The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1898-11-03

Editor Of The PHO:
DEAR SIR:-The communication in last
weeks Pilot signed Teacher" contains
statements and differences that call for cor
rection. The assumption that the standard
| for Teachers Certificates has been lowered
during my administration is not warranted
by the facts. On the contrary the minimum
was raised last year from s. per cent, Mr..
Dassler'S rate TO 50 per cent in all branches,
and to S. per cent. in the main branches
| this year. No unqualified teacher has been
passed. Wages did not fall on account OF
an overSupply of teachers, but i'll few cases
school boards were convinced by statements
published in the Pilot and other local papers
that teachers wages were falling all over the
state. In a few cases Boards took advan-
sage of these statements to get rid of high
priced teachers by offering them less than
they had been getting, and few old teach
ers out of job DID underbid in an attempt
to get back into the work. The figures Civ
en- by ''Teacher" are incorrect and mlSead-
ing. The low bidder referred TO was Il teach
er of experience, holding over from the pre-
ceding administration. His bid was not &C
cepted and the Board hired a competent
young man at $40. Wages have gone back
TO former figures in the districts affected and
Manitowoc county still leads the state in
wages paid to county teachers. The aver
age ror women last year being $3.50, for
| men $40. You are in a position TO know
| that limited certificates disappeared during
your administration and none have been
granted since. You also know that ''Per-
mits' are not legal and that none have been
issued. Also that certificates cannot be
"Countersigned." Papers may be trans
ferred from one county to another and Ger
tiEr,tac 10,
Ill the next regular examination. AT the
urgent request of the School Board in each
case | have accepted one set of papers each
year, but have transferred to other counties
FOUR sets. | oave given certificates on spe-
cial examinations to three teachers each
year, also at the urgent request of School
Boards. Said teachers being kIndergart
ners or teachers of Latin and German.
Thoroughly qualified teachers from abroad
whose diplomas are not valid in this state.
In each case the teachers were subjected TO
a rigid examination and their papers are
properly filed in this office and open to in
Spection.
An Investigation would easily convince
''Teacher' that the laws have been rigidly
and impartially enforced without fear OF
favor. The records are open TO inspection
and | am sure that such investigation would
convince any fair minded person that the
interests of teachers and schools have been
faithfully guarded.
1t is fact that our teaching force is
steadily improving in age, scholarship and
general fitness. The fact that the county
last year had sixty pupils in the Normal
schools and twenty five students at the
University is a hopeful sign. 1t Is also a
fact that many of the county schools prepare
their DuDIlS so well that thew cannot be ,,re-
vented from securing certificates under any
system of fair or impartial examinations. 1t
is also fact that examinations are iucreas
ing in difficulty each year, and that the
diploma examination of TODAY is too
difficult for the teachers of few years ago.
Very truly yours,
EDWIN L. SMITH, Supt. Of Schools.