The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1874-05-15

speakers, that there twas not sufficient mum
Der OF qualified teachers to supply all thu
schools, and teachers could demand almost an,
price they might fix upon. and the districts
were obliged to pay it," II such is the fact
and I" the number OF certificates granted" cor
respond very nearly with the number of teach
ers required to supply the schools. it does moi
necessarily follow, In order 10 prove the " &C.
cusation" devoid OF sense, that the fault
is with the County Superintendent. I vii
present the law, the facts and 1.-THE figures,
and let the people form their own conclusions
School Supt. Law. Sec. c." He shall grant
certificates, ia such form as shall be prescribed
by the Superintendent Of Public instruction,
licensing as teachers all persons whom, on
thorough and full examination he shall deem
qualified in respect 10 good moral character,
learning, and ability to instruct and govern a
school bat no certificate shall be granted to
any person who shall not pass a satisfactory
examination in photography, reading, writing,
grammar geography and arithmetic" "No
person shall be deemed a qualified teacher
within the meaning OF the PRIMARY School Law.
nor shall any school officer employ or contract
with any person to teach IN any OF the public
schools in this State who has not such a cer-
hficste in force"
No certificate shall be granted to any per-
son who shall not pass satisfactory examina-
ton ia photography, etc;" NOR shall any
school officer employ or contract with any per-
son to teach who has not such a certificate
in force
The superintendent OF Clinton County. in
his report in 1871, says :-"In our examiDa-
lions during the year. we have uniformly pro-
nounced ten words for spelling to each class. -
= The words selected we're teer words but OF
common occurrence" The deficiency in this
branch is certainly alarming Strange a. it
may seem, the facts show only sixty per cent
Of all words correctly spelled.
The superintendent OF Isabella ounty says
II found that our teachers we're in general
very poorly qualified = but enough were
licensed to fill :he schools Tor the summer
term
kalamazoo Superintendent says ~ am
obliged TO confess that AZ q class our teachers
are not conscientious enough IN their work.
The superintendent OF Msnistee, declares it
to be a Al" difficult problem 70 secure qualified
teachers for the schools Of the county.
Ottawa superintendent SAYS :--"I have found
the teachers. as class, much more deficient
in learning than had expected"
Saginaw Superintendent reports. " The truth
is, we have not in Saginaw to-day, and We new
er have had, anything like enough, we'll quail
fed teachers 70 supply the demand
II the above statements are true, what does
il show for the educational system Of Michigan
\ State with a system oY free schools. with
State Normal School. University and numer-
Gus colleges and other institutions Of leai ning
with teachers wages FAR above the price paid
in any other branch OF Industry, where equal
learning and ability are required, and when
every other profession, or ayocation is over
crowded has not sufficient number OF quail
fled teachers TO supply the schools, and forty
per cent. OF all applicants must be rejected by
the requirements OF the law, for bad spelling
alone, aud only enough could be lcep sed to
fill the schools for the summer term" Surely
the fault must be either with the law, the
County superintendent. or the schools where
the teachers are educated.
Sec. T. There shall be three grades OF GER
tifcstes for teachers 20 be granted by the
County superintendent in MS discretion. as
follows, namely
First. The certificate or the ar-t grade shall
be granted TO no person Sho has not taught at
least one year IN the State. With approved sbil-
ity aud success, and it shall be valid through
ont the county il and for which it Was granted
for two years.
second. The certificate d the second grade
may be granted 20 any person OF approved
learning qualifications. and character, and
shall be valid throughout the county FOR one
wear.
THIRD The certificate OF the third Grade
shall license the holder thereof to teach IN
some one specified township aud shal, no;
continue in force for more than SIX months"
The provisions OF the .aw will thus be seen
and the discretion given to the County >u-
perntendents. The requirements OF the first
grade are explicit but certificates of the second
grade may be granted" Why was this dis
erection left with the Superintendent Why
should be not be required to grant tasm ?
The third grade seems to be sort Of label up
on the teachers, permitting them to ran at
large within " some one specified township. y
but warning all persons against harborng, or
trusting them outside Of the limits OF such
township. Why this insult upon qualified
teachers. that they he parceled out like sheep
in pens? II thes are enutled TO certificate,
should they not have 1t i; and should IT not be
valid anywhere within the jurisdiction OF the
superintendent granting It
lere il may be asked. were YOU not in tue
Legislature when that lsw vas passed
answer yes,-as well ~ the following:
" A school month, within the meaning OF this
act. shall consist OF four weeks OF five days in
each week, unless otherwise specified in the
teachers contract, and endeavered to dis
charge my whole duty 20 my constituents in
regard TO them, and take no responsibility ir
the matter. | have referred to the law. se
prove, that under it, superintendent ant
teachers could combine, and control the mum
Der OF certificates granted DAYS for a month