Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1888-05-11
Pertaining To Examination

Pertaining To Examination.
The school law provides, CSec:2, Par.
S0that the territorial board Of educa-
ton shall prepare or cause to be pre-
pared all questions for the eXami-
nation of applicants for teachers GER
tifcates, both county and territorial,
and to prescribe rules for the conduct
of all examinations" Thus FAR during
our incumbency no formal rules have
been prescribed. Questions have been
prepared and sent out regularly. We
think that uniformity in their use
and in the conduct of examinations
throughout the territory is very de-
sirable and to this end this circular
is ISSUED! Until further notice its
provisions may be considered IS the
rules Of the territorial board OF edu-
cation, in the matter OF the conduct Of
examinations. We shall entertain the
hope that it will prove helpful in
bringing about a more regular system
of examinations. II may be contrary
to the custom of some of the superin-
tendents and While we respect the
opinions and customs Of super1n-
tendents, we must still ms iSt chat uni
formity in the matter OF examinations
is of highest Importance. In nearly
every state the present tendency is
toward state control Of the qualiiica-
tions of teachers. In New York
where the whole matter of the eNami-
nation of teachers is 10y law in the
hands of the county superintendent
they have become convinced of the adj
yaEtages Of the state control of the
examinations. and nearly two thirds
Of the county superintendent have
voluntarily agreed to use the questions
which they have requested the state
superintendent to prepare and send
out. The examinations are also con-
Quoted according to rules prescribed
by the state department. n our prep
GRAFTON of questions we shall endeavor
to maintain uniform grade and we
shall hope to have them, to some
extent, representatives OF the most aG-
vanced thought upon the various
subjects.
| For convenience Of persons not hay
ing copy oflaw at hand some of its
provisions are given herein.
PRINCIPLES.
1. Dead limbs should be hewn off.
2. The true teacher is progressive.
8. The examinations should be pub
lie according to we'll regulated plan,
and open-handed and fair.
4. 1t is the province of the state au-
thorities to fix the minimum qualilica-
tions for admission to the profession of
teaching.
5. Examinations are for the purpose
Of rigidly excluding unqualified and
unworthy persons and not for the pur-
pose OF annoying those who desire to
teach.
6. Candidates should stand upon
their own merits and no personal Or
political consideration should enter
into the determination of the results.
This is best avoided by placing the eX-
amining power as far from the teach
ing force as possible.
Z. 1t is better that some schools be
without teachers for a few months
than that unqualified and unfit persons
be licensed according to the forms of
law: list, it brings reproach upon the
school officers, End, 1t lowers public
respect for schools, 3rd, it prostitutes
the profession.
The foregoing principles have guild
ed us in the preparation Of this circu-
lar and we commend them to the con-
sideration OF county superintendent
as under lying q thorough system Of
examination.