Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-08-21

j.: DO all the teachers OF the State at.
tend these normals?
w: No indeed About one fifth at
tend. The others are. for the most part,
short OF funds. Some borrow money
! 10 go.
j.: Are non-attendants put at any dis
advantage?
w: Oh, yes; teachers from the nor.
mails are TO have preference In assign.
ment to positions.
j.: Well, Williams. do graduates from
frst-class and wcll-known schools have
to undergo these annual examinations?
W: Oh. yes. indeed. even those who
have passed with credit through good
preparatory schools. have graduated from
| the Peabody Normal. at Nashville,
and have had several years subsequent
| experience i'm teaching.
! j.: This Is a reflection on the work Of
| all schools. high or low and heavy dis
count on experience. Why are teachers
J kept on the rack so long?
w: On account Of their annual minds
l suppose.
! j.: When does n teacher reach the
| end OF his examinations?
W: When the clods Of the valley rest
| undisturbed above his weary brain and
| questlon-battered brow.
j.: What are normal certhcates7
w: Oh, they are certificates OF AZ.
tendance on the normal, and release thu
recipient from examinations for one year,
j.: This seems to be a sort OF premium
for attendance.
W: Yes. and Is rather hard on those
who are not able TO attend.
j.: What a farce this Isl If the teach
or is unqualified for his business. / don't
see how four weeks desultory work Will
III him.
W.: Perhaps the teacher IL regarded as
sort OF mushroom; he is built up in
one night, but willis during the day. Even
ten days attendance OF tho normals en-
titles a teacher TO a certificate. Any way,
you see, to put him 10 expense.
j.: Who is responsible for all this I'M
position?
w: Wen meaning but misguided school
enthusiasts.
j.: You don't seem to think much OF
normals2
w: do not object 10 normals. They
are, per Sc, very good. The lectures by
able educators on special subjects are
highly interesting; the teaching by tho
corps OF instructors Is AN excellent re-
view; the meeting together OF teachers
IS pleasant; but the majority OF teachers
are unable To pay one fourth Of theft
salaries for this entertainment, for this
review, and for this pleasure. What 4
object TO Is the attempt TO force attend
ance OF teachers by "A threat 10 discrimi-
nate at elections IN favor Of those who
attend normals.
j.; Wei, Williams, this whole business
seems 20 be an imposition on teachers
and an Insult 10 their intelligence. IL
does appear to me there IS surely some
better way 10 manage this matter.
W.. or course there IS. Jones, and
am surprised II has not been round crs
this when a teacher has obtained
third-grade certificate on examination.
let his next examination be for second
grade, and last examination be for hrst
grade
j.: Yes; this Is the way other kinds Of
w: why. Jones. / know one teacher
who has spent nifty years In the school,
room, and yet this man must stand yearly
examinations on arithmetic, Grammar.
j.: Wen! well, WELT II Is certainly as
tonishing to me that a body OF intelligent.
well-disposed men constituting the school
authorities OF the State should so far
forget themselves as 20 put such ha-
initiating obligations on subordlnates
known 10 be competent and faithful IN
their work
W: know another man who began
lehcllpE Win the INTRODUCTION or ms
public-school system into this State. who
has testimonials to show his work from
an assistants position In high schools Up
20 the principalship through period of
twenty-five years. who has been a life
long student. and who has former pupils
In all the walks OF life-minlstcrs. law
yers physicians merchants. and what
nOt?-yet this man must also stand ex-
aminations with beginners ia the work
j.: ] had no Idea you teachers were sun
jected 20 such badgering. Can nothing
be done about it2
w: That's more than can say. IL IA
TO be hoped that when the authorities
realize the injustice, they viii ind a
J.: They certainly ought 10 have no
trouble In reaching such realization, for
this miserable imposition is most ex-
asperatlng Teaching IS one OF the noblese
OF all occupations; but when experie nc ed
and successful teachers must be treated
as little chlldren-examined annually ON
feel that a noble calling has been de-
graded. Some os you teachers ought 10
protest against this thoughtless abuse.
w: Yes; l think so myself Even tho
people In general are becoming dlsgvsted
with this apparent sur on the trusted
teachers of their children. | hardly know
where 10 place the blame. whether with
the state authorities. or with the county
or with both. Il. A. L.
s.--~-
q "A - ~ C RIA.
Bears til. HIhs Kind You uMs lInsn Saagit
sis'.ss's H<LzN