The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-12-27
CERTIFYING TEACHERS.

CERTIFYING TEACHERS.
superintendent Howard of Sacra-
mento read a paper on "Certifcation
of Teachers as follows:
If it were possible within the limits
of this paper to propose a plan for the
certiication of teachers. such as would
meet with universal approval. this
Council Of Education would not meet
in vain, my efforts would be well re-
warded, and the day Of millennium
would be close at hand.
/ take it for granted that we have
to do with certification on examination
only PROFESSIONALLY our special de-
partments our normal schools and State
Universities demand that teachers GER
tificates shall be granted upon their ac-
credited credentials. Even this &C
acknowledgement is not universal, and
some County Boards of Education re-
quire practical experience in addition to
pedagogical training, such as is given
in these institutions of learning. Who
shall question the reasoning and action
of such boards? If such reasoning and
action are tenable, what is the alterna-
tive? 1t is commonly conceded that
there are those who by reason of nat
ural unftness for the exercise of pro-
fessional duty should never be clothed
with authority to teach. Do our normal
schools exercise the right of discrimina-
ton in this respect, or do they confer
diplomas of graduation without careful
consideration of the natural aptitude OF
the student? If indiscriminate gradu-
alton is allowed, then most certainly
are County Boards of Education jusu-
fed in requiring evidence Of successful
practical experience in the schoolroom
before granting to normal graduates
county certificates.
The question may be asked, Do ex-
aminations, no matter how rigid and
exacting, determine the efficiency of the
teacher? Unqualifedly no. Within
the -plodding, persistent and pa
tient teacher, who perhaps has failed IN
many attempts to secure certificate
on examination, there may be a latent
power, which, if an opportunity is per-
mitted to exercise it, may fill the lie
of the child with exalted hope, true
love and noble aspirations. Upon the
other hand, there may be the brilliant,
self conscious, Self-satiSfied applicant
who laughs to scorn the questions pro-
pounded by a County Board of Educa-
ton, but withal may lack the true ele-
ment of success as a teacher. From this
statement of facts, for 1 believe them to
be facts, is it strange that diversity or
opinion exists in the minds Of educators
as to what is the most efficient test for
the granting of certificates? One con-
TO.
and that is if examinations do not
prove test for the proper determine
ton of the teaching qualities, we have
at least right to institute searching
inquiry to determine the versatility CT
the applicant on subjects of the cur
riculum. But again we are CONFRONTED
with the proposition, is the versatile
teacher always the successful teacher
Of the two, however, the versatile ana
the versatile, we naturally choose
the former, for the wider and more ol-
versified the range of thought, the bet
ter is the evidence of the teachers ca
liabilities.
l have often thought of a plan for the
selection of teachers which would De
practically untenable, yet the opera
ton of which would result in the sur
yiyal of the fittest'' 1t would be the
establishing of high commission COM
posed of members of keen discrim1na-
ton. practical experience and unques-
toned integrity 1t would be the duty
of this commission to inspect tns
schools, to examine methods and IN
quire into the very spirit of the pupil
growing out his association with ms
teacher. In other words, by thorough
and repeated inquiry into the actual
methods of instruction and general
management to determine the fitness OF
the individual teacher for the profess
sion.
Such Judgment would be necessarily
cold, cruel, discriminating and inf1ex-
ible The political pull would not be
tolerated, favoritism would be I'M
known, the boarding of the teacher
during the term of school would be dis
regarded, and the influence growing
out of relationship would cease to ex-
ist. Such a commission with such
duties would naturally serve to dec1-
mate the teaching force. Then, instead
a Board Of Trustees of Board of Ed
ucation making a selection of a teach
~
the applicants without positive refusal,
these boards would file applications
with proper authorities for the purpose
of supplying positions in the school
department. Could such a commission
exist, and if so, would it exercise faith
fully and honestly the duties assigned
it? We reflect before answering the
question. Fellow educators, would We
submit ourselves to the test Of such a
tribunal? Should we? Most certainly,
for the reason that it is vastly more
important that the children of the pres
ent generation should be properly
trained and cared for than that situa-
lions should be provided for weak
teachers
1t may be asked, at this point what
has this to do with. the certification Of
teachers? Possibly nothing but to
emphasize the fact that we are brought
face to face with a question that never
has had, and perhaps never will have,
a satisfactory solution. We must con-
tent ourselves at present with the
method of certification now in vogue,
with such notifications as we deem
proper. Wecannot raise the standard to
a prohibitive degree, for we may thereby
shut from the ranks those who might
rise to eminence in the profession.
There are those, / believe, who will
insist upon a radical change in the
method Of certification Of teachers, and
if such radical change is not made,
they will feel that our work amounts to
naught. In answer to this phase of
the proposition, let me say that there