The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1877-09-10
Monday, September 10. 1877.
FEATURES OF THE PRO-
POSED SCHOOL LAW.

The last Olympia Standard publishes
q draft Of the new school law which IT
j. proposed ~ introduce in the coming
Legislative session for adoption. We
have cursorily glanced through the doc
ument, aud observe that in some Of its
feature. 1t is an improvement over the
elaborate common school law Of Cali
f)rnia; notably in this item that it pre-
scribes a. the common school curricu-
lum simply the studies Of Reading,
Writing. Spelling, Arithmetic, Gcogra-
ply, Grammar. Physiology and L. 5
History; instead of mixing up hete
rogereous ollapodrida to be forced down
in city academies and backwoods schools
alike, consisting Of music. drawing, al
zebra, zoology. constitutional law. etc,
etc
The following are among the provi-
sions, al. A Territorial Superintendent
to be appointed by the Governor con-
Jointly with the Legislature. holding
office two years, required to travel and
once i'll two years make report to the
Governor relative to the affairs of the
University and the statistics and condi-
ton Of the public schools; salary $500
year, besides travelling expenses not
to exceed 5000 year. and an allowance
for stationery. postage. etc; say IL 600
per annum III ALL to be paid out of the
Territorial Treasury" We take excep-
ton to the provision making it part Of
his duty to go about delivering addresses
70 public assemblies ION sal jects per
tanning to public schools" AS that is
rather forcing matters He can reach
cveryDody at less expense through his
periodical report, which should be an
nnal instead of biennial. We should
be in favor too of his election directly
by the people like other State officers.
instead of being appointed, (at no time
specified) by the joint council Of Gov
crnOr and Legislature.
"A Board of Education Of three.
one for each Judicial district, elected by
the people for term OF six years 50
arranged that one goes out every two
years; who shall hold meetings twice u
year ut the capital; the Superintendent
presiding ercticio, first Monday Of April
grant Life Diplomas to teachers and
Territorial certificates good for SIX
years; also. certificates without exam
nation to teachers presenting certii-
Gates Of like grade from other States"
1t is to be their prerogative also to pro-
vide uniform ,ystem Of text books for
the common schools This matter of n
uniform system of school books aud
their change from time to Zine is the
most pcrplexing question in the whole
business. AMI has been one of the most
griovous abuses under which the people
Of other States have suffered. We pur-
pose to take up this particular branch
Of the subject for discussion hereafter.
3-"In addition TO Life Diplomas and
Territorial certificates for six years
given by tho Territorial Board. each
County Superintendent. associating
with himself two first-grade teachersas
an examining board. shall hold . session
during the annual county Teachers In
stitute, for examining applicants for
teachers certificates, and may grant
county certificates of first grade good
for five years, aud of second grade good
for one year. holders of tirst-gradc coun-
ty certificates being eligible for Terri
torial Life Diplomas; but the county
superintendent may at any time grant
to any person permit to teach, who
could not attend the Institute. good un-
til the next session Of the Institute"
This part of the bill is humbug. In
the first place, sessions of the county
examining board should be quarterly.
Secondly, there should be an exact ex-
aiming system with uniform prepared
examination papers issued by the State
Board; examinations to be written and
official, with an established scale of
credits of which not less than go per
cent. should DO required for second
grade county, IS for first grade county
and so for Territorial cert iicstcs;--so
ss to exclude slouches aud subserfuge.
from the business. Teaching ought to
DO made . profession. the most select
and thorough going. and the best paid
in the State. Mixing up examinations
with the business and diversions Of the
Institute is bad.
4. The whole of chapter ("Title')
Is should be struck out. 1t is absurd
to throw upon any district board of
School Directors and their clerk, the
burden and expense Of tax LEVERS and
collectors. when all the cumbersome
machinery for that arduous business
is already in existence. The county
assessors, treasurers and sheriffs can
mat nc 80 all ,a,y,rr, al H. l,,,.u. - :