The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1874-09-03
Meaning and Eject Of State Certificates.
DEPARTMENT Of FREE Schools,
CHARLESTON. August 18th, 1874.

iBPAhEi6AE VI L h6b NSh"Ob",
CuAELEs1oY, August 18th, 1874.
Editor Point Pleasant Register:
IN article appeared in the Mason
County Journal Of the 18th inst, which,
without explanation, may do harm. The
author of that article evidently includes
certificates granted b. the State Board Of
Examiners, when he says, The State Su.
perintendcn. has decided that all certii-
Gates of teachers expire on the Slst day of
August, and that those continuing 10 teach
after the expiration Of their certificates
cannot legally collect their pay" 1t is
my opinion that the county boards of ex-
aminers are not authorized by law, to
gran. certificates to teachers TO extend be.
you'd the school year, in which they are
granted. Bat this has nothing to do
with State or Professional certificates. A
certificate granted BY the State board Of
ornm;naro, :. god Coz lifo, ~"l"as i. shall
be revoked by the proper authority. The
law provides that the holder OF a profess
ional certificate shall be legally admitted
to the profession Of teacher: throughout
the State, during life. Normal school di.
plomas occupy the same position. The
Legislature having provided for granting
professional certificates and normal diplo.
mas, it would seem 10 me to be absurd for
i. to provide at the same time, that the
holders Of such certificates and diplomas,
shorld notbe-employed,;c teach the schools
oE,thc State. The author quotes from Prof.
Gutbrie's address at Clarksburg. before the
State teachers association, what bo calls
strong points. as follows:
/. That State certificates being without
any grade are not recognized in the law
pertaining to primary schools which law
provides that teachers salaries be fixed &C.
cording to the grade Of certificate.
2 That the test fzcd by our State
Board is entirely too low to answer the
end proposed BY the State, to wit: the en-,
couragenent Of permanent teachers by q
recognition of eminent merit achieved.
8. That the granting of State certificates
to young and inexperienced teachers is
damaging to the profession loosius as they
do the stimrlous Of the yearly examination
so necessary to growth.
4. That the very Silence Of the law as
to recognizing State Certificates. by local
Boards. respecting teachers salaries, proves
that they are presumed to be held By
teachers Of the high shoots only"
Now let US examine Mr.. Guthrie's frst
and fourth propositions, With reference tc
the grade Of Estate certificates" ho says
such certificates "are not recognized in the
law pertaining to primary schools" Sec.
ton 20 Of the school law provides for lssu.
ling Estate certificates which legally ad'
mits the holder to the profession Of teachc;
throughout the State. No oac will deny
that this certificate was intended 10 give
the proper school officers throughout the
State. authority 10 proper cases, to employ
holders Of these certificates to teach in the
free schools. Section 6 Of school law pro.
yides, That in determining the salaries
Of teachers they (the boards of education
shall have regard to the gSade OF teachers
certificates, fixing to each grade the salary
that shall be paid to teachers Of said grade,
10 the several sub-districts, aud the tvus.
tees OF the several sub districts shall in nc
case transcend the salaries so fixed in auy
contract they may make with teachers .
Now in any contemplation of law, l sub.
nit, that the holder Of the State certificate,
and the Normal diploma, was intended to
take some grade, among the qualified per.
sous. authorized to teach the schools Of the
State. ard the. the boards Of education