The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1886-02-03
For the HERALD AND NEWS
Teachers Examinations.

uitted at the late eXamlhaOio'
nlicants for teachers certificates anu
questioned the value Of examlna''on'
as now conducted. In regard 10 Se,
eral matters contained in the t"o GU
itorials upon these points, ! must os
leave to differ from you. But oelot0
I proceed further it may be well 10
correct q mistake you have maze aS
to where the responsibility for the
examination questions lies. You have
belabored the state Board of Exam
iners, whereas the State Superinten-
dentof Education is the culprit. His
duty it is to prepare the questions
and he is responsible for their charac-
ter, whatever that may be.
! will notice first what you nave W
say upon the subject Of examinations
generally, and next your criticism Oh
the questions submitted at the iaS'
examination.
Most of what you say npon this
first point, proceeds, it seems to me-
mon g misconception Of the object
and intention Of an examination.
You ask, "What is thepurpose OF the
.vamination?" and answer that, "iT
must certainly be to test the apph'
cant's efficiency as teacher. II
Won will read over carefully, Mr.. Edi-
tor, your little sketch in last week 5
paper, of what constitutes an efhclenS
teacher think you will come to the
conclusion, that an examination
which would determine this matter
vonld be marvellous production in
! deed, beyond the powers OF the State
Superintcndent, though he were as
sisted by the whole State Board. No.
the object of an examination, i sub
nit is not to test the applicants ef-
fciency as . teacher, but to test his
| knowledge ofcertain English branch
es which the law requires to be taught
in the public schools, and this is all
that the certificate he receives testl-
! fies to. It certifes that Mr.. A. b.,
having passed a satisfactory examin-
alton in the branches named, is re-
commended and authorized to teach
in the public schools. The County
Board does not venture TO say that
the applicants qualified to teach eX-
cept so far as the degree of knowl,
edge he shows will qualify him, nor
could any examination be framed
that would enable them to do more.
| A teachers efficiency is made up OF
50 many qualities and characteristics.
as you have shown, that nothing short
ofomniscience could weigh and meas
ure, and assign him his exact place
and value.
The possession or the lack of those
qualities that 60 to make q good and
efficient teacher can no more be de
ternlined by an examination than can
the qualifications Of the candidate fol
admission into the professions of law
or medicine. In each case the only
thing that can be done is to ascertain
whether the applicant has the requi
site amount Of knowledge. This Is
the only qualification that can be
measured and determined, and thi;
must be taken as the test OF the ap
plicants fitness. What he is really
worth will only appear by what ht
accomplishes. by their fruits shall
ye know them
Now, MIR. Editor, as tc the plar
, which you propose to substitute To-
the present system of examinations
Oral examinations. to be at all salts
factory. would require a length o
time which, under the present condi
: ton of our school affairs, it would b
, impossible to give to examinations
Moreover it is conceded on all hand
that written examination is nuc!
fairer and more searching test of
: mans knowledge on any subject thar
f an oral examination. And in III
? ging ersonalinspection in the school
room vou forget that pany o
the applicants who come befor
the board Of examination have neve
t been teachers, and under the lay
2 cannot enter a school-room a
E teachers until they hold certificate
from the County Board.
Now as to the questions submitte
! by the State Superintendent at tn
last examination. In passing upo
these questions, you must remembe
that q new set is necessary every si
D months, and that repetition must y
e avoided as much as possible. Sevt
/, ral Of the questions which you sue
oest, have been asked within the las
l year. Take the subject oEthe Me1
e ican war. The question as to ii
J. causes and results was asked les
e than q year ago, I believe. Ator
y the only other available questio
upon the subject would be in refe
!. ence to the battles OF that wa
n Again, though many Ct the question
f are such as we'll educated and we
o informed man might be unable t
answer, yet it must be remcmbere
that the case of one WHO is expectin
o to become a teacher, or who is actI
o ally engaged in teaching, is far di
It ferent. 1t is the business Of such
one to be familiar with these subject
and to be able to answer question
Z which might puzzle the average ma