The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-05-23
RAISE IN.

is DOWeu uOWn WltHlH uci Wy ehS ANAoN
of the examination standards which she
has to reach, and she insists that 1t Is
not necessary to know so much n ordel
to teach school. Specially sad is the lot
Of the primary teacher, who has To sub
nit to minute examination, not only III
the ordinary branches of study, but in
many of the higher subjects AS we'll,
Rather hesitatingly, the Seattle Post
Intelligencer takes up the eudgels on
behalf OF the fair plaintiffs. 1t has a
theory OF its own on the subject, and the
theory is that, as a result of thus eNten-
sion OF the field Of examination subjects,
the primary and secondary teachers not
only of the state but Of the whole coun-
try, are neglecting the work OF their
special departments and expenalng
their strength on that which less lm-
mediately concerns them and their pa-
pills. 1t asserts a growing carelessness
or unchecked ignorance in col!oq"ia'
intercourse as one Of the immediate eli
fects Of overburdened teachers and neg
lected children. The results Of bad
schooling at the earliest stage are crop
ing out all along the line. The proper
ton of professional men, it is alleged,
who spell vilely and talk ungraulstioally
is increasing with the facility offered
in passing purely technical exs'ains-
tions. Our children's use OF vlc5ons
slang and their errors, which should not
survive an acquaintance with the first
principles OF language are all due TO the
same cause.
1t may be urged, to begin with. that
this is a very formidable indictment
against the public school system of the
whole country, and We are certainly in
clined to believe that the facts are de-
cidedly overstated. But. even If we
grant the prevalence Of such a dismal
state Of affairs in one region OF the edu-
cational kingdom, we are far from al
lowing that the acknowledgement has
hit the right nail on the head with its
theory of special work neglected by
special teachers. The whole subject of
examinations is hedged around with a
thousand difficulties. We will readily
admit that they are not always all
they might or ought to be, but the
teachers Of Washington may take it for
granted that the examination system
has come to stay. Unless, indeed, we
very much misapprehend the signs of the
times, the standard will continue to in
crease instead Of decreasing, and we think
that it is we'll 1t should do SO. Examin-
ers are not perfect. They frequently
forget the special reason for their
existence. They do not desire to find
out exactly what their subject, as the
doctors style her, knows and does not
know, but rather take advantage OF
their position to make a parade of the
immensely of their own requirements.
From such a peacock the teacher may
we'll pray to be delivered. Even with
the best of examiners, it may be granted
examinations are never entirely satisfac.
tory. AS We look upon them, they are
merely set up as a kind of safeguard in
the interests of parents and pupils. A
satisfactory pass may indicate a certain
amount of book knowledge more or less
laboriously gained, but al hours practi
cal work in the schoolroom would be
worth a dozen examinations in the
choice of a teacher. Ability to attain
does not imply ability to communicate
as many boards OF school trustees ant
county superintendent have discovered
long ere this. But before the communi
cation of knowledge can be begun, it
existence in the teacher must be proved
and that is the main object Of the ex
aminatlons as they exist. They ar
there to keep out the scholastic charla
tan and the quack from our publ
schools. Much more than that the
cannot we'll do.
, With the special complaint of tn
primary teachers of a corner of Wash
= ington state we have little sympath,
4 1t is something to be thankful for thu
VIZ have at last reached the explosion
> the moss grown, deadly ~fallacy that ar
educational wreck was fitted to teac
the primary grades. If there is any OF
, department in a school more thu
another, that requires the most delica
handling and the broadcast and mo
) liberal culture, it is the primary d
L partment. No teacher can afford
o stand still in educational acquirement
4 Stagnation is at once followed by retr
gression, and retrogression not for Il
q teacher alone but for her scholars.
y is scarcely possible to overestimate Il
u influence of an earnest, cultivate
woman on children of the tendere
years. Intelligent school trustees, wi
- possess such teachers, make every effo
to retain them and pay them we'll f
their arduous work. The others tho
y who believe they know enough VIII
they know the extent of their yea,
- work with their pupils-ought to ia
~ to dishwashing. That is a pursl
which is not likely to heat the brain
ia friction of the intellect, and a scien
r that is not likely to have many new d
C overies.
ne They Sort the Type.