The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1886-01-20
The Recent Examination OF
. ....... Teachers.

The Recent Examination Of
/. -..... Teachers.
The examination Of teachers in the
public schools Of Newberry County
for the ensuing year was held last
week in the School Commissioners
Office. There were a number of ap-
plicants, the most of whom succeeded
in their efforts to obtain certificates
enabling them to teach in the public
schools and to draw pay from the
public treasury.
The questions for examination
were very much as they have been
for many years. A very liberal per
centage of them are purely "catch-
questions" and do. not, in the slight
est, determine ones competency to
teach. Some are very excellent ques-
tions, and upon the answers given to
these, we venture to remark, without
knowing anything of the method Of
grading adopted 10y the examining
officers, was the applicants ability
or inability to teach made manifest.
We do not know the gentlemen CON-
posing the State Board Of Education,
nor do we even know their names;
but we must say that either they
have no experience as practical
teachers, or they have very little 90
licitude over their questions for lie
examination of teachers.
There are in all fifty questions
Here are some of the "catch-qut.
TONS"
IN HISTORY.
l. Name the battles of the Mexi-
can War won by the army under
Gen. Taylor; also those won by the
army under Gen. Scott.
2. "Tell what you know of the first
permanent settlement in Georgia"
"3. "How many amendments have
been made to the Constitution Of the
United States? What is the object
Of the last amendment ?"
IN GEOGRAPHY,
l. "Name the Atlantic States and
give thei respective capitals
9. "Name the three noted volca-
noes of the Mediterranean Sea-"
3. Name the States through b which
the meridian Of Washington passes"
f. Through what countries of
South America would the meridian
of Charleston pass?"
5. Name all the countries border.
ing on the Mediterranean Sea-"
IN ARITHMETIC.
/. when principal, time and in
terest are given, how can rate per
cent. be found? illustrate by an ex-
ample
2. "When time, rate per cent. and
interest are given, how can the prin-
cipal he found? illustrate by an ex
ample
3. "Write out the form ofa Promis-
sorry Note for $4,000"
Now we ask any one who is conf
petentto judge, to examine into the
worth of these questions; and see, If
in the most Of them, the teacher who
has a good memory but little skill
to teach may not be enabled to make
one hundred per centum on such
questions, while he who makes teach
ing profession and is eminently
qualified TO impart instruction to pu-
pills, may not, tor want Of an equally
good memory, actually fail to answer
three-fourths of the same questions.
| II such be true, the examination is
no test. Which should teacher
know. the names Of the battles won
by the u. S. forces in the Mexican
war. or the causes and results of that
war? Suppose he knows literally
nothing of the first permanent settle
ment in Georgia. May he not pre-
pare himself upon that question be-
fore the class is ready to recite !?
Does knowing the number of amend
ments added to theConstitution of the
| United States make one the better
prepared to teach? Are not the ques-
tions in geography of the same kind
as those in history? But we are
most surprised at the questions on
arithmetic. Percentage is practi-
cally Of the highest Importance, yet
the board gave the questions on this
subject, all under simple interest and,
to make matters worse, two of these
| (the first two) are fundamentally the
same problem. The other is so vague
and indefinite IS to leave little posi-.
bility Of any ones missing it.
! If the State authorities are compe-
tent men and find this to be the best
that can be done, then we say with
ont hesitation that some other tes tbs
greatly needed.
Here is q copy from one of the
recent examination papers:
Query.-What plan would ayou
adopt to secure punctuality?
Answer.-By putting period at
the end Of every sentence.
The First Communication.
1'bo 6rck oorornupi n hon fnr fhio