The star. (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1874-1875, 1875-02-13

ED. STAR: Permit me to contribute a
suggestion or two on the subject of
Teachers' Certificates. Those who enter
the school-room as instructors, whether
specially prepared for the work or not,
may be divided into two classes, viz.
those who. having commendable pro-
fessional spirit and q natural tact for
imparting instruction, will make IL a lite
work, or at least devote their best years
to IL, and those who intend to teach for q
short time only and use their positions
as stepping stones to something, or as
expedients for earning little ready
money.
This latter class deserves no sympa-
thy as sufferers from the present law.
They seldom remain in the ranks more
than five or six years, and for them l
would propose no change. Ii they can
obtain a three years. certificate one re-
neRal will carry them over their term Of
service. and there is no great hardship
in that.
The other class OF teachers, however,
deserve some relief, for the present law
is too exacting, or if not too exacling, is
not wisely e&acting.
Under the present law person who
teaches fifteen years will be obliged to
prepare for and Submit to five examina-
tons. This is heavy drain upon his
time If he is making good use of it in
self-improvement. Indeed 1t will seri-
ously interrupt any other course Of study
he may wish to pursue.
Now think the examinations should
be rigid and comprehensive, but that af-
ter man or woman had obtained two
first-ciass certificates covering the sub
jeots now required, and had SHOWN by la
Dor actually done In the schOol-rOom u fit
ness tor teaching and proper profes.
sional spirit, that henceforth he should
be freed from a general examination ,aud
be allowed to select some subject out
side of those already upon his certificate
or including some OF tue more advanced
of those, upon one of which he should be
examined every two years-givlng him
the choice each time. These new sub
jects, as fast as passed upon, should he
added to his certificate rs evidence OF
study and special preparation.
Such u law would encourage study, be-
cause to those who really desire honor
and prelerment in their procession, it
would combine pleasure and profit,
Such Law would encourage lndepend-
ent research; it would prevent the lazy
ones from indulging their inuolence. In
| the course OF twenty years man would
be required to bring forward at least
seven new subjects or show much more
complete mastery over those already
presented. Ii it was not thought best to
give the applicant complete control over
The choice OF subjects, list of proper
subjects might be made out and he al
lowed to take them in any order he
might choose. In such scheme there
would be no stagnati0n. Every teacher
would be, from necessity, a student, and
must show to the Board and puDlic, evil
dence OF industry and progress.
Such certificate would in time acquire
currency outside of our large cities, and
soon be accepted almost as equivalent
to State certificates. There are many
reasons why the majority OF our teachers
can not obtain State certificates, though
doubtless many would prefer to make a
grand effort TO get one OF the latter rather
than the continued effort required to OBJ
tam the former. In either case we should
have n very material Improvement in
the professional requirements Of our
teachers, which would rebound greatly
to the advantage Of the public.
Iwould, therefore, let the law remain
as 1t is for all teachers with less than
six years. experience, but amend it SO
as to incorporate the above provisions,
which should apply, for obvious reasons
only to large cities. X. W.
The above suggestions, coming as they
do from gentleman who, for years, has
been one OF the most successful ana hon
ored teachers OF this city, are worthy OF
careful consideration. We commend
them to all teachers, and TO every indi-
yidual who has at heart the best inter-
ests of our public schoois.-ED. STAR.