The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1894-11-02
Edited by :
Experience VS.. Inexperience.


seuted themselves to county examining
boards for teachers license. OF this
number, 4s2 failed, many of whom had
received a general average of IS per cent,
or even higher. More than 500 of the
applicants received license to teach, al
though they had grade of little more
than 70 per cent That wrong was done,
doth appear in this:'' Teachers of ex-
perience and fair scholarship were thrust
aside, and persons OF. no experience and
of inferior scholarship were granted GER
tifcates. The law that permits this, fur
ther wrongs the good people of our state
by inducing many young persons with
no aptitude for teaching to apply for IL
cense to teach; firstly, because it's easy
to make a grade of 70 per cent, and sec
ondly, because ''there's money in it -
These incompetent and inexperienced
teachers(?) enter into open competition
with the best teachers, and in many in
stances are successful competitors with
them for positions, thus driving good
teachers out of the profession, and giving
their places to "money Makers and
professionals.
By further statistics, Mr.. Barzee shows
that in a given period the entire teaching
force of the state was increased only
about rs per cent, while the increase of
third grade teachers in the same time
was more than 90 per cent. Now, what
becomes of all these third grade teachers?
Do they procure second grade certificates?
To the last question, no; not more than
IS per ceut of them. To the first ques-
ton our answer is found in conjecture
Some of them get married; some of them,
through laziness, fail to acquire sufficient
scholarship to secure a second grade;
some of them find more congenial en-
ployment, and the entire SIS per cent OF
them, as teachers, fall into state of Gin
ocuous desuetude;;" but not until they
have taught few months of school at
an expense of money and time, and blum
ders from which the district can not soon
recover.
The question is solved by advocating
that male applicants shall. be Fl, and the
| female applicants Ie years of age; all ap
plicants must answer at least IS per cent
of the quest asked; the subject O.
| current history should be added to the
list of examination branches, and the
applicant should further pass rigid ex
animation in some book on theory an6
practice of teaching. This is for coun
ty license. After teaching a specified
time with county license, and passing
satisfactory examination in citizenship
astronomy and geology, the teaches
might receive state license While we
do not agree with the above in all par
ticu1ars, there is no doubt that parent.
and teachers can find food for reflection
that may result in something better.
| A Contest In Geography.
| The following prizes will be given for
the best and second best essay written by
the pupils of the ungraded schools O.
Benton county: For the best essay, {
copy of Hinman's Physical Geography
for the second essay, copy of Frye's
Geography. The following requirements
must be met by all contestents: The sub
ject of the essay must be, "South Ameri
ca as see It." The essay must contain
at least 400 words, and may contain 8oe
words. The essay must embrace a de
scription of the SURFACE, the climate, the
vegetable and animal products, and the
people and their occupations. The essay
must be written in the school room, and
framed in the language of the pupil, and
must be accompanied by certificate
from the teacher to the effect that the
pupil has neither copied the work, nol
received the assistance of any one while
writing it. Amy pupil in the ungraded
schools of this county, who does not hold
a diploma of graduation from the com
mon schools, or a teachers Certificate
will be entitled to contest. Ali pupil:
desiring to enter the contest must han6
| their names to the teacher in time fol
them to be forwarded to the county su
perintendent for registration before No
verber 2oth. Ali essays must be in the
hands of the county superintendent by
December 2Ist. The names of all con
itestants will be published in this column
and after the contest the two successful
compositions will be published Teachers
and parents are requested to encourage
pupils to enter the contest
Miss Jennie Spencer is teaching hel
first term of school in Oregon, in distric
I3. She has very pleasant school, anc
contemplates the organization of liter
ary society in the near future.
We are informed that Mr. George Den
man will close very successful term O
school in district No. 90, on Friday, Nov
9th. A program of exercises by the pu
pills will be prepared for the occasion By
Mr.. Denman.
A literary society, in which both pupil!
and patrons may enjoy membership, ha
been organized by Miss Harrington o
the Evergreen district. The society
meets on Tuesday evenings, and presi
dent is elected for each meeting.
ALI teachers who will close the presen
term of school before December Ist, arr
requested to notify the school superin
tendent at once, in order that the schoo
may be visited before the session closes