Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1892-02-12

VI PSisoHditN, ana distinct moral tpue
that can influence aud enthuse their nm.
pils, and elevate their ideals of lie and
character, there are very few applicants
who would be rejected on the ground OF
immoral character. 1t is an importop,
consideration, but often beyond the nor.
sonal knowledge and action of the Elk.
amncr.
! Any one who is in the least conversont
with our public schools will recognize the
tact that the examination average of a
teacher is only an imperfect criterion OF
her practical ability in the school room
yet experience demonstrates that one who
has the Municipalities to become = thor.
oughlv good scholar is likely with per
sistence and experience to devclop into
, the successful teacher
1t is very evident that the Examine,
can not form an adequate estimate OF
the three distinct elements which combine
! to form the excellent teacher. namely
knowledge, practical ability and charac
ter, unless he shall have had On oppor
tunity to visit the school and Judge for
himself. 1t seems almost an axiom that
the duties OF examination and visitation
, should be performed by the same official
1t that proposition is true our present
, system is an anomaly. In our present
law we have a wheel within a wheel, and
the cogs do not match.
We have two sets of officials, the Coun
ty Examiner, and the Town Superintcnd
emit, for performing identical work. The
Examiner may withhold a certificate ior
the reason of insufficient scholastic at
tainment, and forthwith the applicant
may at once apply to the Superintendent
obtain permit, and perhaps two renew.
ais. II this double authority and partial
and divided responsibility, does not result
in discord and confusion it is not due to
the law, but to the good sense and judg
ment of the officials. 1t is apparent that
the immediate effect Of this law is to di.
minish the attendance and decrease the
interest i'll the public examinations. The
record proves the theory.
The first step in the direction of better
schools is to raise the standard of qualifi
cations of teachers. This is the universal
testimony of the best educators in the
State. The elevation of the standard
may be gradual but it must be actual
continuous and progressive.
With the passage of the school law OF
1883 there was an exaggerated idea O
the difficulties Of the new examination
questions, temporary panic among the
teachers, especially the older ones and a
consequent small attendance at cxamina.
ton. Eight teachers appeared at the July
examinations ut Guildhall and Island
Pond, only four of whom received second
grade certificates. The immediate effect
was a temporary scarcity of teachers
holding regular certificates, and the issue
oftempOrary licenses became imperatively
necessary as a lesser evil than the closing
OF school houses. twas soon discovered
however, that the examination questions
though covering broader basis of in
formation, wider range of subjects
were, as rule, fair representative qucs-
tions, and contained fewer puzzles than
those under the old regime of the town
superintendent.
II it would not seem too much like
quoting ancient history, ! will again
quote the record to show % applicants
at the succeeding November and 50 at
the March examinations. | think the
record will fairly justify the claim of 4
progressive confidence and enthusiasm on
the part of the teachers of Essex County
| That the more recent examinations under
our present law, which leaves loopholt
for the incompetent, should show con
siderable decrease OF attendance was tC
be expected.
There are two other new departure:
that are worthy of the attention ans
thought of the public and especially o
our teachers. Among the general qucs
tons quite extended and definite inquire:
are made of the teachers as t" what cdu
cational works they hay !, what
school magazines or periods as they ar,
now taking. 1t is gratifying to note thai
the last three years have seen a marked
increase i'll the number of teachers who
are reading periodicals devoted to thei
profession. What can bc thought of thu
minister who takes no religious journal
the lawyer who has no review and re
ports, of the farmer without the agrlcul
tural, or the teacher without the educa
tional paper. Put them all down in TIL
same category, behind the times TIL
advent of occasional questions oncurren
events must be regarded as the herald O
a broader and more effective intelligence
which promises lasting benefit to boil
teacher and scholar. With all due respec
to our many excellent young lady teach
ers, it must in justice be said that t.,
are too narrow gauge in their general
formation; have confined themselves to-
closely to the text book. 1t is not un
ladylike to know something of the litera
ture, OF the inventions, even of the polite
of the day Remember that we are livinj
in the last decade of the nineteenth cen
fury, and the events on this old plane
are moving with constantly accelerated
speed, and it is more important to be il
touch with he times, than to catalogu