The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1891-05-13
AN IMPORTANT ACT.
I he Institute Law Passed by the
Last Legislature.
Its Object l. to Secure Primarily Good
Work in the Common Branches and
to LINK All the States Educa.
tiuna! Interests Together.

Among II" most important laws
passed by the Thirty sixth general
assembly and signed by the COVER
Eor Is what Is known as the institute
law. Indeed it is the most import
ant school Legislation had in Mis-
sourl III the last twenty years. The
central object Of the law is to secure
good work in the common branches
' i'll the 10000 country schools and in
the smaller town schools not under
good supervision. The second OBJ
Ject If the law Is TO link ali the edu-
eatlonal interests together-the ele-
lnentary schools to the secondary
schools, and these latter to the state
university.
THIS law provides for state train.
ing school TO train and license insti.
tute conductors and instructors and
for a summer normal institute in
each county of the state to tram and
license the $4,000 common school
teachers. The state trimming school
will be in charge of half dozan
distinguished educators and will be
one Of the most memorable educa-
tional gatherings ever held IN the
state. 1t will be held at the close If
the State Teachers association. pro-
badly at the same place (Warrens-
burg. Mo y and will be in session
| two weeks
This law takes the licensing of the
| $4,000 common school teachers flOm
the county commissioner as an indi-
vidual and entrusts it to board of
institute conductors and examiners :,
of which board the county commits
sioner is member These institute
conductors and instructors are en-
ployei 10y a county institute board.
This county institute board will con-
sist of the county commissioner and
two persons appointed by the coun-
ty court. 1t takes the $4,000 bien-
nial examination fees heretofore paid
by the teachers to the county COM
missioners and turns 1t into an insti-
tute fund to employ competent in
stitute conductors and instructors
including the county commissioner,
if competent. In addition to the
$3.50 heretofore paid by the teach e,
for examination. the sum of $3.50 is
paid by him; but this entities him to q
monts instruction in a good institute
and to certificate if fquali6ed. UA.
der this law certificate in the com
mon branches can be secured valid
for three years in any county in the
state, thus tending to make teaching
more of profession.
Instead of requiring teachers to
be examined in all the '.ologies' as
heretofore this law confines the sx
animation of three grades of certifi
Gates to the common branches Tn
der the old law. in force for years
to obtain first grade certificate q
teacher must be examined in twenty
four branches.
The hundreds Of thousands o
patrons cIamore,l for tirst-class
teachers-that i. teachers bearing
irst-claSs celtiicate>-llttle compre
hendlng that such certiticat,
meant a whole college course. Thi:
demand on the part Of the patron,
precipitatel the teachers upon th,
county commissioners, urging an ex
animation III these higher branches
The county commissioners yieldet
and sent out hundreds Of slnatterer.
/ bearing these higher grade certif
/ Gates. These teachers. finding thes,
higher branches Oh their certificates
, made haste to experiment upon tn,
pupils at the first opportunity, L
. made no difference that the pupil.
We're not ready for these higher
, branches, that they could not READ
or spell or write decent letter
There seemed to be call for tn,
, teachers to cross over into this in
vlting field of higher education ant