The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1879-06-26
Regarding the Examination of the Teach
ers of our Common Schools.

To the Editor of the Stan dard
There are various opinions eXtant,
among teachers as to the manner in which
they are examined. A great many think
they have not received as good grade as
they justly merited. maintain that they
haze received their just dues according to
the present system of examining appli-
cants for teachers certificates. But as
regards the information the Examining
Board receives of the applicants knowl
edge of books, and the manner in which
he conducts recitations, from this system
1 argue that he really IS treated unjustly.
examining in Orthography, there are gen.
orally from ten to twenty words given to
be spelled. They are always words we
rarely see. and so difficult that some
times the examiner forgets the correct
pronunciation and can scarcely pronounce
the word himself Now, if you happen
to spell correctly the requisite number of
words you are secure, if not, you fail
There should be more extensive exam
ination than this. A person by reason
of a retentive memory, may become
good speller, and yet know nothing of
the sound of the letters, or the definition
of the words he spells.
In Arithmetic, there are many differ
ent rules, also many problems hardly
any two solved alike; or, | should say
admitting of the same solution. Yet
there are only ten of these selected, and
are generally taken from books not in
general use, and great care is taken to
select only those as will puzzle the appli-
can't something different entirely from
those he is accustomed to see every day,
in the text books he uses in his school,
In Grammar, the examinations are gen
orally pretty fair, excepting some exam
iners who forget their business, and
sometimes PROFOUND rhetorical questions
that do not properly belong to grammar.
AS there are only ten questions submit
ted and each one counting ten per cent.
there should be no unfair questions used.
If there is any one thing which should
assist examiners in grading a teacher s
manuscript, it is his theory and practice
of teaching In some counties this is en-
tirely ignored, and in others the manner
of grading in this branch is sham -
Teachers are graded in this important
branch by the neatness of their manu-
script. Now, | never could see how a
person could ascertain any thing, regard
ing my method of teaching Grammar,
Arithmetic, Reading, or manner of con
Quoting a school, by the appearance of
my manuscript. No, it is branch that
is shamefully abused. person holding
an Is or "a months certificate has always
good grade in this branch, while the 6
and II months man has a poor grade,
yet may be the best teachers. To show
how little it is thought Of and the absurd
manner of grading this branch, will re-
late this incident of my own. l was once
an applicant for teachers certificate in a
| certain county in this State, and the ex-
aminer who examined in the theory of
teaching, getting in hurry for his din
ner concluded to examine US orally in
this branch On coming to my name, he
only put one question to me, and that
was, What is your method of opening
school in the morning? p Being relig-
ious turn of mind about this time re-
piled, generally with prayer" When
my certificate came on the next week, |
found that in the theory and practice of
| teaching school was perfect, having re-
ceived grade of 100 per cent Do you
see the point?
The next thing I have to speak of, is
the inconvenience applicants labor un-
der while in the examination room. In
some counties, the questions are poorly
written on blackboard. and such twist
ing and turning we have to do to get to
see them l have attended examinations
where the examiners would talk as loud
as people do when debating, and some
amuse themselves smashing glass on
airpumps. In other counties, spectators
are allowed to come in and look on. |
can not see what can interest them
There is nothing particular to see. If it
was lecture, or gymnastical display, it
would be different. Teachers when la
boring hard to pass creditable examin-
alton, do not like to be annoyed by coun-
try clod- -hoppers, and tittering school
girls running up and down stairs. making
noise enough to disturb anything alive,
except deaf and dumb person. The
applicant for teachers certificate must
be treated with respect. No partiality
must be shown. If an examiners favor
ite is detected borrowing" he should be
reprimanded the same as the stranger
Examiners must not 60 about the room
slipping solutions to examples to certain
parties, and not give all chance. Dirty
rooms must be discarded for clean ones
and tables for desks. Let all the teach
ers attending the different Institutes this
year come to the conclusion that three
fourths of failures to procure certificates
are indebted to the fact that there is not
enough ground gone over to really give
the applicant an opportunity to tell what
he really does know. 1t is as great an
impossibility for me or any other man,
to determine what a person knows re
garding Arithmetic, Grammar, Geogra-
ply and Reading, Gas great scope as they
embrace) by the answers to only ten
questions of each, as it is to determine
ha Of hu "a