Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1892-07-22
The Examination Of Public School
Teachers

u
THE NEW RULES GOVERNING IT-THI
EXAMINATIONS FOR STATE AND LIFE
CERTIFICATES AT BEDFORD CITY.
The Board of Education of Virginia has
made very material alterations in the mat
ter of examining candidates for teachers il
the public schools. Hereafter, city and
county superintendent cannot issue profes.
siOnal certificates, but are restricted to the
granting of third grade certificates for one
year, second grade for two years, and first
grade for three years. Teachers now hold
| ing professional certificates can teach under
them until they expire and then exchange
them for first grade certificates, when, like
other certificates of that grade, they may
be renewed for two years more, at the end
+. of which time new examination must be
| taken.
City and county examinations are to be
held this year on the 4th and 5th Of August
for white, and on the 9th and 10th for col
ored teachers, and will comprise spelling,
reading, writing, arithmetic, grammar,
geography, history, physiology, and hygiene,
with the addition of the theory and prac-
tice OF teaching for those who desire first
| and second grade certificates. If any other
branches are studied in the school to which
the teacher is to be appointed, examination
in those will also be required.
All professional certificates are to be is
sued by the Superintendent Of Public In
struction, and are to run seven years. To
| obtain one, the candidate must have had at
least two years experience as ateacher and
| satisfy the state Superintendent of his or
her ability to instruct and manage school,
and must pass thorough examination in
spelling, reading, writing, arithmetic,
grammar, geography, history of the United
States, general history, algebra, physiology.
civil government, Virginia school laws,
elementary physics and the theory and prac-
tice of teaching. In the first ten, the candi-
date must take IS per cent. on each; in the
others, an average of IS per cent, but not
less than SO per cent. on any one.
Any holder of professional certificate
can obtain ''life diploma from the Super
intendent of Public Instruction by passing
an additional examination in geometry,
chemistry, natural history, botany, geology,
English literature, composition and rheto-
ric, and Psychology. This diploma, as
well as the professional certificate, can be
used in any city or county in Virginia, and
first-class certificates of one city or county
may hereafter be used in another if endors-
ed by It's superintendent. Life diplomas
may be cancelled if the holders fail to teach
OF do other professional business for three
years.
In all future examinations city and coun-
ty superintendent are to consider, besides
the correctness of the answers to questions
asked, s'other evidence of qualification ap-
pearing from the examination, together
with his information and knowledge of the
applicants successful experience as a
teacher" Examinations for professional
certificates and life diplomas will take place
this year at Bedford City on the 25th, 18th
and 9th inst, and applicants may, if they
so desire, take part of their examinations
this year and the rest next.
These regulations, the Alexandria
Gazette, which makes the above condensa-
ton of the rules, thinks conflict somewhat
with the 91st section of the free school law,
which says that s'no teacher Of free school
shall receive any pay from the public funds
unless he or she shall hold certificate Of
qualification in full force, given him by the
county superintendent for the county with
in which he or she is employed" But the
certificate the County Superintendent is
authorized to give, taken as "a certificate
of qualification" would seem to obviate
tho conflict