The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1880-01-15
NORMAL SCHOOL DIPLOMAS.

The Chronicle of this week takes issue
with the PILoT on the subject of making
normal school diplomas state certificates.
We concede that some of the best teach
ers of the state are graduates Of normal
schools. Indeed the impulse which ed
ucational matters have received In this
county has been due largely to the H.
fuence of some intelligent graduates of
normal schools who taught in this county
some years ago. If all graduates were
required to pass an examination under
a state board, the worthy ones would
then receive the distinction to which
their merits entitle them, and the worth
less ones would be placed in the position
which nature and their own indo-
lence prepared for them. Is 1t wise to
Issue state certificates by wholesale be
cause thereby few whose qualifications
none can doubt are spared the trouble OF
going through an examination? What
per cent Of graduates of normal schools
can earn state certificates if subjected to
the same examination that other appli-
cants must undergo The pupils OF high
schools undergo frequent and thor
ough" examinations ana usually attain
standing of 80 per cent on the subjects
submitted. But the reports OF county
superintendent prove that the success
of the school room seldom attends them
at the teachers examinations, and that
limited licenses are gratefully accepted
by the celebrities of the high schools.
Should a graduate of high school offer
a diploma in lieu of an examination as a
warrant for receiving a certificate from
such superintendent as Kirwan, Walker
or Viebahn, the subsequent conversation
would indeed be interesting to bystand
ers and not very encouraging to the
would-be pedagogue.
Every person who has taken an inter
est il educational matters knows that q
great many persons go through the col
lege curriculum obtaining such a very
superficial knowledge of the subjects IL
includes that III few short years this
college experience is limited to the good
times had in '.dissobeying the rules.
When state certificates become com
mon they ceaze to be a potent recommen-
dation. When they are showered alike
upon the worthy and upon the unworthy
they become comparatively yalueless.
The really competent and able graduate
who can secure certificates without the
intervention of any special law is iniCr
cd by the hberality of the state. He is
placed upon a level with the weakling
who has obtained diploma by putting
ia time" 1t is possible some of the
weak ones may pass an examination
under state board and rank with the
best through favoritism. But some drop
off every time the gauntlet is run.
We stated last week that some gradu-
ates of normal schools who were examin-
oil in this comfy hardly earned fnll
third grade certificates. We have learn
cd since then that if the present standard
was in force at that time these young
men would have earned nothing more
than limited license. But one of those
at least, if not both, are secured against
all further examination by the very IA
vorable law under discussion.
The college at Beloit has a more COM
prehensive course of study than has the
state university, but its graduates have
none Of the privileges extended to these
Of the university and normal schools
What hardship is it to these graduates if
they are placed upon a level with all
others? Why should there be any OBJ
lection to an examination if they are
competent to pass Surely the addition
al guaranty of qualifications will COM
pensate for the labor.