Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1889-05-21
Teachers Certificates vs.. SAL
aries.


WHO HAS AUTHORITY ToaIsADH CERTIFICATES
Itwnl'b seen that the Boardof Examiheia
have the sole power to grant, or lyitli-hold cers
tihcaSes and to grade them according to the
merits of the applicant Upon these certif-
Gates the salaries Of tho teachers are based
and they are the warrants by which the teach
er obtains his school.
The responsibility of the examiners ID great
creator, perhaps, than they have heretofore
realized, They have need to exercise great
care and caution in the use of their authority.
There is little room for extreme leniency or
fayoritism In conducting their examination
They hold in their power the best interests of
the public schools of tho county and the great
possibilities of the county. Under these cir
cunistances, they would, doubtless, be glad to
come up to the full measure of their duties and
do all they can TO retain good teachers In tho
school work and improve those that do not
como up to the standard. But how to do it
and jet bo just to all, both the experienced and
tho inexperienced, Is what they would gladly
learn.
SUGGESTIONS.
It cannot BIO denied that a person may have
a competent knowledge of subject and yet
not DO able to impart that knowledge, in an
Ineligible manner to others, owing 10 the
want of an ability to express his meaning
clearly, and If such a one should engage in
teaching he viii fail for want of tact. This
is one of the qualities in on applicant that the
examiners should try to bring out in order to
fully comply fully with the requirements, +" to
examine each applicant as 10 his competency to
teach reading, sc.
Please observe that IL is his q competency to
teach and not merely his possession of the
knowledge of the subject. It Is this over
sight of the true object in examining teachers
that sometimes leads to the adoption of ques-
lions that test the memory of the applicant but
fail to discover bis capacity for teaching or
the use of ''the how and tho why In his an
swcrs.
HOW TO 10 THIS.
The examinations need not be more difficult
than formerly, but let tho questions DO so
worded as to bring into exercise the reason
and Judgment of the applicant rather than his
memory, and, in the solution of questions, re-
quire the reasons for each step in the process
to be written out. If the latter are omitted,
give no credit for the solution.
Give no credit for partially answered ques-
tions or where the meaning is obscured by un-
ineligible explanations. Make no allowance
except for mere clerical errors. Have the
questions on each branch printed OH separate
slips and give out one of these at time, ap-
portioniug the time to each subject according
to the amount of writing and thought it will
require to answer the questions upon it.
Let the penalty for giving or receiving infor-
nation during the examination from another
applicant or from text books, be a forfeiture of
the examination. Let each applicant realize
that he has reputation to maintain, and let
him regard the examination as test of fitness
to teach and not as farce THAT must yearly
be gone through.
There are now hiue subjects to be examined
on, and if ten questions arc continued to be
given, it win hurry the applicants too much to
get thorugh in one day; hence, it would be
better to give FIVE questions on each branch
and frame them so as to bring ont the reason
and judgment of the applicant more than his
memory of what the text books say.
THE ADVANTAGES.
This course will compel the teachers TO stady
and teach the subjects more and depend less
upon what the text books say hence they viii
become less slaves to the text books and show
themselves living teachers and not hearers of
lessons, only. Then, the boards of education
will realize the necessity of keeping these good
teachers in the schoolwork by paying them
such rcmunerationas will justify them in maxi
ing teaching lifework. Then, the truth will
become self-oyident that it requires constant
study and hard work TO make good teacher
JOSEPH McMURRAN.