The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 18??-1882, 1881-09-02
Detroit Live Stock Market,
The New School Law.

Many good results are expected from
the recent changes in the law, about to
60 into effect, in regard to examining
and licensing teacher. Those best &C
quainted with the needs and condition
of the schools, and especially the dis
trict schools, will hail with pleasure
system whirh promises better
results for the outlay of money
for public education. The system of
township examination and supervision,
which was expected TO remedy the
faults of the county superintendency,
has not fulfilled the expectations of its
advocates. Under it, according to a
high authority, the average qualilica-
tiOns of district school teachers have
been lowered over 25 per cent, and
those schools have deterjOrated in pro-
portion. Especially has this been the
case in the newly settled counties.
In the older parts of the state, and in
this country, those selected as township
superintendent have been almost uni
formly well qualified in their discharge;
but the fault was in the system, in
that it was roG adapted to the state as
whole. And where competent super
intendentS were to be had the town.
ship unit was too small to insure the
undivided attention which educational
subjects demand. 1t will probably
take number of years of hard work
to regain the lost ground. Every eff
fort should be made to reestablish the
district schools upon at least as high
plane as they occupied six years ago,
and then to furthur improve them.
Some of the needed changes which the
county board of examiners may accom-
plish are the following:
1. Raising the standard of teachers
qualifications, and, consequently, their
pay.
2. Creating demand for only the
best teachers, and their supply.
3. providing better means for COM
munication between the state superin-
tendent and the district boards.
These results the board can bring
about, and indirectly much more can
be done in the line of improvement.
l believe the following points will
characterize the schools of Allegan
county under a wise use OF the influ-
ence which the examining board may
exert:
l. A uniformity of textbooks
throughout the county.
2. Some system of grading country
schools and making them preparatory
to the village high-schoOls.
g. Morepermanency in teachers posi-
tiOns.
4. Pride on the part of teachers In
their profession and greater ambition
to excel.
5. Better attendance of teachers at in
stitutes.
This is the line of progress. Educa-
tors are pressing these points, the best
interests of teachers and the people de.
mand it, and they must not be lost
sight of.
In regard to the examination OF
teachers, such questions should be pro-
posed as will test the applicants knowl-
edge of the principles Of teaching as
well as knowledge of the subjects to be
taught-what is known of means and
methods, as well as matter. Satisfac-
tory and scholarly answers to from rs
to 80 per cent of questions Of that
character would entitle the applicant
to license, and be privately marked
by the board a "medium" teacher; for
80 to 80 per cent, "good" teacher;
and from 80 to 100 per cent, an "excel-
lent" teacher, as far as theory is con-
cerned. Then, if a careful record of
each teachers practical work in the
school room, complied from blanks
filled out by the local school boards,
were at hand, the secretary of the
board of examiners could speak definite
ly of any teachers qualifications.
We shall watch with interest the |
effect of the new departure.-W Il.
Bello,os In Allegdn Journal.