The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1892-02-10
TEACHERS COLUMN.
THoS. w. kEITr. Elitor.
A Normal College.

We have been thinking over our
school system for some time, and after
carefully weighing the matter. have
concluded to offer few suggestions,
hoping they might attract the atten-
tion of teachers and elicit decision of
the subject. l suppose there is no
teacher who claims our system TO lie
perfect. l suppose, also, there Is not
one who will claim that the teachers
of South Carolina have the facilities
furnished them that they are entitled
to for acquiring the professional knowl-
edge necessary for the successful carry
ing out of their work. 1t gave US
great pleasure to note the views of our
efficient State superintendent of Edu-
cation, As given in his last annual re-
| port in regard to a Normal College. 1t
appears to Us that a strictly Normal
College is the keystone to the arch upon
which we are to build an efficient
school system. We would not have
the Industrial and Normal combined.
We would have college where the
| professional and technical training Of
teachers could be had. I dare say
large majority Of the teachers of the
State are we'll equipped with inforna-
tional knowledge, but deficient in pro-
fessonal and technical training. Our
means for obtaining the former are
abundant. AS to obtaining the latter,
we have no means at all. Whose fault
is this? certainly think the teachers
themselves are to blame. Upon the
shoulders Of the 1851 white teachers in
this State rests, in very great degree,
the responsibility for the character
of ou. citizens and the future welfare
of the State. "The child is father to
the man." and the impress left by the
teacher upon the child during his
school-days will remain with him
through life. Then it is of the utmost
importance that teachers be equipped,
not only with International knowl-
edge, but with the best methods known
for imparting This knowledge. Many,
who are born teachers, find themselves
teaching according to the principles of
education; the great majority, perhaps,
60 on in the ways of their grandfat hers.
We say that we ourselves are to he
blamed for this condition OF affairs.
We should as body demand Of the
State that we he given Normal Col
lege for the training of teachers. Is it
possible that South Carplina, with her
proud motto, "Animis Opibusque
.rarati," is SO poor that she cannot give
this morsel of bread to her starving
children? Surely we have but TO ask,
in order to receive. Then let us ask
the State to give us Il Normal College,
to be located in Columbia. Let it be
thoroughly equipp d. Let this college
be under the control of a Board of Re-
gents, which shall consist of the Super
intendeuto of Education, ex-officio chair
man, and as many Others as may be
deemed necessary. These others to he
teachers actively engaged in the work,
and elected by the State Teachers AS
sociation. We would have the Regents
elected 10y the State Teachers Associ-
alton in order to get the board out of
politics. Another reason is, that we
would make this Board Of Regents the
State Board nf Examiners, and as such
it should be composed Of practical
teachers.
A great drawback to our system is
the non uniformity in regard to exam
nations. AS it is now, each County
alton papers and awards certificates.
There will he just as many standards
Of marking as there are boards and
hence no uniformity. A teacher may
get second grade certificate in one
county and Oh the same paper get a
first grade in another. This tends to
lower the efficiency Of the teaching
ser'ice. We would avoid this by max
ing it the duty of the Board of Regents
to make up questions for examination,
forward them to to the County School
Commissioners, who would hold the
examinations and return the papers
sealed, to the Board of Regents, who
would examine and mark them and
order such certificate issued as the
papers merited. This, it appears to us,
would have the effect Of making the
standard uniform.
Then, as to certificates, / would sug-
gest a change. AS it now stands,
teacher may 60 on teaching for life on
a second or third grade certificate.
This should not be so. If teacher
has not sufficient interest in his pro-
fession to study and endeavor to rise,
or if he has not sufficient ability to do
so, he should step out and make room
or. more competent person. would
suggest that there he three grades Of
| certificates issued. 1st. A life certit-
cate. This of course allows the holder
to teach for life without further exam
| ination This certificate should be
rendered null by the holder not teach
| ing for three years. Should be resume
| teaching he must stand the eXamlna-
ton. 2nd. We would have first grade
certificate which should be good for
five years. The holder could, if he de-
sired, take the examination for life
certificate each year, should he fail to
stand satisfactory examination each
year up to the end of the term for
which his certificate was drawn, let
him step out as one who has not the
ability to advance in his work. Sd. A
second grade certificate to be valid for
three years under the same conditions
as above. If at the expiration Of the
three years he cannot stand for a first,
let him out also. Then .icentiates, good
only one year. Not to be granted to
the same teacher twice. The certifi-
Gates to he issued by the Board Of Re-
gents; the licenses by the County
School Commissioners, as their judg-
ment dictates. The effect of this would
be at once apparent in the incre sed
efficiency of our schools. The teachers
would be forced to study and prepare
themselves better for their arduous
task, knowing that if they did not
study they would be dropped from the
ranks of teachers
Thus we would have our standard of
efficiency fixed by the Board of Regents
of the Normal College. The college
itself will supply the vitalizing element
which will permeate our entire school
system. For many years We may ex-
pect our rural schools to he taught by
graduates of grammar schools or high
schools, and by those who have spent
several years at college, but who have
not diplomas. These schools are not
able to employ graduate Of a Normal
College. These graduates will he ab-
sorbed oy cur city and town schools.
There they will exemp!ify the methods
of the Normal To their pupils. These
nnnils after graduation at the city and