Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-04-30
EXAMINE THE
IL Is Done Elsewhere and IL Should
be Required In New Mexico.

To the Editor Of the Optic.
EAST LAS VEGAS, N. M, April 29.h,
1897 Friendly aud good-natured dis.
cussion Of matters Of public interest Is
likely to be productive OF good; there.
fore, l will add a last word, from my
standpoint, about the examination oil
teachers. Instead Of being hostile to
Prof. j. A. Wood. l am decidedly 10
favor Of him, but l do not believe the
newspaper is the place TO discuss the
merits Of individual teachers.
My former communication was not
conceived In oppositioR to any teach
err, or intended as . criticism on any Of
them, but to point out the necessity OF
a general rule applicable to all. Some
teachers are better qualified than others,
in education, in temperament, IN the
power to impart instruction, in ability
to draw ou and develop the latent
powers of pupils, and where expert
ence has proven that o teacher is COM
petent, it IS good policy to 'slet we'll
enough Alone" but II there are cases
OF incompetency, the rule does no ap-
ply to them. 1t is the welfare Of the
school the board should consider, not
the maintenance Of any particular per-
son in place.
The question at issue is not the EN-.
ployment Of any professor or teacher,
but q broader and more important one.
Should the teacher hold q certificate
from q competent board of examinarsp
That 10 the only question and the dis
cussion should not be diverted to the
personal one, of the employment OF
this or that person. IA Citizen"is
against this proposition. am for It
Lawyers, doctors, preachers, dentists,
pharmacists, must prove by examination
their competency, their technical learn.
ing in their special profession, why not
the teacherp Why should the teacher
be exempt from that test Of qualifca-
tion required of othersP II there is a
state where O teachers certificate is not
re quIred as q condition to employment,
I am not aware of it. Why should
New Mexico place herself on q lower
educational planet Would q school
board be impressed with the qualifica-
lions OF . teacher who would present
himself or herself, for employment,
who would say: 81 am qualified. but /
do not want TO be examinedPv Why
not be examined. why not prove CON-
petsncyP Have we really any teachers
aspiring tor positions who want 10
escape examination I do no believe
Il. II 90, I would like to see The names
81 such in public print. Suppose the
school board had two lists, one contain
ing the names of teachers ready and
to take examination for certif-
the other the names Of those
ready nor willing. from which
list would the teachers more properly
DO selectedP
"a Citizen," characterized the test
II competency required 10 the states
highest, for the quality oil
,ublic schools, IS ''useless %foolishness
4 examination under a special board.
| remarkable criticism on q require
nent Of the best educators Of the
everal states. A condition required
y the advancement OF the age ls ID
lew Mexico O ssuseless ~fooliahness.
The school boards, educators and
legislatures OF the states, standing
ID the efficiency Of the public
will striks out this require
nent OF EXAMINATIONS, whom they learn
hat Nav Mexico denouncea As p~nseless
oolishnese, =. what the experiences Of
be ahlest teachers have supposed to
q necessary. Shook learning Of H..