The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1889-07-25
TEACHERS, EXAMINATIONS.


under the new school law have taken
place in Vermont during the past two
weeks. In some of the counties the
teachers were called together, in two
convenient localities, and in others at
one centralpoint. In this county Prof.
Howe held two examinations-one at
Manchester last week, and another here
two days this week, closing last even
ing. At Manchester thirty-two candi-
dates for certificates appeared, two of
whom passed a first grade examination.
The result is that twenty five were sue
cessful, the two for first grade certifi-
Gates being among the number, It is
noticeable that the BANNERS predic-
tion Of last week proved correct, that
our teachers stand we'll as far as heard
from. Those who passed were very
high in scholarship. and those who
failed were decidedly deficient.
At Bennington thirty candidates were
present. one only of whom was gen.
tleman, the balance being ladies. OF
these but two attempted the first grade
examination. Prof. Howe showed DUR
ing the two days 10 good advantage in
the qualities which we urged as a rea-
son why he was eminently fitted for the
position of County Supervisor of
Schools. The examinations were of
almost interminable length, and nothing
but the most systematic management of
the exercises could have completed them
in the two days allotted. From personal
knowledge we are much pleased that
our common schools, which have been
not inaptly called THE Cornerstone Of
the Republic" have in this county fallen
into the hands of an accomplished
teacher. This was plainly manifest by
the way these examinations were con-
ductedJ There being nearly thousand
papers to- look over aud mark, 10 will
be some days before the result will be
known. Just, how the nearly, two hum
dred schools of the. county are to be
Supplied with about fifty teachers is, not
now clear. but as the certificates
granted under the old system are good
until December, and several hold nor
NAL school licenses, it is possible that
the fall terms of school will. be taught
by duly licensed teachers. Then there
is to be another examination in Novem-
Der. This apparent scarcity of teach
ers is not confined to our county-it
appertains to every county. Rutland,
for instance, where with about 800
schools, there.appear only $50 appli-
cants for licenses TO teach.
There seems 10 be widespread timid
ity among our teachers, which is quite
apparent IN the small numbers who have
appeared at these examinations through.
out the State. We are at loss 10 &C
count for It, unless the newspaper dis.
cussions Of the school law in the frs,
place, and criticism of the State Super
iutendent have tended to produce it.
The law az submitted to the Legislature
was as perfect system as an eminent
committee Of lawyers and teachers could
frame, repeating all previous statutes
and the first error committed was by
the Legislature 10 certain amendments,
which make nonsense Of few sections
that other wise would have been intelll-
gible. The next thing this Legislature
did WIS to elect the leader of the oppo
sition from themselves) Rs State Super
intendent TO carry out the law they had
just before greatly weakened by said
amendments. The only salvation, as faI
az the people are concerned, Is that the
Legislature did not also usurp the pow
ers OF the people and take from them
too the election OF the county super
visors as well. The State Superintend
ent entered the office with heritage oil
public opinion, quite adverse in some
localities. This has been shown since
in the comments Of the Middlebury Reg
} lister and others Of the State press. And
now comes the Rutland Herald Of yes
Ierday with more than column OF crit
iclsm Of the question: proposed for thest
examinations, in which it says.s
The candidates are not only required
to be constitutional lawyers; to be posted
on the crim,nalaRd civil lawcf theState
to tell whether such an event occurred
ON the 10Th or 20 h, and whether in thu
forenoon or afternoon, and II so, why
whether Alexander Hamilton or Kos
J ciusko preferred vanilla or strawberry
; ice cream. and IL so, how much? explor
! atiOps in Vermont az compared will
Virginia; passepgers; for Burlington
Elrex Junction and AveTy's Gore Il
change cate, where but they must also
} be post graduate NJ. d. TO day, wheI
they toy with physiology. They are alst
expected TO be musicians and artists anC
to have a speaking acquaintance with
photography. They will tell you al
about the mountains OF the moon; how
X equals the first mans work: who stol'
the ham; what is the use OF apking ques
tionR that are Mccarthy Use for any BODY
20 know, and is this an examination u
post norton ~: ''''
The Herald also prints the question:
proposed and used at Rutland unde
civil government, commenting as FOL
n Inuya . h'Thn n him Oh fnR fra
grade certificates on civil government
was q hard one, and II the seven WHIT
tried to answer the questions PROFOUND
ed don't have brain fever they are for
tunHte. II would be difficult for any
one except a 6rst-class constitutions
lawyer to answer these questions; anC
yet the young ladies were compelled Il
struggle with topics that the Secretary
OF State would shy at. Here they are
Il. Write short account OF the United State
Constitution.
"a. Name the branches Of the United State
Government, Describe each.
80. Name the six reasons for forming the Con
stiNtion. as given In the preamble.
20. (a). What Is vested In Congress (b)
Name six powers belonging to Conk ress.
) ''5. (a). Define the eligibility Of members o
Congress. d.. State how they are elected.
81 ssns ,h S5eeGs q hs
- az Where do bills for raising revenu,
! originate (b), II the people fail to elect
President, state how he is elected.
IS. (a). When was Vermont admitted As
Statet (b). When was Its constitution adopted
''9. th). In our government, what Is . Bill G
Rights (bl. Name some Of the declarations Ii
our Bill OF Rights (c). State what rights womeI
have to vote in this State. go
! 10. (a) Define national sovereignty; (bl
state sovereignty; (c). State how laws are mad
the courts Of this State. (e). Who is citizen
Define ~. State who are voters"
The force OF the HeraId's remarks
may be seen by reference to the new
rchool law (sec. 49) where It Is provided
that the questions shall be prepared BY
the State Superintendent OF Education
; and by him submitted sealed to th,
County Supervisors. and the latter arr
to open these sealed packets in the pres
euce Of the applicants at the commence
ment of the examination. While we de-
not endorse the sweeping criticisms Of
our contemporaries we do say. that nc
practical teacher worthy the name
would have prepared questions requir-
ing 40 much time TO answer. crowding q
weeks examination into two days, anC
that the sample above shows more oil
the ldicyer than 1t does OF the teacher.
We close with one more quotation
from the Herald: 1.-The next question
calls for definition Of the duties Of
each town officer, 4 question that the
best lawyer 10 Vermont cannot answer
without referring to the statute.
Question 10 is: Name all the Off,
GERS who act under the school law, and
briefly define [sic] the duties of each.
To answer this question correctly the
names of the q members Of the county
Board Of Education, the supervisor, his
assistant and others must be given. To
answer the question correctly, the
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