Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-06-28
EErrERS 1RON rHD PEOPLE.


times made evil by an overdose Arsenic Is 8
good medicine but bad poison. FIRE Is goO0
servant but bad master; ana rules %aic scb arr
may tie up willing hand, or compel an in1us-
lust now our schools are threatened with q
serious disaster In consequence OF too much
rules. The school board has established q
graduation OF educational qualifications which
are about as follows.For first class certifi-
cate the holder Is entitled to teach the 1st I'd or
80 grade; the second class certificate carries the
right up 20 the 5th grade; the third class carries
1t to the eth grade, and the fourth class to the
appear to be any inherent mischief In this rule;
but, unfortunately, 1t Is coupled with another,
which provides that ''nO teacher shall be en-
ployed in any higher grade Of schools than that for
rhich the certificate is granted"
This makes the previous rule absolutely arbi-
trary and seems to impy that technical educa-
ton Is expected to meet every requirement
ness affairs knows that technical education Is
. not guarantee Of success In anything. lt Is
most Important advantage, but In no calling,
cess. On the other hand 1t Is well-known that
capacity, adaptation and tact often give success
where educational qualifications are sadly De
fctent. Nor is teaching any exception TO this
rule. 1t Is true that tn order to teach thing
we must understand 1t, but 1t Is also true tha5
there are large numbers who, with every al
vantage of technical education, have no capacity
to teach. They have no Skill In arreStlng at
tent1on, or In communicating what they Know
and, whatever may be their educat1on-they
have no business In a school room. Hence. apt
ness to teach and capacity to govern are quite
as much to be consider ed In providing teacners
for our schools as technical education.
The school board have virtually cOnce1ed
this In some of their other regulations. For in-
stance: When graduate OF the Normal school
Is furnished with a certificate 1t entities the
holder to teach In any school up to and includ-
Ing the 5th grade: and, after years trial, If
the holder has shown capacity and fitness, the
same certificate is good for two grades higher.
tRS @e IS IN the 90 to
In the case of teacher with longer experience
and more assured capacity. II graduate
can be promoted without further examination,
why should an examination be required of an
experienced teacher, who has won the conf
dence of parents and children and the approval
and commendation of the superintendent?
There are at this time some twenty teachers
OF character and ability, who have had large
experience and shown not only aptneSS to
teach, but Skill In the management Of their
schools. who must be degraded under the work
tDgS OF this rule.
The examination came at the close of the
term when they were worn down and rendered
stances when health Was broken by the harass.
Ing labors of the -schoOlroom. Hence, they
tailed to meet the requirements Of the board
In some instances they hold places given them
before the adoption of the rule referred to, and
they must be removed from their schools to
make room for others who are fresher from
their classes Or have have had lighter duties,
This Is so glaringly unjust and so clearly
blow at the efficiency Of our educational sys-
tenn that Ii ought not to be thought Of for mo-
ment. The object of the board In making this
rule was, undoubtedly, to raise the educational
standard Of Its teachers: an object which all
must approve. 1t Is conceded that a teacher
should have ambition and industry and should
meet the required standard of education If
there Is persistent negligence and continued de-
ficiency, 1T should be held as disqualification
But when It is remembered how often an ex-
Animation no
and how much depends on the health and other
conditions OF the TersOn examined, 1t Is evil
dent that no such grave results should be made
midst Of wearing labors, which usually pro-
duce great physical exhaustion. The exam
nation should, at least. be SO arranged as to
ration; and even then arbitrary results should
be avoided.
The National Board OF Health.
Editor Stdr:-Appreciat1ng the value OF your
journal as an Instructor of the people, OfYer
through your columns an answer to question
lately put to me by person Of average tntelli-
Job Is this National Board of Health?n Taking
the word job to mean something by which
somebody can make money without earning 1t,
intelligence is disposed to regard any project
sanctioned by Congress as q job
In this case we may hope that gross injustice
was done t At least to the motive Of Congress IL
" d,
which gives clear exposition of the purpose
OF Congress, and Of the board, may not yet be
very widely known, ask your space for few
Is history OF incessant struggle for existence
and In the warfare against hostile agencies men
nave learned to conquer only through frequen
0efeat. But while human courage was eQua
10 the combat with every other enemy to human
life, there was time when superstition cause
men to regard 1.-The pesttlence that walketh In
the MONDAY" as direct visitations OF an
angry Deity, and not to be resisted by hu
man means, nor avoided BY any precaution
others, has vanished before the light OF sci
ence, every well-1nformed physician is stu
aware that our present bills of mortality com
death. he must regard the INTRODUCTION and
extension OF any contagious disease In our
country as reproach to our boosted civiliza-
OF our action, In measures OF exclusion and pre-
yent1on of such diseases.
Much good has already been accomplished in
our Lard BY local and state sanitary organize
may sufhce. But there are other diseases Of
wider range, spreading from their point OF
oflg1n without regard to the bounds OF city.
these diseases, to obtain the earliest informa-
ton OF their appearance at any point In the
World sr and to prevent their spread BY prompt
are few OF the objects that can only be at
tanned by an organization including our whole
COUutIy III ltS JuIlSOlCJlOn. T0eSe OBJECTS alone
amply justify the existence Of q national board
Of health, and liberal appropriation OF the
public funds to secure its effective working.
But 1t also proposes to use the vast opportunl-
ties Afforded by its extensive correspondence,
and by the cooperation of sanitary organiZa-
tons and men OF science In every land, for the
extension OF our knowledge OF large class of
diseases that are more or less within the CON
troll of human wisdom, properly applied.
In conclusion, 1t Is but just to observe that
the spirit OF unSelf1sh devotion to the cause OF
humanity which Is often shown by physicians
In their private practice, Is not wanting among
those VINO have been entrusted with the execu-
ton OF legislation, the importance OF which
physicians can best appreciate. There are men
On the present board, and many others work
Ing with them, who fully realize the high and
noble mission Of humanity entrusted to them
and who Will spare neither time nor labor In
the performance OF their duties Let them
then, receive the moral support of the people
and the means TO carry out their plans for the
pubic welfare. COSMOS.
The New Water Rates.
WASHINGTON, June 21st, 1879
Mr.. Edit0r:-In looking over the article on
"The New Water Rates" notice In the latter
part OF said article the following: sand
II has been finally concluded TO base the water
rent upon the assessed valuation OF the houses
or improvements, not embracing the value of
the land, as this is deemed entirely Irrelevant
TO the water supply. 1t Is probable
that the minimum rate will be liked at s."
Now, Mr.. Editor. this arrangement may be