The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1876-07-11
MIX. a.. WARD Is our daily saiherizad
Tuesday, July IL, 1875.
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM
IN EARNEST.

ton in California, out of $50 appb-
cants in San Francisco, not one re-
ceived a first grade certificate, and
only FIVE could make sufficient
standing to obtain certificates Of any
grade, and the result In other coun-
ties was similarly disastrous.
The perfection of the American
public school system is Justly a
theme Of national self-gratulation in
newspapers, pulpits and campaign
speeches To Ohio is ascribed the
honor of the first origin of the mod
ern system, but TO Michigan and
some Of the newer States, the credit
is given of carrying it to its highest
perfection. The State Of California,
however, q few years ago, enacted
school-law, which is probably the
most elaborate in the Code Of any
State, and reduces the school depart
ment TO piece of machine mechan-
ism, the most systematic, and the
most intricate of any in the State.
The complaint has been that the
public welfare has suffered in its
most vital interest, that Of the edu.
cation OF the young, through the
work of teaching being delegated to
immature, inadequate hands. through
whose clumsy pruning, many of the
young twigs have run the risk of
growing up hopelessly crooked
sticks. California now proposes to
reform this with vengeance, by
n,hiectipp all anniyants for. Ger
four days written examination, un-
der the direction of a State Board of
Questioners, i'll 10 Tin some counties.
20 or more,l branches Of study,
many of then. belonging to a college
course, and including n thesis on
the theory and practice of teaching,
credentials of character, experience,
etc. The grade is regulated only by
difference in the standard of psrfec-
ton reached on examination. the
third grade county certificate re-
quiring 90 per cent. and the first
grade IS per cent.-a single inaccu-
racylin any topic, in some instances,
losing all the credits upon the whole,
usually 10, in lump. Then to be
able TO secure State certificate,
qualifying to teach outside of the
county where examined, the papers
must be sent up to undergo second
narrowing process and raking down.
under the scrutiny Of a State Board
Of Examiners at Sacramento. The
result is, the great majority of aspi-
rants are disappointed, and among
the slaughtered not infrcquently are
candidates even from Eastern coll
leges and high schools as well a.
from the State Normal school.
One of the effects of this system
is that the profession In the State is
kept limited and select. and wages
are very high. To the credit Of the |
law. however, il can be said, that no |
discrimination in wages is allowed |
against lady teachers for the same
grade Of work.
This system may lie regarded As
an instance of the successful work
ing Of the reforms sought to be IN
PRODUCED in the government civil
service, by the party known as Civil
Service Reformers, with George
William Curtis, the editor of Har.
per's Magazine and Weekly, at their
head. Their plan is to make all
public Offices competitive, and intel
ligence the test, rs developed in
public ard technical examinations.
There is danger. however, that this
reform may be carried 10 such an
impracticable degree of severity AS
TO defeat the benefit ii was designed
to secure. The effect Of building up
a privileged guild protected by legis-
tatiae bars Is 70 forcfeni 90 some
extent the healthy checks IF conpe.
tliivn, and create sinecurss If a GER
tain sort through monopoly, and
thereby shelter negligence and pre-.
sumption. Such laws confer dan
gcrous power, that unless closely
guarded by the people may be made
powerful engines of oppression and