Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-12-30

ination uniform all over the stale. Third
grade to go per cent, and nothing below
SO; second grade 70 per cent, and nothing
below 60; and first grade Is per cent, and
nothing below 70. He often found teach
ers qualified to to oh who were unable to
compete in the examinations with
Others of less ability. The question
is how shall We arrive at proper stand
ard, and he favored adopting the state
standard.
Superintendent Keihle had an idea that
the state plan was embarrassing 30 teach
ers. but he could not see his way clear to
effect q change. The department WAS be-
hiNd, hampered as it is by restrictions OF
the school law. He suggessed the ap-
pointing of committee TO advise with
the department., and endeavor to get out
OF the old ruts, and devise better stand
ard.
GEN. JOHN EATON,
United States commissioner OF education,
was here introduced and favored the meet
ing with g brief speech, IL which ne spoke
pointedly on the merits of the question
under discussion, adverted to the system
of examinations IN Germany, Englsnd and
in the civil service. A uniform system
should he adopted in every state, and a
lack Of this uniformity tends to demor-
alize the educational interests OF a state.
Supt. Smith, of Eennepln, offered the
following resolution, which was unanl-
mously adopted:
ResoEued, That we, the uperintendents
of the state of Minnesota, in annual ses-
sion assembled, do hereby express our
hearty endorsement of the labors of the
commissioner OF education, the Hon. John
Eaton, and our appreciation of the value
of the educational information dissent
mated by the bureau of education.
Superintendent Sperry, Brady and
Wright were appointed committee tc
nominate officers fer the ensuing year.
and to fix the time and place for the nexi
annual meeting. Supt. Sperry, from thai
| committee, reported the following:
President-G. F. Cowing, of Otter Tel
| county.
Vice Presidsnt-R. w. Richards, of Fari
bault county.
secretary-F. L. Cock, of Olms.ed
county.
Superintendents Cnwing, Wilson and
Sperry were appointed committs,
to confer with tho state superintendent il
| EckaTO W u6FlsiGS al lm pEOVoG n1GknOt
| of teacher s. examinations.
Prof. Noyes, of the Faribault Deaf an
Dumb asylum, was introduced, and afte
commencing the labor of tb superintend
ents, desired to impress upon their minds
| the Importance of reporting to the state
| department all deaf and DUMB children
in their respective counties, in order ths
they might be gathered into the aRylum
The second paper How may we secuc
greater permanency Of teachers in tn
common schools" was then read by Su
perinteudent Cowlng. Superintendent
Sanders, of Douglas county, was as
signed to this topic, but beng unable t,
be present, sent his paper, which vas Tsae
by Superintendent Cowing, as follows:
| Upon assuming the position of county super
| intendent one Of the first questions that pre-
sents itself TO the mind is, what are the duties
| the Office? Second, what has my predecesso
done, and what remains for me to DO: After
| careful survey OF the work you Will at once la,
out a definite course of work fo
yourself and schools. But another
| all important question still remain
to be al swered. Upon whom shall depend 70
the successful xecution of that part of the worl
F! that pertains 10 the school room! For an an
swer to this question you diligently apply your
aelf to the teachers record of your county, anc
after close investigation. and comparing i
with the record of visitation, you are soon con.
WINGED that only few, a very few
of the teachers of your county ar
| teachers of experience and You ar
awakened to the fact that the profession o
a common school teacher is ephemeral in tht
| extreme. The corp of teachers OF last year il
| not the corp of the present, and the teacher o
| last term too often not the teacher o.
| the present term. Another question at ono,
| arises: GLOW shall secure greater permar
| auce OF teachers in our country schools?'
When young man arrives at an age that ht
| looks about him to see what field of labor II
life he will enter; if he selects profession ht
.elects one congsnial to his taste;
| but in this selection another ell
ement enters which is no. governed AWAY.
| by the law of philanthrephy and benevolencc
| towards his fellow men, but far oftenar by hi.
| owl dependence upon a mate ial wolli, fully
realizing laccording TO herbert Spencer, tha
| next to self-preservation comes indirect preser
walton which is acquiring the means of living
This principle is sometimes denied, but if yor
will trace back the life of men you will inyara
bly, find that wealth and position have entered al
largely into their lives as ever philanthropy OF
benevolence did.
II the young man selects the profession oil
teacher he will at once conscientiously devote
his time and energies to a p eparatio1
for the work before him. and having prepared
himself rightfully expects a position that ha,
stability, and at least fair remuneration, sc
that when old age creeps On apace he may rest
from his labors, not only with the commentator
''Well done, thou good and faithful servant, .
but with the comfsrtine
assurance that the labor O.
his younger days have fully provided for the
necessities of his decling years.
If the teacher has ability, land this
is the kind we desire) he or she looks
around for some other position, one that has
fair compensation attached, often leaving {
county with an inferior corps of teachers, which
means poor ,chools. Dissatisfaction ensues
change upon change takes place, and the school.
are seriously injured thereby. This, to a grea
extent may be remedied by good and firm coun
sci to the patrons and officers of such a school
convincing them that the cheap teacher is really
the dearest and if the selection is left to the SUI
psrin.en6ent give q good one or none
some time, when urged to select good teacher
| and to pay fair salary, some august number
of the board, or else a close-fsted citizen who
believes that retrenchment should always begi1
AID end in school work and that is the trut
place to economic except in cases where he has
| the contract to supply with wood for the winter
| then he expects little more than he would
| from private individual. Retrenchment witt
him only means in teachers salary and duration
OF term. When you inform him that means
poor schools, you getthe Information that 'any
| body can teach cur school," and this is not t,
disparage the school, but rathsr frame the er
Il