Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1876-11-24
REPORT.
To all interested in school work, the following
is respectfully submitted:

To all interested in school work, the folowiD.
is respectfully submitted:
TEACHERS.
School houses may be built apparatus and every
appliance furnished, yet, without competent, ear
nest and progressive teachers, all will avail bui
little.
The teacher should be person of Judgment
scholarship and experience. The surgeon, to be
come skillfu,must have practice and having prac.
tce, he must still continue to study Practice un-
der the eye Of a competent demonstrator is given
him while he is preparing for his work After a
long course of study and practice he is sent forth
to alleviate the suferngs of man, to contribute to
his happiness Yet, SO carefully are life and limb
! guarded, the surgeon is not permitted to operate
alone and unaded. And this Is right
In contrast with tins humane method, is the
method of throwing, in great many instances the
young, with all their probabilities and possibilities,
into the hands of the inexperienced and unframed
into the hands of those many Of whom should
themselves be under training in the very rudiments
of what they assume to teach. There is something
saddening in the thought that in very many cases,
the young and inexperienced are permitted to di-
rect the work, and lay for the children and youth
that foundation which can be laid but once. If a
valuable horse is to be trained he is not put under
the management of novice.
II one would build substantial house he fur
nishes the best materials and is very careful to
ploy none but competent builder TO direct in its
erection But in the erection of this living build
ing,-the intellectual and moral nature Of the
child; this building which is susceptible of SO
many mutations, whose influence will exist through
time and eternity act to say the least without
due consideration
Buchanan County is not alone in this respect =
From every state, the inquiry is: In the business
of instruction, where is the PROFESSIONAL teacher
much less an ADEQUATE SUPPLY of PROFESSIONAL
teachers to be found:''
This field of enterprise, if not new, is certainly
unoccupied. No where else can talents and learn
ing and worth find such certain and profitable in
vestment."
But if it were not even 50 still it would be the
duty of teachers to perseyere. The work MUST be
done. The existence of our institutions depends
upon it,
We must necessarily have young and inexperi-
enced teachers The trouble is, as soon as they
prove themselves competent, and become valuable
by reason OF their experience and many even be-
fore, leave the work Teachers are not wholly to
be blamed for this. Yet we rs teachers should
have heart in the work; such that we shall be
content with our work, though Others out-strip
III gains. such that we shall be content in our po-
sition, though others carve high above us; such
that we shall be content to be forgotten. though
others live in words, deeds, or marble. With all
due Difference to the ladies, cannot get along
without them, and with as many competent teach
ers as we have among them. yet there are not
ysunS men enough entering this work 1t is not
claimed that the men would do better work but
they would remain in the work longer. 1t cannot
be expected that young men will keep up and CON
tnue in the work, when they are expected to teach
a term i'll the winter and then wait till the next
winter to teach another term. 1t would be good
plan, economy even, when IA teacher lady or gen
teman, teaches winters term acceptably to give
that teacher the summers term, i'll view of his
teaching the next winters term. This would en-
able the teacher to devise ways and means, and to
follow out plans to definite results; it would re-
lleye school work of one great source of weakness
and dlscouragemcnt.-chang it would encourage
competent teachers to remain i'll the work. Let
any competent teacher commence school with
the understanding that he can teach that school as
long as he is faithful and efficient. and you will
find growing teacher and in consequence, "A grow
ing school. Teachers are like other human be-
ings; they generally like some assurance of
abiding place. They will do better work. they
can do better work, when to reasonable certain
ty this is settled. No one can exercise his powers
freely. fully and effectively in any given direction
when he must constantly revolvc. Where shall |
stop neXt?' Let the teacher feel that he has home
among you: that he has earned home, and that
he can hold this during FAITHFUL and EFFICIENT
work. and you have more than doubled the eec-
tiveness of your schools. Time was when the cob
bier was at your door, with his kit" ready to do
your mendng; at the proper season there was one
at your door ready to do your CarGing and spin
ming; another followed up ready to do Your wcay-
ing. Do we sigh for those good old transient
times: We have out grown this In this respect,
school work Tags; il is many wears behind the
times. BY reference to the statistics it may be
seen that the average age OF females receiving
tlhcates from January to October IL 1S,4 years In
all probability, the majority of these will teach but
two or three terms each Others then must take
their places. So long this is the case our schools
cannot reach very high standing. Much may be
done to remedy this. Use every means to induce
competent teachers TO remain in the work As far
Is schools are concerned the intellectual progress
OF our children depends upon this, permanency in
the teachers calling. Cannot some of the ADLER
districts move i'll this direction! 1t Will take time
to accomplish the object, but we need not wait for
other counties to begin the good work.
The NATION says: When young man sees a
first rate man teaching the rudiments OF French
German, correcting the grammar or spelling of
freshmen's themes on three or four thousand dol
lars year, he secretly resolves that he will not
commit himself to any vocation in which such a
waste of great gifts is possible; and in like man
ner. when he reads debate in Congress approving
of an attempt to discover the exact sum on which
a military instructor can keep body and soul to-
gether, he determines that the service of the gov
ernment in any such capacity shall never be his
business. In short, we have in our whole educa- |
tonal machinery done what we could to discour- |
generation from entering the very calngs in which
energy and capacity are of most importance to the
state and we drive them into the already overdone
work of material production
EXAMINATIONS
The questions presented in examinations are not
puzzles. They are all selected from common |
school textbooks, and do not represent the aver
age difficulties found in everyday school work.
If difficulties found in these, greater Difficult
ties will be found in the same branches in school
room work. if the work be done in such 4 way as
to benefit the pupil. Pupils in the common school |
meet more difficult questions in their daily les
sons, if they look below the immediate surface of
their studies. The teacher must meet these diff |
culties with promptness and despatch if the school
prove a benefit. lie must have such mastery of !
his subject that he give directions, and the
son FOR the directions, without stopping to WORK
OUT the difficulty to see whether he is right or
wrong.
The pupil should do the working out The pu
pill may give the rule occasionally: the teacher |
must give the REASON for the rule. At sometime |
in life. all have found multiplication very diiCult.
Do we now: Now that we understand the sub |
ject, the difficulty is removed; SO will it be with
the difficulties i'll the examinations.
Examination is difficult work. and the charges |
that the examinations are not fairly conducted; |
that the questions are selected with reference to
their difficulties only: that the applicant did not
receive full credit for his work, mere apologies
for not understanding the different subjects. The |
questions and the applicants work and answers |
are all kept in the office After the work has been |
passed upon, any applicant can examine his work, |
or designate any person or persons to do So |
Moreover the Superintendent, like any other Off |
Ger. may be prosecuted for malfeasance in office
Were he otherwise disposed, yet he can he com
PEELED to deal justly, to do his duty. Applicants
rights fully protected, and must be respected !
No one prepared as the law directs, need ever |
doubt his getting certificate.
That some of the difficulties attending this work. |
and the need of examination may be seen, the fol
lowing is presented. The applicant in question |
has taught more than six terms.
The following questions were given:
ARITHMETIC.
l. A has a note against for &112S payable 90
days after date, which he gets discounted ut bank
at the rate of per cent; what does he receive?