The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1892-11-04
yFRMONT sCaOOI, REPORr.

| inS W IL SlNOo
much information of interest to our
readers:
hon. EdUin F. Palmer, Superintendent
of EducdtiOn:-DEAR SIR:-I herewith
submit to yeu = report of my transac-
tiOns as County Examiner of teachers
foa Bennington County. 1t covers the
period from the date of nv appointment,
May 18th, 1891, to June Both, 1892. Facts
are not at hand to make the report in
clnde definitely what was done from
April LIST, 1891, to May 18th of the same
year. 1t may be said, however that
public examinations were probably held
at eight points during that time and that
forty-six teachers were licensed, one for
five years, twenty-four for two years and
twenty one for one year.
During the period properly covered by
this report, nine public examinations,
each lasting two days, have been held, at
times and places approved by the local
superintendent. Sixty-seven candidates
have at these times and places presented
themselves for examination, forty-nine
of whom received certificates and eigh-
teen of whom, for various reasons, were
rejected. In addition to the candidates
examined as above, applicantsEfor special
examinations have been numerous.
Twenty-eight such were considered, and
twenty-six of them received certificates.
The results of all the examinations
may be summarized as follows:
Public Examinations ex-
amined, 81; Certificates granted, 40; Ger
tificates refused, Is.
Private Examinations. ex-
amined, %; Certificates granted, 20; Ger
tificateS refused, 2.
OF the sevonty-fve certificates granted,
twenty were for two years and fifty five
were for one year or less. Adding to
this number the certificates granted be-
tween March 31st and May 18th, 1891, we
have, as the total number of State certifi-
Gates granted in Bennington County
since April LIST, 1891, the following:
First grade, 1; second grade, "A; third
grade, IS; total, 12l.
The number of applicants examined at
special times appears large, but in every
case it was shown that the needs of some
particular school demanded the exami-
nations. In most cases the candidate
came with letters from the town Super
intendent, or the committee, and fire.
quently with letters from both, urging
that the bearer be examined. Several
applicants for private examinations, also,
have been refused, as it seemed clear
they had neglected the regular public
examination with the expectation of Sc
curing permit, or with the hope of OBJ
tanning County Certificate under more
favorable conditions than the public ex-
aminations afford. Such conditions,
however, where the interests of no par
ticular school were concerned, have had
no weight in securing a special examina-
nation. The Examiner has made rule
to grant no certificate of permanent
value except upon written examination,
and he has also followed the plan of
granting no private examination except
/ in compliance with the needs and wishes
of some particular district. At the same
time, every effort has been made to COM
| ply with the spirit of the law, in making
the times and places of examination
convenient for teachers, in saving them
all needless trouble and expense, and in
granting them every reasonable conces-
sion in the way of special examinations.
Some assistance too has been rendered
in the way of helping teachers to get po-
sitions. 1t was easy to do this, as many
communications have been received
from committees wanting teachers. 1t
has not always been possible to supply
the demand, but during tie past year
more than twenty teachers have in this
connection been notified of positions.
Far more might be done to meet the call
of committees if teachers in want of po-
sitions would notify the Examiner
The large number or low grade certifi-
Gates will claim your notice. The num-
Der is not so much due to the general
disqualification of the teachdrs as it is
due to their disqualification in some par
ticular branch. Many of the teachers
/ mi raonh m. on nar nant of nnrrant
answers in six or eight subjects, and then
ruin their chances for two years certi-
ficate by getting only So or go per cent.
in United States History, and less than
that in the Principles of Education.
| While many of the teachers are experts
in allegation and cube root and can COM
pete with the doctors in their ability to
write out what the books say about di-
gestion and blood and bones, they are
strikingly innocent in regard TO the story
of their country, and they are still more
| childlike in matters pertaining to lltera-
ture. There are some notable exceptions,
but such only serve to emphasize the
situation. Some of these teachers are
perhaps not entirely to blame for their
deficiency. There is no excuse, however,
for their remaining in this condition. 1t
is the teachers duty to be well informed,
to be full of practical ideas. There is
great need for the uplifting of the teach
er, but the teacher and not the public is
the one to do the lifting. Too many
teachers are looking more for raise in.
salary than for raise in the value of
their services. Teachers receive small
pay, bat many of them receive more than
they are worth, and it is the writer's ex-
perience that it is the one who is worth
the least that has the most grumbling to
do about the inadequacy of the pay.
There is good place and high salary
for every successful teacher. Moreover,
the district school is an excellent place
to test and bring out the native ability
of teacher. One who can not succeed
there is not likely to succeed as teacher
anywhere else.
In this connection the Examiner feels
bound to say that in his opinion the law
which allows Town Superintendents to
grant permits without examination is
pernicious. The existence of that law
removes the absolute certainty that all
who would teach must first be examined.
In the absence of that certainty no Ell
cient teaching service can ever be main
tanned. As the result, candidates for
certificates frequently come before the
Examiner and plead for leniency and
special favors on the ground that, in the
hope or expectation of receiving per-
nit without proving their qualifications,
they had neglected proper study and
preparation for their work. This condi-
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