St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-03-09
Need No Longer Fear That
Dreaded Psychological
Examination.
The School Board Reads the
Globe and CONSTITUTES the
New Law.
President Scheffer and Vice
President Bridgman
Again Honored,
While Secretary White Is Re-
Elected by a Unanimous
Vote.

1t was a most feIicitous meeting that
the board of school inspectors held Id
the Office of Maurice Auerbach at
o'clock yesterday, and it was an i'm
portant meeting, inasmuch as it was
held pursuant to the provisions of the
charter, directing the board to perfect
an organization for the fiscal year. But
the mere election of the officers of pres
ident and vice president we're the least
important of the events that took place.
This meeting meant a great deal to the
salaried employees of the school depart
ment, for it elected a secretary,
and it defined the position to be
assumed under rule 1876 of the bylaws
Of the board. This latter is precisely
what has perturbed the teachers en-
gagged in directing the young mind how
to shoot. 1t must be confessed, despite
the prOyerbial qualifications of st.
PauPS corps OF distinguished teachers,
there has been not little distress
among them because OF the scope OF the
rule adverted to and the possible tech
nical interpretations it suggests.
The course of the board, however,
was of the conservative sort, and the
rule is not to be rigldly enforced; so the
teachers who are ambitious to be en-
rolled for superior qualifications as per-
manent preachers have no occasion for
undue alarm. The tests are to be prac-
teal, rather than classic, and, if it is
demonstrated that the candidates for
the honorable distinction are properly
qualified for the regime of pedagogy,
fI,a1r will cnooaccfI1Ilu nncc
The first business of the meeting was
to elect a president, and for the nur
pose of bringing this order before the
meeting Dr. Bridgman was made tenn
porary chairman. Then in happy Sc
quence the secretary was directed to
cast the votes of the board for Albert
Schetfer for president and for Dr..
Bridgman for vice president. Then
the question OF choosing secretary
was reached and stiffness prevailed.
There has been great deal of antag0H-
ism to Edwin E. White, the present in
cumbent, for good many months. and
it has often been limited that al organ
lied effort WAS to be made to depoSa
him. But this opposition seemingly ex-
listed in the chimerical minds of possible
political antagonists, for his reelection
came with refreshing unanimiIy. Mr..
Pyle moved that DR.. Kean cast the vote
OF the board for Mr.. White, and there
was not dissenting voice, while Dr..
Stamm cried enthusiastically:
Il am for Mr.. White for secretary
every time"
Mr.. White made speech of thanks
for the expression of renewed conf
dence of the board, and Inspector Pyle
facetiously suggested that the board
had not anticipated speeches when it
disposed of its fayors.
This completed the routine, and the
charter provisions were complied with.
1t was then that Dr.. Bridgman asked
the privilege to make q statement in
which the inspectors had concurred,
concerning the nervousness felt by
many of the teachers owing to the
adoption of the little civil service rule
in the recent manual. He explained
that there is no real cause of alarm, as
it is not the intention of the board TO
displace tried and valued teachers to
experiment with new talent. He re-
ferred to rule 1876 Of the bylaws, or a
portion of it, rather, which ne proceed
ed to read to wit:
Teachers having received a preliminary
certificate may be continued for another
year, at the END of which they may become
candidates for permanent appointment IN
the st. Paul public schools. Such candi-
dates shall be required 10 pass an eXamlna
ton satisfactory to the superintendent of
schools and the board of school inspectors
upon the history and theory OF pedagogy,
and to present unqualified certificates of
recommendation from the principal of the
school in which they last taught and from
the superintendent of schools. Teachers
meeting these requirements Shall receive the
st. Paul teachers certihcate, emitting them
to places among the permanent employees OF
iti1gt
of success in teaching and failing in the ex-
animation required, may, at the option of the
board be retained for another year of pro-
baton or at once dropped,
Provided, That nothingsln the above rules
shall be construed to limit the power of the
board TO dismiss at any time any teacher or
other employe because of moral deinquen-
cies or Of failure TO properly perform the
duties Of their respective positions.
The portions of This rule relating to per-
manent appointment shall apply Ia all teach
ers, principals and SUPERVISORS at present III
the employ of the board who have held their
positions for less than two years. All others
may, upon passing the required special eX-
animation and receiving the proper certii-
Gates, be at any time placed upon the roll of
permanent teachers.
The genial inspector then amplified
the position that had been assumed by
the board in placing construction upon
the rule, and to create precedent for
future actions. He suggested that the
press had somewhat accentuated the
perturbation by agitating the problem
of late, and he hoped the reporters
would use care in giving correct eX-
position of the purposed methods of
the board in enforcing the proposed
new rule. He said the examination of
teachers looking to their permanent
employment is nothing compulsory
but optional. No teacher will be dis
missed for failing to apply for the test
fixed upon. Moreover, there is a
popular misapprehensiOn, he fan
cied, among the teachers concerning
just what this test shall consist of. He
even gave assurances that the teachers
who fail in passing. having given salts
faction in their respective branches in
the past, are in no danger of removal
not any more than the teachers who do
not take the examination at all. The
animuS of the whole matter is, this eX-
animation is an honorary adjunct, and
those who aspire to that honor shall
submit to the prescribed test. But this
test is not to be of technical character
as an entirety, as seems to be under
stood by good many teachers, but
based upon the practical pedagogic
principles-an examination as to
capacity rather than as to profound
erudition. The recommendations of the
superintendent and of the principals
will be largely followed in giving the
test, but only comparatively small
portion of the test may be required to
pass. Mr.. Pyle advised thereupon that
none of the examinations will probably
be held until April, thereby giving all
who have ambition to receive a perma-
nent appointment an opportunity to
"Drush up"