The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-07-26

TO Public School Teachers:
70 those teachers who dread the
standing OF examinations for teachers
certificates OF qualification, the county
summer school isa great relief. The
present rule of the State board of edu
cation is that no second grade certifi
cate can be renewed under any cir
cumstances and first grade certificate
cannot be renewed unless the holder
attends the summer school in the
county or shows to the State board of
education S, ne satisfactory reason for
not doing so. This law will be strictly
enforced. The county superintendent
has no option and cannot renew cer-
tiicates to persons who have not at
tended the summer schools. Atten
dance means presence every day OF the
session. Enrolment and presence for
one or two days arc not sufficient to
consti tutc attendance.
Therefore if a teacher has Il first
grade certificate and will only attend
the summer school faithfully, the GER
tificate will be renewed from time to
time indefinitely. If, however. for
some reason not approved by the State
board of education the summer school
is not attended, the teacher must stand
before the county board a new cxami-
nation for a certificate. An eXamina-
ton before the county board, if it COW
ers the subjects that by law are re-
uuired to be taught in the public
| schools is no easy task. These subjects
are enumerated In the act OF the legis-
lature and include "thc elements OF
agriculture, history of the United
States and of this State, the principles
of the constitution, and the laws of the
| United States and Of this State, morals
and good behavior, algebra, physiology
and hygiene"
In pursuance of a recent resolution
of the State board there will be no cN-
animation for teachers certificates this
year except during the last week OF
each county school, and this eXamina-
ton will be upon questions to be sub
mitted by the State superintendent OF
education. If these questions are made
to test ones ability to teach the sub
jects above noted, (and that is certain
ly the purpose of the law, then it is no
easy matter to prepare for and pass
this examination, especially when it is
considered that, for the first grade
certificate, the law requires that on the
examination there must be attained 4
general average of not less than 80 per
cent. 1t would be not only more proti-
table, but less laborious to study for a
month under capable instructors in a
county school than to study privately
for this examination. Even persons
not holding teachers certificates but
intending to win them upon an examl-
nation will do we'll to 60 to the sum-
mer school and prepare themselves
thoroughly in the branches that will
be taught there. Certainly all who
hold certificates had better comply
with the terms that will enable them
to secure renewals without fOrfeiting
certificates they now hold, and trusting
to winning new certificates upon new
examinations. Examinations should
be made harder and harder as educa-
tional conditions in our State are inn
proved and better educational Oppor-
tunities are afforded to the teachers.
1t is in direct violation OF the acts
of the legislature if any teacher not
holding certificate OF qualification ls
employed to teach in public school.
The county superintendent cannot law
fully approve any pay warrant issued
to such teacher. If there has been
heretofore any laxity in this matter all
will hereafter be put on notice that the
law must be strictly enforced.
All teachers who attend Il county
summer school are requested to bring
with them the text books that are used
in the public schools Of their county
upon the three subjects, English, (rcad-
ing, language, grammar,) arithmetic
and geography. Stress will be laid
upon physical geography. None will
be admitted to the school later than
seven days after the day OF opening.
None will be admitted except actual
teachers or those with the expectation
of Immediately beginning to teach.
JOHN j. MCMAnAN.
State Supt. Of Education.
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