New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-04-03
S77-S10 BROADWAY.
FOR BETTER TEACHERS.
THE STANDARD OF EFFICIENCY RAISED.

NEW REQUIREMENTS AT OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
IMPORTANT CHANGES.
Although the teachers Of the public schools OF New
York form fno body Of educated men and women ana
compare favOably with their colleagues In any city OF
the Union Superintendent Jasper and the members OK
the Board Of Education continually making enorls
to raise their standard OF excellence Among the i'm
portant steps taken recently with this pTnSeworthy end
in view none probably will prove mom effective than
the bylaw adopted n few weeks ago. Until the begin
ming Of March Of the present all candidates for
licences TO teach in the Newlork schools were Obliged
10 have general average Of scveutyfv out OF posi-
bic 100 In all the studies IN which they were examined
THIS average also required in many other cities. But
last month the Board raised this standard 10 per cent
80 that In the future applicant will be accepted as
a teacher whose average in all studies is not eighty five
ont Of a possible 100. The majority Of candidates for
admission TO the corps Of teachers present themselves
for examination between April and June -. and II Will
De- well for them 10 remember this change iU the re-
durcmen,,.
Although the now law has been in operation only
few weeks It's effects have become apparent already.
Heretofore fully onchalf Of the candidates examined
succeeded I'm obtaining LICENSES; but during the last
month not in eight was able TO show the pro-
iclcncy required
But not only changes in the intellectual require
mcnt, have been made In future greater attention
Is also TO be paid to the physical attributes
thorizcd President Hunt TO appoint ton physicians in
this city. who 10 examine all candidates for
place, Of teacher IL Will be necessary for each APP
plicaut. before undertaking the examinations in the
various branches Of study, the certificate Of
one OF these ply -cians aylng that the candidate Is in
sound bodily health and able 10 endure the atigues
and hard'hlps incident to teachers life These GER
tncatc, are only good for years when their hold
crs must be re-eXamlncd. According 10 the pS0n-
uon Of tho Board. the fee for each physical examina
ton Is t, DO 49, and the ten physicians to be ap
pointed before the end of the present month. Ii IS
believed that this provision will exclude many appi-
cant, who would be unable TO attend to their duties
on account Of i'll health and that In the end il Will
save the city considerable money. AT present many
teachers are absent for weeks and months at time
from sickness, drawing their salaries however. Just
as II they were at their desks substitutes must be
paid for performing tho duties OF the sick
But other rules. in addition to those mentioned
above must be observed by woud.5e teachers in
New. Works. schools. They are explained In the fol
lowing circular:
Candidates censes must. in all cases he at least
eighteen years OF age. aud must be proposed As
teachers fr one or more OF me scnoos uuei ule ciS
of the Board OF Education Examinations for snch
licenses held ut the hall OF the Board VI Education.
No candidate can be examined except The writ
ten request OF "A Commissioner OF Common schools, or
the chairman or majority Of h%.r OF Ssoo tras
tory license win be issued only upon the presentation
TO II
chairman OF a majority of the trustees Of any ward,
stating that vacancy exists to tl which me SAL
candidate may be appointed. This certicate must
also attest the unexceptonable moral character of The
applicant - ,,, -
uncac. for either primary gran'rn,r schools are
reading spelling Ens;h %mm"r hl,9ry s Of s
through Guadratc equations plane geometry. de,crip,
tive astronomy, physics, physiology. drawing music
and rSS n sbe Of for an evening
license reading spelling English grammar hsI0rk
quadratc equations, plane geometry. physics, geogra
ply and principles and methods Of teaching -
ANY candidate falling to receive an average OF %
per cent in the various studies prescribed cannot
be rccxamned within ore year, and any candidate
not be re-eXamined until four months shall nave
elapsed. -.,,..., ,.,,, ,,us IN
present the evidence Of good knowedgs Oh me
above subjects. to show the culture refinement OF
manners and strength Of physique which are indiS-
The certificate awarded - each candidate on passing
months-at the expiration Of which time the teacher
is required to show practical success IN discipline ana
branches of study prescribed for the grades covered
by the license, well the methods OF teachlng w
same Indispensable prerequisites Tor permanent
Applicants for promotion 30 higher grades are also
subject to an examination IN the studies ana he'hons
specially prescribed FOR such grades
The examinations are conducted mpariially. as
matter of The assistant snpenniendents nave
no chance to show preference even II they desired 10
do rs the candidates sign tncf papers Dy huDci9'
the names attached to the numbers being placed IN
sealed envelopes These envelopes are not opened
until the papers have been marked and the fate OF the
candidates decided.
The young men and women WHO secure the pro-
ysiona licenses receive permanent licenses at the emu
Of one years service providing that their methods OF
teaching have been found successful During the hrst
year they usually spend their time, II fortunate ehongh
10 get places, s0.called suhsti'ntes INC suosu
tntss are divided into two classes ordinary substitutes
and regular substitutes The ordinary substitutes take
the nlaccs of teachers who sck and receive III 20
n day for all the days which they work. drawing no
pay for Idle days ,.,,,,,. L..
In each ward there one regular substitute fDr
cases OF emergency twelve substitutes for every
twenty cases Thes) regular substitutes receive 81 20
Tor every day OF the school year. 49, ,
The salaries OF the teachers Of THIS CITY, however
are much higher than those In many other places In
The United states All male principals OF grammar
schools with good records who have served fourteen
years receive 80 900 year. and the female princlpas
~ The grammar schools and primary schools AFTER inc
came term of service al 300 and SlIoO. respectively
The salaries OF male principals Of grammar schools who
hnve served less than fourteen years vary ACCORDING
20 tho number OF pupils attending the schools between
~ go and S3 600 the salaries OF the emaie prin-
cipals Of grammar schools with Ike experience, pe'