The record-union., 1897-12-30

Of San Diego County, has settled that
question for all time, the court holding
that while the Constitution gives to
county boards 'the control of the ex-
animation of teachers and the grant
ing OF teachers certificates within their
respective jurisdictions, it is competent
for the Legislature to prescribe the
rules directing how that control shall
be exercised. 1t was also held that
any rule of a County Board of Educa-
ton not in harmony with the statute
was null and void alb initio and of no
force whatever. We are, therefore, now
in a position to suggest wholesome
school legislation on this important
question without the fear of being met
by constitution objections. have
discussed this question only from
the standpoint of the pressing neces-
sity to the schools themselves for the
reforms indicated. There are other
phases of this question-one of which
I shall simply touch upon in closing.
1t has been estimated that there are
between 500 and 1000 teachers in this
State who cannot get positions. Every
one of us is aware of the keen COM
teachers. If the result of this severe
competition were to secure the best
teachers for our schools it would not be
so disastrous. 1t is, however, other
wise, and the tendency is to give the
positions to those teachers who will
accept them for the least salary. The
first schools to suffer from cheap teach
ers are those in the rural districts,
which need added strengthened weak
ness.
In altering the law for the certifca-
ton of teachers, the utmost care must
be exercised to preserve all the rights
and privileges now enjoyed by the pres
ent holders Of certificates-ro matter of
what grade. The certificates now in
force are a solemn contract. and no
legislation should be permitted that
might impair in any way the rights
conferred.
AS to legislation on this, or any other
school question, | am of the opinion
that the teachers of the State can OBJ
tain whatever legislation they may
agree upon. If We can agree on the
general features of a certification bill
leaving all details to be worked out
by committee, and then stand by that
bill, even if we do not concur in every
detail. and interest our representatives
in the Senate and the Assembly, we
can secure this much needed reform
at the hands of the next Legislature.
The Importance of this question was
recognized at the last biennial conven-
tion of superintendents, by the appoint
ment of a committee of seven to report
a plan of certification. The committee
was composed of thoughtful and expe-
rienced superintendents: yet the time
for confederation was so short, and the
minds of the committeeman so occupied
with ctEer important matters before
the convention that the results arrived
at, though valuable and suggestive.
were unsatisfactory even to the men,
bers of the committee. The report was
adop ed by the conv vention. but without
much discussion. as the time for final
adjournment was at hand when the
report was submitted. A subsequent
attempt to formulate a bill based on
the report, demonstrated the impracti-
cability of some of it's features, due
entirely to the lack of time for con-
sideration by both the committee and
the convention
To sum up. recommend the issuance
of certificates as follows:
First-kindergarten primary school
certificates, valid for six years, author
izing the holders thereof to teach in
the kindergarten departments of any
primary school in the county.
Elementary school certffi-
Gates. valid for six years. authorizing