Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1874-07-24

and given a list of questions sugges
tive Of the kinds of questions to b.
used in the examination of appli
cants for the different classes of Ger
tificates. According to these in
structions, ten questions on each o1
the branches, required by law, arr
submitted to the applicants, which
are to be answered in writing. Il
each of these questions is answered
satisfactorily, the applicant is enti
tied to 100 per cent, but for every
question which is not answered at all
or to which an incorrect answer is
given, 10 per cent. is to be deducted
so that if an applicant fails to re-
ceive 80 per cent. on an average OF
all the branches, or should he on any
single branch fall below 70 per cent.
no certificate is to be issued of the
grade for which he is examined.
There are three classes of certif.
Gates in use, the Professional or first
| class, which indicates the highest
degree Of scholarship and teaching
abilities; a second-class, which indi
Gates a more limited knowledge Of
the same branches; and third-class,
for those having only a very rudi.
mentary knowledge Of the common
branches; a graded certificate shows
the percentage on each branch.
The issuing Of certificates of the
third-class is Of questionable propri.
ETY., inasmuch as those holding
them very often fail to give satisfac.
ton, and the progress of education is
thereby retarded. For these reasons
we shall hereafter reluctantly exam.
inc applicants with the view Of
granting certificates of this class.
The very erroneous opinion is very
often expressed, that it is not neces.
sary to have teachers of experience
and ability to teach small children,
but that any one, no matter how
limited in knowledge, is qualified for
the work. This is a grand mistake,
inasmuch as the most eminent and
distinguished teachers and educators
agree in the opinion that it requires
more tact, skill, and a better under.
standing of the laws that govern
mind, to be able to properly instruct
the young, than is required to teach
those having matured minds, and
who are farther advanced in their
studies. We hope the time is not
far distant when such theories shall
find no supporters among an intelli-
gent people.
1t is also claimed that persons
having in view the teaching of pri-
mary schools, should not be examin-
ed as fully or thoroughly as those
teachers who contemplate teaching
higher grades Of schools. The law
wisely contemplates no such distinc-
ton, but makes it obligatory that all
should be thoroughly examined in
the common branches. Experience
proves that written and oral exam
nation are best calculated to do JUS
tice to the applicants, and so impor.
tant is this work believed to be, that
hereafter two days will be devoted to
these examinations. A number OF
County Superintendents are pursuing
similar course.
RESULTS OF EXAMINATION.
Whilst considerable number OF
applicants have been found more or
less deficient in most of the branches,
it is to be regretted that in no branch
has there been such lamentable def
cheney as in that of Orthography, the
spelling of our own language. And
the opinion is entertained that this
defect in scholarship among our
youth is increasing. Pains have
been taken to discover, if possible,
the cause Of so serious a failure in
our system Of education, and the
conclusion arrived at is, that it
has its origin, in a great measure,
in the lame manner in which it is
taught.
The attention of teachers has been
called to this matter, time and again,
and we are compelled to say that un-
less teachers will abandon the per.
nicious practice Of mispronouncing
the plainest words of the language,
in order that their pupils may be able
to guess out the letters in the words,
such a course will be considered suf:
ficient evidence of the incompetcncy
of the teacher, and their certificates
will be revoked. Pupils are often re.
quired to spell words orally and in
writing which they are unable to
spell correctly OH the book.
Another great mistake was noticed,
that of allowing pupils simply to
name the letters Of words in spelling
without pronouncing the syllablcs
separately or in connection. Such
methods cannot produce good spell
lers, and it is high time that these and
similar defects in elementary instluc-
tions should be remedied. Another
great defect noticed in very many
schools is that of permitting children
to use books far beyond their adj
vancement and comprehension. Pu-
pills were found reading in the high
er class of readers, that could not
read correctly and readily in the sec
ond reader, and similar course was
pursued in the other branches. This
defect is often owing to misconcep.
ton on the part of the teacher as to
what constitutes thoroughness and
true mental developemcnt, and a
desire to crafty parents by having
their children pass rapidly from low
er to higher books.
VISITATION.
All the schools in the county have
been visited except those in Madison
Township and Independence. The
secretaries of the former having
failed to inform the County Super
erintendant when their schools COM
menced, and rs the terms were short
er than in most other districts, the
schools were closed before that part
of the county was reached. Much
valuable information has been gained
in these visitations, and in nearly
every school, suggestions were made
with the view of rendering them
more productive of good. Daily
writing exercises, with the view Of