Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1876-11-24

the work education would be a mlsnomer. Yet
this person was perfectly confident that he could
teach successfully because he Tor she) had taught
several terms snd given satisfaction.
This is not an isolated case by any means. 1t is
not given that any one may be- 1t is given that
those who pay for schools, and that all who have
interest in the work may examine and see what
teachers are doing
| There is a small building in one of the villages
OF the county, a building not worth fifty dollars in
which two of the posts are four inches short
er than the Others. Every person who passes il
Tor the first time notices it. and at the first oppor
tunity learns the builders name. Though the
builder has long since left his work remains
| This building will pass away, then will its un
symetrlcal proportions. cease to cause pain. Not
SO with the teachers work. Their work is pro-
lected into the future what they leave as effects
become causes and will produce like effects
When all sentimentalism is thrown off, and school
work Is viewed in Il business-like manner, our
schools Will progress much more rapidly. The ex-
aminations are to test the builder. These must be
falr impartial, and should be thorough.
CERTIFICATES.
Certificates of two classes are issued 1t is ex-
pected that the person holding first class certif
cate snail be able to teach higher arithmetic the
higher departments of grammar, physical geogra-
ply and the other branches on the same plane
In arithmetic, II person holding a second-class is
expected to be able to take his pupils through the
common school arithmetic thoroughly; in gram
mar, he must be able to take his pupils through
the declension of nouns and pronouns, the conju
CATIONS Of verbs, the ANALYSIS Of plain sentences.
and must be able to apply the rules of syntax The
other branches, he must take on the same plane.
In few instances a third class has been grant
ed. This class is granted for term to those
not quite up to second, but who give promise of
becoming good teachers. After fair trial of one
term, II these teachers cannot pass into second
class, a third class is not to be issued to them
again. If teacher is capable of making n success
OF his school, he must have enthusiasm and ability
enough to improve himself. Each class is graded
In the examination of certificate the grade is to
be taken into account as well as the class. For
instance: II in certificate. arithmetic stands 90
and this is the lowest that pass, it shows that
the person has failed in three questions out of
ten; if grammar stands 80, it shows that he has
failed in two counts out of ten: If history stands
60 he has failed in four ont of ten. &c. The grade
is an important element.
TEST
If one would test the strength or speed of a
horse, he puts him on trial; if materials to be
tested they subjected to great strain The
physician is judged by the work he does; the law
yer, by the cases lost gained; the minister, by
his sermons and pastoral work. SO the teacher is
to be judged by his work, and by that stand or
fall
He is not to be estimated by the number Of
pages alone over which he has put his pupils he
is not to be estimated by the number of rules and
definitions his pupils can repeat merely; he is
not to be estimated alone by he gets along
well with the pupils"
He is to be estimated by the habits and manners
OF his pupils, making all due allowances for other
Influences; he is to be estimated by the love of
knowledge and study he has induced in his pI-
pills; by the knowledge his pupils have of the sub
jects over which they have passed; by what his
pupils can do; by the mental discipline his pupils
have gained by being under ks instruction.
To test this, his classes should be subjected to
frequent examinations by directors or by persons
appointed by them. This would lead competent
teachers to careful, earnest, anxious work; it
would please and encourage such teachers; il |
would SHOW incompetent teachers their faiings, |
that though they may get along well with their
pupils. there is much more to be done. Boards |
have the right to institute such examinations. No
difference how small the school may be. teachers !
and pupils would be greatly benefited by such a |
course
There is every inducement to thorough work |
when We know that work is 10 be critically inspect
ed.
MISCELLANEOUS
lii this connection many things might be spok |
EN- OF. At this time, il is not deemed necessary
Much depends upon the active cooperation of |
school officers. Granting that teachers are fully |
qualified; that school officers do their duty; that
appliances are furnished STILL without the aid and
sympathy OF parents. the school cannot prosper. =
If pupils not regular in their attendance; If I
they are constantly tardy, they cannot make salts
factory progress, and the teacher is not to be
sured
School work is partnership business The
members of this firm the teachers school Off
GERS and the parents. That the work be well done.
every one must do his part. In this work substi-
tuition is clearly antaSonstic to the best interests
of the school.
any ONE has not been attempted. Where refer
ence to any particular case is made. is done to
Illustrate some particular point or principle. Let
us be thankful that we have so many worthy teach
ers and endeavor to keep them in the field. The
school fund is a sacred fund and it is our duty to
get all out of it We can in its disbursement, yet
that the cheapest is not always THE
cheapest.