Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1878-12-11
TIE SCHOOL LAW.
An Amendment Suggested-IIet
County superintendent and
Teachers Read 1t.

~
County superintendent and
Teachers Read 1t.
Cor. c-pondmcc 81 the feese-.
Bv nm examination of Sections oS and
30 of our present school Law, it will he
seen that all teachers holding county
certificates, no matter what be the grade,
except county superintendent and
members OF examining board" are re-
quired to pass III examination every
year.
Ash understand the law, this rule has
no exceptions or relaxatons.
Although man may have taught a
primary school, every year since our
free school system has been in opera
ton, and always born IA number one
certificate, yet he is compelled to he ex-
amiucd every fall over and over again,
~ long as he may desire To learn 1.-THE
Young idea how to shoot
Now while, Tor several reasons, this
requirement may he very good III some
respects, | nevertheless think that IN
Justice To- part Of our teachers, II ought
To DO 10 amended w. to provide that
whenever any person shall hc found tn
merit number one certificate III the
same county for two consecutive years,
he shall bo entitled to "A number one
certificate Tor life, To be valid, however,
only in the county where granted, and
to he subject Ia revocation the saluc us
uthur county certificates.
Alter teacher has, by diligent appli-
cation and hard study, so qualified him
SELF ~ to merit, on fair and impartial ex-
animation, "a certificate oi the highest
grade, and thus given satisfactory evl-
,lcnce Of being master Of his profession,
| can see no good reason for snh)cctlng
him to all the pccuniary ami other IN
conyeniences attendant upon increasing
annual examinations.
II, ut two different times and on dit
ferent occasions, he, by actual test,
proves himself worthy OF u num-
Der one certificate, il seems to me
an ill-foundrd cXaction aud need
less severity that ho should
DO Obliged to pay the usual examination
Zee. ~ well Ms incur other unavoidable
expenses. generally amounting To three
or four times the leo itself, for the sole
purpose Of proving the same thing over
and over and over again, as long rs he
lives, should he desire tn teach that long.
do not think 80 severe rule IA tins,
operates in ruy other profession in our
State. Whoever heard OF such thing
as lawyer or doctor in West Virginia,
being required to pass yearly cxamina-
tinns, IN order Ia continue the practice
Of his profession
Ii is true that some Of cur churches
req lire their young ministers Ia pass
periodical examinations for u few
wears; hut II Il continued
only till they have passed
through certain prescribed course ol
stndy, or reached some fixed standard
oi proficiency After this, however
great their indulgence in ecclesiastical
lallnrss, or however striking the rapid
NV that marks their retrogression III
theological lore, they enjoy II ifo-long,
uninterrupted exemption from cxami-
nations.
Besides, our law has very generously
cOndcsccndcd Ia make normal and pro-
ftSs,onaI certificates valid for life. Nay,
it has gone further. II has, also, made
them valid throughout the state. Ii,
then, it has done so much
for holders of normal and proies-
sioual certificates whose scholarship has
met the examiners approval but once,
why should il hesitate Ia make num-
her one county certificate valid for life
III the county where 1t is granted, cspec-
tally when lis holder, on fair trial, has
twice shown himself deserving Of IL.
IL does seem Ia one that whatever
else may appear 10 oppose the amend
mcnt which | suggest, consistency Is
certainly in favor of il.
Again, there is one particular feature
in this amendment Ia which must not
fail calling attention. Ii will bc observed
that il proposes no change except in
reference 10 number oRe certificates,
and for this very obvious rea-
son: Ii IL took effect on
certificate OF lower order; there would
not be rs strong an incentive for teach
crs 10 improve themselves a. when its
operation is confined Ia those Of the
highest grade. Hence, one Of its most
admirable recommendation is that all
the advantage IL bestows are but NJ
wards Of diligence,
But once more. ! maintain that the
amendment in question would have a
strong tendency Ia elevate the standard
ni scholarship among our teachers.
That this may appear true, SUPPOSE We
reason together a few moments.
think no one will doubt the general
truth oi the following proposition The
greater the Inducements 10 improve
themselves, the greater viii he their ei.
forts IN that direction.
also hold that the hft oeEt,honL ior
which this amendment contends offers
greater Inducements tor teachers to i'm
prove themselves than has ever been
held out In them heretofore
|. Because IL wound give relief frnm
the unpleasant ordeal OF yearly exami-
nations which Tor several reasons are
source of great uneasiness TO many Of
our teachers
=. Ii would save 10 It's holder the
usual examination tee which must ~
company his application Tor certificate,
and which though small, amounts IN a
lev years 10 quite an item in the eye Of
4 modest primary teacher.
J. Ii would also save him other cX-
pcn~rs which yearly examinations me-
'cSSarily incur, in the way Of travel, loss
II time, &c.
These thrcc considerations clustering
mound the lie certificate would certain.
y constitute IL a strong inducemeni for |
cachers 20 improve their various quail. |
ications in order Ia obtain II; and il |
hey add anything 60 the inducemeni,
hen, according TO the proposition dis |