The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-10-31
A Plea for Letting Down the Bars.

To the Editor:-I was interested in your
editorial of the oath instant headed " Letting
Down the Bars" and as mn views upon the
subject are somew nat different from those
expressed there, should like to give them
through your columns, II you will permit
While | am as true devotee of good
schools and as anxious to see the standard
OF vermont schools raised, as any one vet
l am not blind to the unfairness In our
present examination and certificate laws
AT present graduate of an approved col
lege can teach in a high school as princip Al ,
Utth0m an examination, while graduate
OF the same college would be compelled to
undergo an examination TO teach a district
school in Vermont. The inconsistency of
I'LL Tae requirements of a district school
greater than those of high school While
the trainers of this law may not have ex
pected college graduate to apply for DO
sition as teacher in district school, vet
know OF one instance at least where such
was the case, and those in authority were
gong to compel this person to take an ex-
ANIMATION while many others from similar
insti ution were accepting positions as prin-
cipals OF high schools without an examina-
ton.
Again, 1t seems to me that the discipline
re elved in four years spent in careful
study and research in any one of our lead
ing colleges ought to give as good dsci-
pine and develop as good teachers as forty
weeks III methods in our normal schools
L submit the question: Which is the better
qualified to teach without an examination
a young man of between twenty and twenty
i've years of age, who has passed through
the high school, and spent four years in
careful study in college, having taught sew
eral terms during this time, or young
lady or gentleman of seventeen or twenty
who, in addition to the training Of district
school, has taken forty weeks in a normal?
la far nAtQ rtt
without examination while the former is
compelled to take one
The editorial says: "It see ms to be AZ.
sumed that an approved course of study
and diploma constitute such conclusive
evidence of fitness to teach that an examin-
alton may be waived" Is this not lust
what is assumed in the graduate of the Nor.
mai when he or she is given a certificate to
teach without an examination? 1t says fur
Their: But the fact that an applicant to
teach can show college or other school di-
ploma ought not to be accepted az such evil
dence of ability to teach as to relieve him
or her from an examination, by the official
the state has appointed for that purpose
The holder of such diploma may lack the
first sentials of competent teacher
There should be no such favoritsm in this
matter of examinations" What is food for
the goose is food for the gander LET there
be no such favoritism in this matter of ex-
aminations;' let the Normal graduates sub
init to the examination; sit is no hardship
for these graduates to submit to an examin-
alton" If the Normal schools are so re-
duced in cir jumstances that they hold out
certificates without an examination as
bait TO draw attendance, it is time that the
number of such schools be reduced and the
standard of the remaining few raised. Why
show 'favoritism' to Normal schools be-
cause they are the proteges Of the state? II
they grant certificates without examination
let the high schools and colleges come in
for their share also. If examinations must
be taken, let the Normal graduate stand up
like the rest and take them. I welcome the
spirit OF the house bill No. 80 as step to-
ward fairness and justice.
Very truly
w. p. ABBOTT.