Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-09-05
TEACHERS SALARIES
State Superintendent Barrett Rec
ommends Increase.
IN LINE WITH NORMAL PETITION
Circular to School boards Says Teach.
ers Should be Paid Liberal salaries
Superintendent Barrett on the
Certificates and Visitation.

AT the close of the Wapello county
normal yesterday, petition was adopt
ed which is directly in line with the
sentiment expressed in recent circu-
lar issued by Richard G. Barrett, state
superintendent of public instruction.
The petition above referred to was adj
dressed to Senator w. A. McIntire and
Representative George Dickens and is
as follows:
AS the state legislature may at any
time, and on very short notice, add to
the qualifications already required of
teachers, sometimes mourning quite
an additional expense and as the wages
of teachers throughout the state as
well as in our own county will not
meet the expenses necessary to keep
up with the times, and provide twenti-
eth century teachers for twentieth CEN
fury pupils, we, the teachers OF Wa
pello county, do most earnestly petit
ton our senator, Hon. w. A. McIntire,
and our representative, Hon. George
Dickens, and through them our state
legislature that they take some step
whereby the teachers profession shall
be made self-supporting.'
In the circular issued by Prof. Bar
rett, he devotes considerable space to
the subjects of "Good Teachers Ger
tificates," and visitation ais of
which are worthy of consideration es-
pecially at this particular time, and
are published herewith in full:
Good Teachers.
"The most important duty the board
!, tx>r lo% 49,
petent teachers. The efficiency of the
whole system depends upon the fideli-
ty with which this duty is discharged.
The erection OF good buildings, the
decoration of school grounds, and the
purchase of modern equipments are all
to be commended; but the one thing
absolutely essential to a successful
school is q good teacher. School
boards should demand of teachers
good scholarship, professional train
ing, successful experience and an at
tractive manner; and for teachers pos
sessing such qualifications they should
be willing to pay aliberal salary, and
employ them for longer terms"
Certificates.
I'm order to have good teachers it is
essential that county superintendent
shall license only those who are, in
every respect, well qualified to teach
In doing so they should have the sup
port and cooperation of the school
boards of the county Otherwise they
will find it difficult to enforce their
rules in this respect. About Il year ago
a circular was issued by this depart
nj Nh \ /.
teachers certificates isseed by county
should be of three
grades, namely: First, second and
third; and that the first grade should
be, granted only to those candidates
who have had thirty-siN weeks sue.
fcessful experience in teaching, ano
pass an excellent examination in ali
the studies required for two-years
certificate. Second and third grade
certificates cannot be issued for a term
10 exceed one year. If superintend
ents are properly supported by boards
of directors in strict adherence to oul
recommendations for uniformity in ex.
aminations and certificates, the effect
will be to raise the standard of qualifi.
cation among the teachers and secure
petter work IN the schools.
ViiitatiQn.
members of school boards are gen
orally busy men whose time is largely
if not fully, occupied with their owI
affairs. Hence. their visits to the
schools are few and far between
Sometimes, perhaps, they do not fully
appreciate the good they may do by
calling upon the schools in their off
cial capacity. But we are sure thai
their presence in the schools vii
arouse the teachers TO renewed effort
and awaken the pupils to the necessi
ty for better work. The appointment,
OF committee, such as the law con
templates in section a7s2 will assure
the teachers of the hearty cooperation
and support of the board; and we be
lieve a faithful compliance on Their
part, with this requirement, will great
~ increase the efficiency of tn,
schools"
Seven Million Bushels.