Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1877-09-06

@DVs s $S0Sseu - s0cu
rslamr on. show darsSysn AK il when
you kan. ,ha. no, ) lsasDa - bseaI
tAotougN III know i,.E u ned he pspil,l
batsWssars poor, and nssd ~ neAsy ever
20 much. How can you b. % unkind ~ tot
keep mo from getting it ~ ''W.s there ever
such impudence?" sAid the t.ache.; this
wicked child wants me to certify to axrit.
TN hl9ehood that shs may get monsy and
credit thas she has not tried to earn!p
What ais superintendent In Dakota to
do in similar cases2 When rome Of the
applicants betray gross ignorance Of the
English language; when they cannot write q
paragraph or line correctly, and fail on
more than half tbs prescribed simpls ex-
animation questions in common branches;
when he knows they have wasted their time
Of preparation and depended for their certi-
fcate upon cheek more than scholarship
with what feelings must he receive their
anxious pleadings for permission to usurp
the teachers desk? Is it not
humiliating, to one who has
given an official bond and sworn a recorded
oath TO faithfully guard the interests Of edu-
cation, TO be leased in terms like these:
"Now Mr.. Superintendent, l know 1 am no,
posted in my studies, but that is q very
backward school, aud ha. no classes in geog-
raphy, grammar, or history they are all
anxious l should teach, so please give a Ger.
%tifcate, saying upon your honor as a public
officer that you find me competent to teach
all the com non branches in any school in
the county. 1t is a mere form, you know.
If you don't, l cannot see how I am to live"
If the examiner feels inundated at such an
appeal, what should be the feelings Of the
applicant
But many will urge that if great strict
ness is insisted on, there will be a dearth Of
teachers and many schools go %untaught.
That would be a g%rievous evil, were it not
that We know other localities are overstocked
with able teachers, hard students, trained in
academies and Normal Schools, proved by
years of successful practice that We receive
scores Of letters from such, anxious
to come to Dakota for situations
and that advertising would bring five
worthy applicants for each vacancy. Thi.
would iufuse new life blood into our sys-
TEN, and perhaps cause some former teach
ers to renew their acquaintance with the
arithmetic and spelling book, 1t nigh,
even lead them to think the next institute
worthy Of their notice.
1t is the spirit Of our school law to hold
out a helping hand to the poer student
whose advantages have been limited, and
help them acquire o knowledge Of teaching
as an art. II does this by creating an an-
nual school Of normal instruction, or insti
tute, where any one can attend from one &c
three weeks free Of all charge for tuition
How do they appreciate its Our roll O
members will show. Out Of 80 or GO teach
ers and would be teachers in Yankton
county, notified to attend, there are about
ten enrolled this week. Let us hope mex
week will show a better state Of things.
have thrown out these comments on the
schoo! law as the right way Of carrying uul
its letter and spirit. But can it be done il
the present state Of advancement? Mr.. A
6 says, license such teachers as We have, O.
. the schools will stop. Mr.. B. says tina
. is never wrong to do right, and let
, justice be done to the children by giving
them good teachers, no matter who squeals
; Mr.. c. says. be moderate, and try to educate
the people by degrees up to a better stand
ard. Mr.. D. says, we have been doing thi'
since the territory was formed, and like tn
boy on the icy hill. have slid back two step
!, for each one taken In advance. Mr.. f. says
let the people employ any body they choose
Mr.. F. says, no. give the teachers plenty o
, notice to improve; and If not needed ex
clude them one by one. Mr.. G. says, non
sense, if you have a diseased limb to ampu
> tate, take it off at once and not an inch a
!, a time, lest the patient die in the operation
: MI. II. says, keep out these eastern teacher
. with their newfangled notions. p%atroniz
home manufactures, even if no better thar
q Eastwood wagon. And in the multitud
VI COuuScllOIS tIlCIc ~ SuItly-tt lucy Cdl
only agree.
One proposition l will lay down unchsl
: lenged by any one: No person should b
entrusted with q school who cannot rea,
and write common English with tolerabl
} correctness. Under this rule, some I fca
, will fail IN their expectations. But lie
them not mourn as those without hope; al
defects and obstacles may be overcome b!
study and patience.
Il 1t will be complained that the grade o
our questions is too high. Let this point b.
discussed az it may, one thing is certain
the law assigns to only two persons the duty
of fixing the grade Of scholarship, and thos'
are thecounty and territorial sur srintendents
. Any one can appeal from the former to III,
n latter but all superintendent are presume,
e to work upon one uniform grade and stan
r dard Of scholarship, because the law say
A the territorial officer 'shall regulate III,