Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1900-02-23
ANNOUNCEMENT TO TEACHERS

ANNOUNCEMENT TO TEACHERS.
In the journal now ready to be is.
sued by the State Board of Public In
struction appears the following an
nouncement of interest to all teachers
in the State:
Some Misrepresentation seems to exist
among school officials and teachers in
regard to the examinations for State
and professional certificates. 1t 10 not
intended that the prole essiOnal course
of study outlined in circulars 1873 and
100 shall take the place of the course
that has heretofore led to the State pro-
fessional certificate and the life diploma.
In the January number of the Journal
attention was called to the compare.
lively small number of to chers that
have taken the examinations for State
certificates, owing, doubtless, to the
fact that these examinations are held
ONLY at the summer normal schools.
This. combined with other reasons, con.
vinced theDepartment of Public lnstruc-
ton that an additional course should
he provided for ambitious teachers who
might not be able to attend the summer
schools, but desire higher certificate
than that granted by county or city
superintendent; and, accordingly, the
professional course, covering three
years. was outlined.
This course is open only to those who
hold first grade certificate. 1t must
be pursued in q fixed order, and ex'
sminations on the various subjects will
be held at the same time and places ss
the uniform examinations for teachers
in cities and counties. The studies for
the first year are general history, civil
government, and English literature
through the reign of Queen Anne; for
the second year, pit yslcal geography,
elementary algebra, and English litera'
ture completed; for the third year,
pedagogy, school law, and American
literature. Those desiring to do 30 can
distribute the general history through
the three years, dividing the ooOk into
three equal parts. Those who wish to
take only part of the subject this year
should be prepared to be examined
from the beginning of the book to the
period of The Gracchi In Roman history.
Those who take the old course for
State certificates will be examined on
photography, reading, arithmetic. gram
mar, geography, history OF the United
States, general history, algebra, physi.
ology, civil government, Virginia school
laws, theory and practice teaching. This
course must be completed in two con-
secutive years; the subjects may be
taken in such order as the candidates
NAV elect, and the examinations will be
hell at the summer normal schools as
heretofore. No teachers certificate is
required for admission to these exami-
nations, since they include oil the cub
iects required for irst-grade certifi
cate. 1t is, however, the opinion OF all
who have taken these examinations, as
we'll as those who have conducted them
that the subjects should be pursued
systematically In q given order, and
that those who intend to stand the ex'
aminations should make careful and
thorough preparation for them. and bt
! required to give notice some weeks IL
advance of the examinations OF their 10
tention to take them. Only by com
plying with these conditions can the
best results be obtained.
10 preparing for all examination
teachers should, IS far as possible, selec'
the text books authorized for use In tn'
public schools.