The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-08-17
EXAMS FUR STATE TEACHERS
PROF. LEWIS GIVES SOME REA-
SONS FOR THE COURSE
PURSUED
Statement in Regard to the Prepar-
alton of Papers, Rules Governing
Their Marking and Other Points
Relating to the Work

Il am aware that by giving the rea-
sons for the rules governing the examin-
alton and the marking of the papers the
department invites criticism" said State
superintendent Lewis yesterday, and
that each reader may, perhaps. think a
better system might have been adopted.
yet L feel that in a matter of this kind,
teachers and school officers have the
right TO know all of the facts.
FlrsEThe questions We're made out by
I4IS department and submitted to Prof.
west inspectors Alton and Rankin Mr.
Hyde, Mr.. Nelson and Mr. KIM I.ho
recommended changes that were in every
case adopted
Second-The department outlined the
WoIk Tor the summer schools, and the
questions were made largely to cover The
work thus outlined
.+ iinlr re rules governing the examin-
dQOnS were made so as to insure perfcct
CoHIIuence on the part of each applicant
mat each teacher who wrote, earned ali
the credit he has received
fourth-lt must be borne in mind that
the law very wisely provides that the
county superintendent muStiSSue all third
SLdue ceftlHcateS. and may issue a GER
IIIGale OF any grade to teachers who
coulo not attend the state examination
so, II the department has erred in mo
use OF the discretion the law affords or
III refusing certificates to applicants. the
OeN41NS super iIIlSHuelG mas annie
20 remedy any mistakes by using the
means the law gives him j do not he
lleVe that mathematical averages of
foet!tS IN several subjects are fnfallible
teSlS Oh scholarship or of excellence in
leecHIlig power and have therefore adopted
aIleNlpIe system of marking and tried 10 is
sue cefthcate to every applicant who
SHOWS proficiency in the most imnortant
pfancheS taught in the common sch00Is
ApPlcantS whose papers exhibit this gen
~ a. 2IoIlcIency IN arithmetic, grammar.
sTGGs[ roo history, English composition
anu Teadlng nave been granted second
Grdoe certihcates even if their marks
We're slightly below the standard. Tn
MAJ HibiOeyi hygiene, spelling and pen
nIa!nshlp, the general plan adopted for is
SUNG second-grade certificates was to is
cue lHeh 70 applicants, whose paDers il,
naSt SIN SUBJECT did not fall below 60 per
cent, and whose papers in the rennafnine,
TOUR ct1d not fall below 50 per cent and IL
aadItlon to give conditioned second
grades, good until the next annual eX-
iII Ion, 70 Such applicants as fell be-
Nv ~ apoEe standards not in more than
uMo OF ABOVE subjects. If at the next an
+i eAam!natlon the holders of c0ndi-
e eITlieo ceftIlcates shall pass in the two
1uoJectS IN winch they have failed this
year the limited one-year certifcateS
DeCpheS complete second grade
II. ISSUING certificates to applicants
lor HrSt-9rade certificates I have adont-
go eu the same policy that governed in the
issue OF second grades, exceDt that for
the ten subjects, in which both first and
second grade applicants were examined
nave used higher standard. * ner
cent instead of so per cent In the bigb
schooI branches have made 60 per cent
'He MINIMUM upon examination and 75
per cent on high school certificates.
From this it will be seen that an eff
1crt has been made to certify every an
pllcant that should be certified and If
the department has erred 1t has been
on the side of too great leniencv. Tho
reason prompting this course was tha+
this being the first examination. the
teachers were little nervous and could
not do themselves full credit. In All
PROBABILITY the standard will be gradual
~ raised at subsequent examinations
In arithmetic, as in all other subjects
I'VE questions We're asked, of which an
pl1cant might answer any four The
third question proved TO be, for a ma
jority who tried it, very difficult though
In reality it was simple. 1t was insert
ed IN the examination in order to en-
phaslze the use of the diagram in ex-
pIanatfon of operations in fractions. but
as it proved a veritable stumbling block
to the majority of those attempting it
it was thought in marking papers of
those who choose the third, as one of
the four they were to answer to give
them credit for correct solution. but so
few solved 1t readers We're instructed in
Inc case Oh the great majority to throw
out the third, giving applicants on the
other three marking of SO Is per cent,
instead Of 25 per cent on each.
In regard to the decision Of the de-
partment not to issue first-grade GER
tifcates without examination, 1 may
say:
First, every rural school employing
the holder of a fiTst-grade certificate for
an eight months school. may draw from
the state treasury a bonus of $40, on
the average about $3 per capita on the
enrolment. The state should, therefore
know that the scholarship of the holder
is up to the standard set by the state
for a certificate of the first grade The
above fact could be ascertained only
upon an examination. The first-grade
certificates now in force have been is
sued by county superintendent in eighty
two different counties, and as each SUI
perinteudent formerly adopted his own
standard, there must necessarily have
been a great number of different stand
ards used in writing the certificates
now in force. The department was of
the opinion that in as much as the first
grade certificate is held of such great
Importance, that to encourage the school
officers to employ the holders vi SUCH
the state is willing TO give such a large
bonus. then the state and the school dis
trict officers, as well as teachers secur-
ing the first-grade certificates upon OK
animation, will view with alarm the is
sue of this certificate without an eX-
animation to one who is not a graduate