The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1898-08-25

Tho present administration of the eiu-
cational department of the state il char
acterlzed not so much for its originality "a
for It's prompt administration of a dis
unctiNe policy. The Fusion Legislature
took advanced grounds in several partic.
ulars, and gave to the state some sections
OF law that in older and moro conserva-
tive states could not have been enacted
and enforced without friction. Among
the important changes of the school law
are noted the following:
l. To provide for uniformity in issu-
ance OF certificates. the county examining
boards were abolished. and the state sun
erintendents office was made the author
ity for grading examination papers and
issuing certificates thereon. Tho result
OF this law as shown from the records is
decided change in the personal charao.
ter or the teaching force OF the state. The
office Is too far removed from the parties
concerned to permit OF political pressure
for special favors, and all counties have
the Same standard of excellence. This
makes certificate issued to one county of
equal value In other counties of the state
In connection with this plan, the State
Board of Education has raised the stand
ard for certifcatlon, and the class OF UNI
prepared additions to tho teaching force
Is largely shut out. It is a case of thu
survival of the fttest" The well
equipped teacher ia protected from COM
petition by unprepared teachers and the
public Is protected from the services OF
tyro Thus 1t Is rapidly approaching
a point where good teacher Is in de-
mand, and sufficient inducement is offered
TO the best minds TO prepare for teaching
as life work.
2 To lead TO a more perfect suuervi-
sion by the County Superintendent the
law provides that the superlntendent shall
pass upon the supplies purchased by tho
directors. and It becomes his duty to veto
the purchase of any apparatus which Is
not reputable In quality and which is not
reasonable In price. No contract is valid
unless tho superintendent passes upon
the teachers certificate and II the teach
er has not certificate for the term, or IL
the contract IL not legal for any cause.
the superintendent by refusing to coun-
tersign IL may prevent the contract. This
has resulted In greater care on the part
of directors In selecting teachers. and In
a closer knowledge on the part OF tho
superintendent OF tho county schools.
That the schools may be assured of bet
ter supervision. the law requires that a
superintendent shall be a qualified teach
er OF Washington and having experience
in the schools of the state.
g. Tho change which has attracted
most attention. and so far resulted in the
most satisfaction. is the change in tho
iiidiiicE VI hppDIlibIlHE tHf rIHNe HfBFla
funds. Under the present law the funds
are apportloned to the school districts ac-
cording to the days attendance reported
in the annual report. The minimum al.
lowance to a district is 1000 days, which
assures to the weakest districts sufficient
funds for at least four months school.
AS soon as this law went in force the
school accustomed to hold short terms
heightened the term. and reported more
attendance than before. This in turn
stimulates other schools to hold sessions
as long as possible. for II they do not
they Will receive less state money tina
following year. From an impulse OF self.
interest all districts have had long terms,
and every person In r. district Is interest
ed in having every pupil in school. This
feature OF the law has in n large measure
taken the place OF the compulsory at
tendance law, In a manner more effective
and with less friction.
Moreover. It gives longer employment to
the teacher and makes II more OF an OBJ
tect to make higher professional prepara-
ton for tho work.
Under the old law the districts received
money for the census children. Under ths
new law they receive in proportion TO tho
service they render tho state in educating
the children The reports for 1897 and
1898 are not yet made out. but for thu
fraction OF a year under the new law
ending June 20. 1897. the census repor.
was less than for the previous year, but
the total attendance was greatly increas-
ed. 1t Is clearly manifest that tho theory
when put In practice has given the chill.
dren of the state more schooling than ever
before. - )
without going into particulars, 10 II
suff1cient 10 say that since the Fusion
Administration has taken charge OF stata
affairs the teachers have become moro
proficient. they are better paid. their
warrants are cashed for face value. and
In many districts are quoted in the mar
ket above par the districts are rapidly
going out OF debt. many are funding their
bonds bearing per cent. or 10 per cent.
for per cent bonds.