are, 100. That which is
needed Is not wanted instead of these.
but in addition TO them.
Under our present system OF
school supervision, of giving expert
ence to our teochers, aud OF training
and fitting them for their vocation,
improvement must of necessity be
slow in comparison with what il
would be under complete system OF
normal schools, county supervision,
and regular systematic town teach
ers' associations.
DISTRICT SUPERVISION AND SALARIES
1t nothing better can be done, this
county should be divided INFO two SUI
perin.endent districts for the work
70 be done is far more than one man
can do thoroughly and if there is
any WORK that should be we'll aud
fully done, it is this. But there is
another and general plan so much
better than this "a to be beyond com
par isOn with it. Ii is, TO provide for
both town and county supervision of
schools. 1t should be provided that
the superintendent is:
1. To be a only qualified teacher, holding
during all Of his term oil office, first or sec
ond grade certificate, from the county super.
Intendent Of the county, which includes the
town IN which he IS appointed.
?. To be appointed aud emp oyed by the
executive committee OF The town board Of SUI
pervisors Of those towns which have adopted.
or may hereafter adopt, the Town System Of
School Government;anI by an executive com.
a. II