New-York tribune., 1899-07-21
THE LICENSING OF TEACHERS.
LETTER FROM SUPERINTENDENT SKINNER
TO SECRETARY PALMER OF THE NEW.
YORK CITY BOARD Or FDyr~ ryov


YORK CITY BOARD OF EDUCATION.
Albany. July so.-on July A. Emerson Palmer.
secretary of the New-York City Board of Educa.
ton, sent a communication to State Superintsn-
dent Of Public Instruction Skinner relative to the
State Superintendent's power In licensing persous
to teach in New-York City, together with a copy
Of the report adopted by the local Board at its
meeting on June 30. In reply Superintendent Skin
ner says in part:
course OF study carries with it and includes ex-
animation pertaining 20 the subjects prescribed 10
the course. This Is the commonly accepted In
been invariably recognized BY this peparsment @ ma "a
Its decisions. The regulations governing teachers.
date OF June i. 1893, copy OF which inciose dis
tincty state that to meet the approval OF the
must include department examinations. Moreover,
the statute states that city training schools and
the State superintendent OF Public Instruction.
dTsining schools & refusing or falling 70 follow shs
in the public money apportioned toward the sup
port and maintenance Of training schools and
teaen IN the primary or grammar schools OF ci,ies
the Brooklyn Training School is the only training
school in the State established under this statute
issued By hs fG pesartmsn sna BY failure so 10 DO
has rendered the enforcement OF this statute regu-
In discussing the topic Of college graduate cer-
tihcates. the committee was manifestly aooring un:
in the discretion Of the state superintendent with.
out examination to college graduates who have had
1855 since embodied in Title l. Section 10. Of the
arisen TO the powers or the State supernendens
in the premises. College graduate professional cer-
tihcates are not and cannot he issued in accordance
with the act referred 10, and II was Tor failure 70
comply with the conditions governing tne issuance
upon your Board BY strange oversight this clas
OF certificates not mentioned In the report OF
the committee. College graduate professional cer-
tihcates are issued and can be issued only 70 per.
fessona training required by the FIRST part OF Sec
ton l. Chapter 1881, Of the Laws OF 1895. and the
in colleges is approved definitely state that the ex:
aminations in the subjects specified shall be issued
The only point that remains for consideration Is
whether or not the local school authorities under
grant certificates 70 graduates OF colleges ana uni
yer:ties recosnzed by the Regents Of OF the unver' M
not less than one year pedsgogcal courses mere,
carried out under the direction and approval OF the
State Superintendent.
The report states: While the question Is not
entirely free from doubt. the committee is OF the
opinion that the intention Of the Legislature must
have been to make eligible without a college gradu-
ate's certifcate those graduates OF colleges and
universities recognized BY the Regents OF the Uni;
therein"
I fail TO any for doubt 10 the inten-
ton OF the Legislature in this matter for the fol-
loving reasons:
First-For many years il has been the policy Of
the Legislature in all acts relating 20 the profess
sonal training OF teachers 10 restrict the SUPER
vision and direction OF such training 20 the De-
partment OF Public instruction. The vestige of
direct authority in such matters removed
from the Regents OF the University in 1889 by
transferring teachers training classes 10 the De-
partment Of Public Instruction. II undoubted-
ly the intention OF the Legislature that the pro-
fessonal training referred 10 should be carried out
under the supervision Of this Department in a coll
ege university recognized by the Regents OF the
University
Second-The intention OF the Legislature IN this
matter is question OF opinion or tnterpreta-
ton OF ambiguous statements. In the first part
of the section referred 10 the language OF the
Legislature IL follows:
Each School Board. on the recommendation OF
the Borough Board OF Superintendents shall desg-
nate subject to the requirements OF the State
School laws in force when this act takes effect. or
that may thereafter be enacted, the kinds grades
of licenses TO teach which may shall be used In
the borough or boroughs under its charge, to-
gether with the academic and professional quail
fcat required for each kind and grade or
license, and shall certify the same to the City Su
perrin tendent OF Schools
The clause subject to the requirements Of the
State School laws In force when this takes ef-
feet includes Chapter 1881 Of the Laws OF ISS.
which requires that all persons who qualify 10
teach in the primary or grammar schools OF the
cities Of the State through professional training
prescribed therein shall take professional course
affirm that such course In colleges has been ap-
proved unless IL has Included the department ex-
aminatlons 30 II
In conclusion would say that the State School
law makes IL the duty OF the State Superintendent
10 decide TO the legal appoin tment Of teachers
and 10 satisfy himself that school authorities have
supplied duly licensed teachers.