Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-04-26
THOSE EXAMINATIONS.
What should BE Required OF Our
Teachers And The Reasons
Why.

To the Editor OF the Optic.
EAST LAS VEGAS, N. M, April 26th,
ls97.-The short Item In your daily Of
Saturday was no doubt written 70 In
vite discussion. Permit me TO repro
duce it for friendly comment:
It Is a mistake OF some minds 70 suppose
that a teacher, though thoroughly familiar
with the duties OF the school room and
with the characteristics Of pupils, is not so
we'll qualified for the rduou and re
sponsible position a. one who might pos
sibly stand . better examination, being
fresher from his or her studies and bright
or on shook ~larnin'n. Then, again, 10 il
just the proper thing to do to compel the
~hardworking, pooriy-paid teacher TO
spend the days of vacation, 30 Justly
earned, In porting over text books in order
to better prepare for an examination that
can in no way test abilities as an INSTRUCT
Or Of youth At#A
IL is mistake to suppose that a
teacher, thoroughly familiar with The
duties OF the school room,' Is not
qualified to stand a thorough examina-
uon. The presence of the teacher In
charge Of pupils, pre-supposes that
such teacher has been examined and
found qualified, or is competent TO
creditably undergo examination. With
such competency, every day In the
school room adds to the requirements
of the faithful teacher who loves his
vocation. Instructing others, the
teacher drills and brlghtens himself,
and becomes s'fresher and brighter on
book la~rnin'". What is q teacher 10
the school room for, il not to teach
shook la~rning'"P A teacher who does
not know enough shook larnin'n to
undergo examination and procure q
certificate, will do better in some
other field where shook larnin'" is
not required to be taught. The ex.
perience, practice and custom of the
learned aud educated communities Is
worth something and there thorough
examination is required.
Can Las Vegas build up her schools
by the employment Of teachers who
shrink from examinationP l do not
question the competency of present
teachers, but assume they are we'll
qualified and ready to prove their
competency by examination. / would
not undervaIue experience in consid-
ering qualifications neither would a
board OF examiners. Experience and
adaptation to the art Of teaching are
highly important and such qualities
should not be overlooked. While ex.
aminations should be thorough, they
should not be unduly critical. There
is a sshappy medium" in life for the
teacher, as well as all others. but the
teacher willing always to remain in
the medium class, lacks the ambition
and spirit to inspire her pupils with
that enthusiasm for learning which
characterize every school
room.
The appeal to relieve the "hard-
working and poorly-paid teacher" from
The study necessary to pass an exami-
may touch the sympathy, but
does not convince the judgment. If
less labor were imposed on teachers in
The hair-splitting process Of figuring
put grades, and more in the study of
practical books on show to teach
nucn useless and hard work would be
1t is results that parents
want, real knowledge. Put through
IN examinations IN your own homes,
he pupils at the schools, and the re-
'ult will prove the competency Of the
eacher.
If you find reasonably studions pu-
,lls, half way through the arithmetic
ind unable to repeat Q rule, state .
principle, or demonstrate at the black
BOARD, simple problems, and give the
'easons, you will be forced to conclude
here is somewhere a painful absence,
Tot only OF shook larnin'," but of
competency in correct Methods Of in
truction. kg*f
Those who are competent do not
iced to spend vacations porting over
ext books. Those who are not so,
ould not better employ the time.
Take two doctors, one always ssgad-
ling the Streets" or loaing, gathering
Information from the sunshine, or soft
ide of the curb stone, and the other in
is office, porting over his books, gather
ug instruction, which would you en-
loyP So with teachers and all voca-
ions.
Nothing here is intended as in any
ray a reflection on any teacher, but is
i the hope Of impressing the school
oard and public with the necessity ct
equlring here, what is elsewhere re-
uired, certificates OF qualification from
teachers.
Teachers are interested In this also.
teachers should not be employed as a
OF tavoritism, but because of
ratification, which includes. not
nerely technical learning, but also
bility to impart instruction. +