Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1895-02-02
RAISE TINE STANDARD.

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From the Western Educator.
It is evident to every person en-
gagged In the profession of teaching
that the salaries are too low, posi-.
tons too uncertain and their labors
too little appreciated to furnish
much inducement to make prepara-
ton for the work as life profess
sion. II must also be evident to
every patron of the public schools
that there is too much inferior work
done in the schools, that too many
persons are going about the coun-
try carrying certificates who are not
ut all fitted for the work, that there
is entirely too much chance in the
matter of hiring teachers.
There are causes for all of these
conditions aud those teachers who
hope to make this their profession
owe il to themselves and to the peo.
pie whom they desire to serve to
study these causes and offer some
remedy for these evils. The people
owe il to themselves to support any
movement that will remove these
conditions. Better teachers, better
salaries, more permanent positions
and better schools are what we
want. How can these be secured is
the question. No doubt many fea-
lures must enter into the complete
answer to this question, but we de-
sire in this article to suggest just
one step that we believe will tend
largely to this end. That is raise
the standard of requirements for
teaching. And now by this we do
not mean that more questions or
harder questions shall be asked in
arithmetic, history or any other
branch required by law, but we do
mean that the nature of the ques-
tions should be changed somewhat
and that some subjects that receive
little or no attention at present
should occupy a prominent posi-
ton in the list of subjects for care
full examination. When II is true
that some teachers with lowest
grade certificates are doing better
work than many who carry first
grade certificates, when there are
many persons who cannot pass an
examination at present who would
do much more good in the schools
than many of our highest grade
teachers; in fact when some OF our
worst failures are teachers who
have taught for several years and
hold high grades, it must be evil
dent to any one that something Ia
wrong with our system of examina-
tions. These teachers answered the
questions asked them and merited
the grades they carry. They are
proficient in knowledge of these
subjects. but can they teach them
This most important question was
not asked, nor was any means pro-
vided whereby the board of exam
liners could determine this point.
In fact it is not required. 1t is pos
sible for every person with average
ability to gain knowledge of the
textbooks taught in the public
schools, but does il follow that
every person can become good, or
even fair teacher? A knowledge
of textbooks constitutes utfifty
per cent of the true teachers quail
fications. Ability to impart knowl'
edge and govern and influence
children constitutes the other fifty
per cent. More power in this re-
gard should be given to examining
boards, which should be composed
of teachers of experience and dem
onstrated ability. Instead of con-
fining the questions to a knowledge
of the textbooks some attention
should be given their methods Of
( aching the subjects. 1t is pre-
vailing idea among young people
who apply for teachers certificates
that they should not be expected to
have any method of teaching sub
ject, never having taught it. Sup
pose man should apply to you to
build your house and acknowledge
to you that he had no plan for build
ing houses inasmuch as he had
never built any.
Applicants should not only be ex.
amined in their knowledge of books
and ability to teach, but much at
tention should be given to natural
adaptability for the work, power to
govern and influence children.
II is true that we have subject
called theory and practice in which
applicants are examined after a
fashion, and this grade is not aver
aged with the others in third grade
certificates and has very little effect
upon the other certificates.
Teachers should be required to
progress. No teacher should be
granted more than one third grade
certificate, nor more than two Sec
ond grades. A teachers certificate
should be true evidence of his ex'
perience and ability and his wages
should be regulated accordingly
When applicants are granted GER
tificates upon rigid examination,
not only upon the knowledge OF
books, but also upon natural adap-
tah;i;fv IN teach and Govern q