Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1881-08-20
NORTHERN TRIBUNE.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 20, 1881.
The New school Law.

Many good results are expected from
the recent changes in the law, about to
go into effect, in regard to examining
and licensing teachers. Those best ac-
quainted with the needs and condition of
the schools, and especially the district
schools, will hail with pleasure system
which 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 superin-
tendency, has not fulfilled the expecta-
tiOns Of its advocates. Under it, accOr-
ding to high authority, the average
qualifications Of district school teachers
have been lowered over % per cent, and
those schools have deteriOrated in pro-
portion. Especially has this been the
case in the newly settled counties. In
the older parts of the state and in this
county, those selected as township super
intendents have been almost uniformly
well qualified in their discharge; but the
fault was in the system, in that it was
not adapted to the state as whole. And
where competent superintendent were
to be had the township 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 effort should be made to
reestablish the district schools upon at
least as high a plane as they occupied
six years ago, and then to further i'm
prove them. Some of the needed changes
which the county board of examiners
may accomplish 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 cOmmu-
nication between the state superinten-
dent and the district boards.
These results the board can bring
about, and indirectly much more can be
done in the line of Improvement. be-
terize the schools of Allegan county
the examining board may exert:
1. A uniformity of textbooks through
out the county.
2. Some system of grading country
schools and making them preparatory
to the village high schools.
3. More permanency in teachers posi-
tiOns.
4. Pride on the part of teachers i'm
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 teach
ers, such questions should be proposed as
will test the applicants knowledge of
the principles Os teaching af we'll as
knowledge of the subjects to be taught
what is known OF means and methods,
as well as matter. Satisfactory and
scholarly answers to from 70 to 80 per
cent of questions of that character would
entitle the applicant to license, and be
privately marked by the board "me-
dunn teacher; for 80 to 80 per cent. a
"gOOd" teacher; and from 80 to 100 per
cent, an excellent" teacher, as far as
theory is concerned. Then, if careful
record of each teachers practical work
in the schOOlrOOm, compiled from blanks
filled out by the local school boards, were
at hand, the secretary of the board of
examiners could speak definitely of any
teachers qualifications.
We shall watch with interest the effect
of the new departure. NV. 4. Bellows in
Allegan Journal. :.