The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-02-03


the County Board the power hitherto
exercised under the law, and without
which examinations would be valueless,
of prescribing standard of proficiency
of applicants on which to grant certifi-
Gates. The section also does away with
the present grammar grade and pri-
n.ary certificates and substitutes for
them elementary" certificates. 1t also
strikes out the provision for examina
ton by the board Of pupils from coun-
try schools for graduation and leaves
in its place no authority for any exam
inarion of them, except the wish of the
teacher, or the fact that they have ar
rived at the end of the term, thus re-
moving from the pupil an. incentive to
eXertion.
WHAT STANDARD?
Section of the bill provides that
certificates shall be granted to those
only who have passed satisfactory
examination giving no standard for
such examination, and no authority to
the county board to make one. The
same vague satisfactory examination"
is attached to High School certificates,
no standard being fixed. 1t also pre-
scribes certain studies for examination
in three classes of High School certifi-
Gates, providing for a satisfactory ex-
animation" in English, general history.
etc. English and general history are
very wide terms, the latter including
ancient, medieval and modern history,
and the former the whole range of lit
erature. Who is to prescribe the stand
ard?
t0 COZ ID DC 70 rst1, a.
cations needed for an elementary GER
tificate, which is intended to take the
place of the present grammar and pri-
mary certificates, an examination in
psychology, pedagogy, geometry and
school management. It also requires Of
kindergarten teachers that they shall
pass a satisfactory examination" Ito
whom?) in the commOner studies, in
English equivalent to the fullest re-
quirements for admission to the Uni
verslty of California, and also in gen
eral history a. term embracing the
history of the world. They must also
furnish evidence of satisfactory pro-.
fessional kindergarten training" (satis-
factory to whom?) in IAN approved in
stitution' approved by whom?). The
regulation with regard to English in
theory means a graduate of an accred-
tied High School, but in practice it is
quite different, unless a provision De
inserted granting such graduates a
kindergarten certificate upon satisfac-
tory evidence of professional kindergar-
ten training. Last sessions bill, Hi,
was amended in this particular and it
was also put in the substitute recon-
ron Tod hxy h.
ton
The bill also amends Section 1875, re-
lating to the authority granted county
boards to grant certificates on certain
credentials. 1t allows boards to grant
elementary certificates (Which the bill
substitutes for the present grammar
and primary grade certificates) without
examination, on elementary certificates
of other counties, cities or cities and
counties Two years ago this fact was
pointed out in bill Al and it was
amended by inserting after elementary
certificates" the words "or grammar
grade certificates thus enabling pres
ent holders of certificates to get life
or educational diplomas, which they
could not do otherwise without an ex-
ira examination. In spite of the amend
ment two years ago the same thing
crops out in this bill. In the same
section the board is allowed to grant
elementary certificates to holders of ed
ucational diplomas. but not to holders
of life diplomas, an omission also point
ed out in the bill and corrected two
years ago. Life diplomas are also omit
ted in the last paragraph Of the bill
fro hO Iicftrs f nj;
force
A CUNNING SCHEME.
But this is not the end of the effort
to circumscribe the powers of County
Boards of Education and centralize the
power of the Normal Schools The
Constitution of the State, Section I,
Article TX, reads: 1.-The LEGISLATURE
shall provide for a Board of Education
in each county of the State The Coun-
ty Superintendent and County Boards
of Education shall have control of the
examination of teachers and the grant
ing of teachers certificates within their
respective jurisdictions.
Under the law, as it at present stands,
teachers holding grammar grade certif-
Gates presenting satisfactory evidence
of successful teaching for five years,
and recommended by the county board,
may be granted educational diplomas,
good for six years, by the State Board
of Education, and those who present
under like conditions evidences of ten
years successful teaching may be
granted life diploma. The ordinary
teacher must teach successfully ten
years, then, in order to secure life
dinlnrr,o Mo- I'll
of the Normal School graduate He or
she is entitled to certificate from any
county board on presentation of d.
ploma and upon presenting evidence OF
only two years successful teaching to
the State Board of Education may be
granted document, practically a life
diploma. which makes the Normal
School diploma Appointment certificate.
Two years for the Normal School grad
uate and ten years for the teacher who
is not, before a life diploma is Sc
cured One would think that all the
advantage that could be reasonably
asked by the Normal Schools. but they
are hard to satisfy, and seem to want
the earth.
Assembly Constitutional Amendment
No. . adds to the section giving County
Boards control of the granting of
teachers certificates these words:
Provided, that holders of California
State Normal School diplomas shall be
entitled to teach in any primary or
grammar school in the State without
further examination or certification"
They are modest, these people. All
they want is the power to issue life
diplomas to their graduates, without
any experience i'm teaching, while other
teachers who have not graduated from