Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1898-08-26

The present administration Of the ei,f-
cational department Of tho state IL char
acteriZed not SO much for its originality M
Tor It's prompt administration OF n dis
tncttve 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:
]. To provide for uniformity IN i.s,i-
ance or certificates. the county examining
boards were abolished and tho state sup
erintendent's office was made the author
ity for grading examination papers and
issuing certificates thereon Tho result
or this law as shown from tho records IL
n decided change In the personal charac-
tor OF tho teaching force OF the state The
office IL too far removed from tho parties
concerned to permit OF political pressure
for special favors and all counties havs
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 certlhcation. and the class of I'M
prepared additions to the teaching force
Is largely shut out II Is q case Of the
survival OF the fittest." The well
equipped teacher Is protected from COM
petition by unprepared teachers and the
public Is protected from the services OF
n tyro. Thus It Is rapidly approaching
a point where a 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
lay provides that the superintendent shall
pass upon the supplies purchased by the
directors. and Il 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 the superintendent passes upon
the teachers certificate, ana IL the teach
er has not a certificate for the term, or 10
the contract II 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
closer knowledge on the part OF the
superintendent OF the county schools.
That the schools may be assured OF bet.
ter supervision. the law requires that a
superintendent shall he a qualified teach
or OF Washington and having experience
IN the schools OF the state
:. The change which has attracted
most attention. and so far resulted in the
most satisfaction. Is the change in the
manner OF apportioning the state school
funds. Under the present law the funds
are apportioned TO the school districts ac-
cording TO the days attendance reported
in the annual report The minimum al.
lowarcs TO a district Is 2ooo days. which
assures 70 the weakest districts sufficient
funds for at least four months school.
As soon as this law went in force the
school accustomed 70 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 IL they do not
they win receive less state money ths
following year. From an impulse Of self.
interest all districts have had long terms,
and every person In a district Is interest
ed In having every pupil In school. This
feature OF the law has in a large measure
taken the place OF the compulsory at
tendance law, in a manner more effective
and with less friction.
Moreover. Il gives longer employment to
the teacher. and makes II more OF an OBJ
ject 60 make higher professional prepara-
tion for the work.
Under the old law the districts received
money for the census children. Under tho
new law they receive in proportion 10 thu
service they render the state in educating
tho children The reports for 1897 and
1895 are not yet made nut. hut for tha
fraction of year under the new law
ending June N. 1897. the census report
was less than for the previous year but
the tothl ATTENDANCE WAS greatly increas-
ed. II II clearly manifest that the theory
when put In practice has given the chill.
dr"n of the state more schooling than ever
before.
without going into particulars. II 10
SUFFICIENT 20 say that since the Fusion
Administration has taken charge Of state
affairs. the teachers have become moro
proficient. they are better paid. their
warrants are cashei for face value, and
In many districts are quoted In the mar
ket above par. the districts are rapidly
going out ~ debt. many are funding their
bonds bearing per cent or 10 per cent.
for s per cent. bonds.