Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1876-02-11
School Interests in the Legislature

EDITOR BULLETIN:-Perhaps some
of your readers will be interested in
the doings of the committee to the
Legislature from the State Teachers
Association, which met at Burlington
during the Christmas holidays. On
reaching Des Moines we found the
Legislature already at work on bill
to do away with the visiting of
schools by the County Superintend-
emit The ultimate fate of that bill
cannot now be determined. 1t has
many friends and some strong oppo-
ncnts. We, as far as possible with
out taking any formal steps III the
matter, opposed the bill, suggesting
several amendments, which may make
their appearance in due time. The
first measure which we decided to
urge on the Legislature Is the APP
pointmcnt of q Board of Examiners,
consisting Of the State Superintend-
ent and one professional teacher from
each Congressional district, who shall
have power to grant State certificates,
good for two, four and SIX years, and
State diplomas, which shall be per-
pctuai. Examinations, conducted by
one member of the Board, would be
held once or twice a year in each
Congressional district, from lists of
questions, uniform for the State
The objects of this measure are to
stimulate teachers to self-improve-
ment, by placing State certificates
just where they can, by some extra
effort, reach them, and secure fairer
tests of scholarship by providing uni
form lists of questions and methods of
examination. 1t will be at once
seen that the work of this Board of
Examiners does not conflict with that
of the County superintendent but
rather supplements it. The expen-
ses are to be met by fees from
examinations, certificates and diplo-
mas. One dollar is fixed as registra-
ton fee, to be paid by all candidates
for examination. There is an addi-
tional fee Of one dollar for two
years certificate, two for four
years, and three for six, while five
dollars is to be paid for a State di-
ploma. The second measure is fixing
the legal age for admission to public
schools at six years. Educators are
recognizing that children suffer, both
mentally and physically, by too early
an attendance on school, to which
they are often sent merely to get
them out of the way at home. The
third measure is placing Natural
Philosophy and, after time, Ele-
mentary Drawing on the list of
studies on which teachers are to be
examined. The success attending the
addition Of Physiology to the list
warrants this further step in advance.
The fourth measure relates to Normal
Institutes, and provides for the Sc
curing of more efficient conductors.
In many counties these Institutes
have failed to secure the highest re-
suits, from an unwise economy which
led to the employment of incompe-
tent conductors. At the request of
the chairmen Of the committees on
schools, from the Senate and the
House, these measures were present
ed in the form of bills, at JOINT
meeting of the two committees
Prof. Won Coellen, of Waterloo,
drafted and presented the bill on
Board of Examiners; Prof. Crosby,
of Davenport, editor of the Common
School," that on Normal Institutes;
while to myself fell the work of pre-,
pairing and presenting the bills on
change of school age, and introduce
ton of Natural Philosophy and Ele-
mentary Drawing. After questions
and discussions on the bills, there
seemed to be but one opinion with
the committees rs to the desirability
of the proposed changes. We had
the satisfaction of finding Represent
alive Calvin and Senator Harmon on
the committees, and owe much of our
success to their advice and assistance.
Both have their hands full of work
the latter gentleman is on no less
than six committees, some among the
most important appointed.
While it is impossible to Judge
certainly what disposition may be
made of the bills presented, the re-
ception they received from the com
mittees makes it probable they will
pass the Assembly. The courtesy
and attention shown us while en-
gagged III our work is fair Indication
Of the growing Importance the educa-
tors of the State are attaining in the
eyes of its legislators. Another
matter referred to us is the project
tor establishing n State Normal
School, appropriating for that pur-
pose the Orphans Home buildings at
Cedar Falls. But enough of your
space has been already occupied.
Thomas w. GRAYDoN.