Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1889-05-17
NO. 40.
Who Should be Allowed to Teacha

eral principals shall the qualifications o
teachers be determined? is a question
than which there is none more vital
connected with the administration OF
schools. 1t goes to the very root and
foundation of all substantial school
work. When an unqualified person is
certified under legal forms to be quail
fled, it not only casts reproach and dis
credit upon the law and its officers, but
it brings school administration into
contempt. The unqualified teacher is q
blight upon the public schools. He has
a certain advantage over his qualified
neighbor engaged in the same work, for
he is willing to work for less money and
submit to more indignities, and accord
ingly he finds the most ready employ.
ment. So long as an lndiscriminate is
suance of certificates continues in any
county, there can be no such thing as a
teaching profession, no general and
proper exaltation of the teachers voca-
ton. and no systematic organization for
aggressive and progressive educational
work.
Great difficulties are to be met in the
effort to ascertain the qualifications OF
those desiring to enter upon the duties
of any public vocation. And after once
entering upon the practical duties Of O
vocation the success of the candidate
may be regarded the most secure and
ready test of qualification. Lawyers
actual success In practice, his pleas be-
fore the Judge, his arguments before the
jurors, and his wise counsel to parties
entering upon any form of litigation or
business, form fair test of his general
and specific qualifications for the work
of his calling. But all these tests are
wanting in reference to the novitiate
who has had no professional experience.
Hence it has been found necessary in
the legal profession to guard with great
care against the danger of incompetent
cy, by testing the qualifications of those
becoming students at law, as we'll a.
those who wish to be admitted to the
bar as actual practitioners. The same is
the case with other professions. The
physician must have his well-attested
credentials before entering upon his
professional work, SO also the clergy-
men, and so must the teacher. There
are three classes of persons who offer
themselves as candidates for teachers
whose qualifications are to be ascertain-
ed through the test of examinations, or
close critical inspections First, those
who have had no practical experience
in teaching; second, those who have
had some professional experience and
desire to have their advanced profes.
sional skill properly and officially rec
ognized; and third, those who are in
our normal schools, fitting themselves
by specific professional studies and
practice for their chosen calling. The
first class offers the most difficulties, for
the reason that no professional expert
ence can be taken into consideration.
The examination must chiefly concern
itself with scholastic attainments and
personal character and should be as rig.
id and sitting as the conditions and To-
cality will allow. Then should it be as.
certained that the candidate possesses q
fair knowledge of the branches to be
taught good degree of information, q
spirit of studious inquiry, and dawn
ing sense of professional responsibility;
he should be authorized by law to
teach, but nothing more. 1t cannot
yet be said with any positiveness that
he will prove successful teacher, and
We know he will not unless he carry in
to the school room the application of
his attainments. The certificate. from
the very circumstances of the case.
should be valid only for the briefest
period prescribed by law and if occasion
arises from serious complaints or the
discovery of great defect in administra-
ton or otherwise by means of critical
inspection the superintendent should
annul the certificate; or if the school
directors discover either incompetency
or neglect of duty they should exercise
the right of jurisdiction and dismiss the
teacher. In regard to the second class
everything must depend upon the close
and critical inspection of the schools to
know whether the teacher is worthy to
be advanced 10 the grade of a prOfes.
sonal teacher. His whole system of
work, and his influence for good in
awakening studious habits among chill
dren, the power of his personal pres
ence in the school room, must come un.
der inspection close and frequent, and if
he has proven himself to be success in
the school room he can safely pass be-
yond the ranks of an apprentice teach
er. The judge of all this must be the
inspector himself assisted by what he
may gain from the people in the COM
munity in which the candidate has off,
ciated. The third is very distinct
class and there are very many elements
to help in ascertaining qualifications.
The school itself, which as state nor.
NAL school is subject to state supervis-
ion in its whole work; the frequent tests
which the teachers of these schools
have applied, and the examination by
state authority of all candidates for
graduation, help. Yet even with all
these, no higher grade of certificate can
be given than that of good scholarship
in the branches of study. fair knowi-
edge of the philosophy and history of
education, and careful study and prac-
tice of methods in the model school.
Nor yet can we say what power may be
exhibited when the actual school room
is entered, when the solemn relation Of
teacher and taught is pressed upon the