The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-12-25
CHANGES IN SCHOOL LAW.
That Should be Made by the Next Leg
islature.

isature.
To the Editor: As the Legislature is
soon to assemble. and as it is confessed
lv one of the best ever elected III the
history of the State. it is now an oppor-
tune time for those interested in needed
legislation to give expression to any views
they may entc~tain upon measures that
will properly claim the consideration OF
our Lawmakers.
Awaiting myself Of the advantages of
your able and widely circulated paper,
desire to discuss some changes which j
think ought to be made in the school
law. This is matter that more materl-
ALLY affects the welfare of our people
than anything else.
Notwithstanding the fact that every
General Assembly for the last quarter
of century has amended or in some
way altered the school law, it is still
very imperfect. OF course every body
admits that n more liberal appropriation
of money is a vital necessity. But
nreager as has been the fund for school
purposes it is an undisguised and hui
initiating fact that large part OF 1t has
been practically wasted upon incOmpe-
tent teachers. and teachers too, in pos
session of FIRST grade" certificates.
There are persons in this and other
counties in North Carolina who have
tirst-grade certificates without any APP
preciable capacity-natural or acquired
for the important and sacred duties re-
quired of them.
Now, this incompetency on the part of
SO many Of our teachers is due to two
causes, and only two, viz: TO incompe-
TENT county supervisors. and to school
committeeman who are utterly unfit for
the duties imposed upon them The ex-
animation of teachers ought to be Their
ough and rigid. A first-grade certifi-
cate ought to be an absolute guarantee
that the one in possession of it is first
class teacher.
The best way, ii seems to me. to Sc
cure this excelleney in our teachers is to
make the examination thorough, and uni
form throughout the State. To ac-
complish this desired end, / suggest that
the law be so amended as to require the
State Superintendent of Public lnstruc-
ton. together with two other capable in
structors, whom he should select, to de-
wise Il system of examination TO be en-
forced in all the counties of the State
and that teachers making an average of
% per cent Non such examination be
averaging So per cent. second-grade GER
tificates. The law ought also to pro
vide that certificates be made perman-
ent as long as persons holding them are
regularly engaged in teaching, and thus
abolish the absurd policy of requiring
teachers to get certificates annually,
which virtually and ridiculously as
sumes that person becomes incapable
Of doing thing that he is engaged in.
This principle is applied to no other pro
fession Why should it to teachers?
Another change that ought to be made
is that the law provide explicitly what
the salaries of teachers shall be- The
necessity for this is obvious.
The present system of allowing COM
mittees to fix salaries amounts to letting
schools out to the lowest bidder, which
frequently operates against the best edu-
cational interest.
The clause that provides that there
shall not be more than three of any po-
litical party on committees ought, by all
means. to be repealed The enforcement
Of that clause renders it impossible TO
get a good committee i'll every instance.
The welfare of our country, and the
stability of our political institutions can
only be maintained by a diffusion of intel
ligence And the old idea that the State
supports a system of education as a mat
ter of charity to the poor ought to be
exploded. If the State would insure its
permanency. and the happiness and pros
perity Of its people. it must see to it
that the means of education are supplied
10 every boy and girl. Hence, it be-
hooves every one who loves his State,
and the good of humanity, to aid in
every way possible, to develop better
educational system.
j. M. TURNER.