The Russellville Democrat. [volume] (Russellville, Ark.) 1875-1898, 1886-10-13
rnRREsPONpENCE.

Miss Grace visited the family Of
Prof. II. L. Ray0urn OF Atkins last
week. returning on Sunday
Henry Garden camps with Us every
Sunday, on his last visit he was ac-
companied By Jim Miller. Come
ofting' boys, or render unto your
Aunt your reasons for failure.
Prof. Frye and family have re-
turned to Dover from London. he
having been employed as principal
OF Dover school.
B. r. Bradley and f. g. Kirkscey
have left an aching voice-the latter
particularly-behind them. They
have gone to attend the Little Rock
Medical College. When they re..tisr,,
next spring I'll throw uP my COM
mission, Sss .here are enough deaths
occurring here from natural causes
/ have heard great deal OF talk
from some teachers throughout the
county complaining Of the vigorous
requirement OF county examiner
Rayburn in his public examinations,
and, as a citizen interested in the
educational interest OF the county,
/ am going to pay my respects 70
some Of them right now. In the
first place the demand for teachers
holding only THIRD GRADE certif
Gates, in this county is not very large,
and the supply of teachers holding
certificates of SECOND GRADE is great
" in excess of the demand. Some
OF the latter have unsparingly
criticised Prof. Rayburn, because he
failed to give them FIRST GRADE Ger
tificates, when, In fact, at the ex-
animation held here in June last,
and while the examination was in
progress, Prof. Ravburn, explaining
to me the requirements of the law
as regarded his duty said that,
"there were only three or four of the
forty, or more applicants. who could
reach the first grade standard"
was present great part of the time
while the examination was in pro-
gress, and confess that | was aston
ished to see so many of the teachers
applying for first grade certificates,
who were, IN reality, entitled only to
third grade; and ! thought OF the
admonition given me by the late
Judge Thach twelve years ago, when
only men with superior qualification
like those possessed by lobe Baird,
Prof. Haddock and few others,
could obtain first grade certificate. Z
II am giving you the highest grade
certificate because / believe that you
will in time merit it, and If you
don't stand better examination
next time, | shall reduce you to sec
ond grade. do not believe IN ele
waiting teacher to the higher grade
unless he studies hard TO merit the
elevation" SO far as | am now able
to ascertain, examination is practi-
cally the same that it was then.
And / desire to say that never saw
more liberal and impartial exami
nation than the one held here by
Prof. Rayburn. He had no ''pets"
as was alleged, but performed his
duty in straight forward manner,
strongly impressing the spectator
with the dignity and ability with
which he discharged his duty. The
school law should be so amended as
to require teachers TO come up TO
the standard of second grade on the
second application, and the sooner
every school in the county is flied
with teachers holding first grade
certificates, the better will it be for
the educational interests Of the
county. No teacher who has the
pride and ambition he should have,
will be satisfied with an inferior GER
tificate, and if he has not these mo
tives, he can do nothing that would
be so beneficial to himself and the
public in general as to embark in
some other line. Now, / propose
that any one who has accused Prof.
Rayburn of Partially. send me his
name, and | will go down to Atkins
and get from Prof Rayburn the
questions and answers Of his last
examination, and have it published
in the DEMOCRAT, letting the teach
ers of the county determine the jus
tice or injustice of the course of Prof.
r. 1 have said all this because
desire To see even handed Justice
done to faithful efficient and hon
est officer, and if necessary | can say
a great deal more in vindication of
his course as county examiner. The
wisest thing these young men who
are so sensitive upon this subject
can do will be to studiously endeay-
or to reach the highest standard Of
proficiency in this noble calling, then
it matters not who may be Co. Elk,
their merit will surely be recogniz-
ed and certificate of corresponding
merit awarded to them
Uncle Burrell Rushing II years
old pulled and handled three times
80 bushels of corn in two days last
week; he worked mule "a years old
in hauling. Can any one beat this?
Uncle Bnrrell is unusually hale and
hearty FOR one of his years, and we
hope that many years of usefulness
may be added TO his life.
We are sorry TO note the serious
illness of Mr.. Charley Forehand who
is now lying very low with typhoid