New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-06-04

THE IMPROVEMENT IN EDUCATIONAL
MATTERS SINCE THE CREATION
OF STATE BOARD OF
EXAMINERS

In a report on educational matters in Alabama
recently made before the State Federation Of
Women's Clubs it's annual meeting the
mittee drew attention to the surprising ignorance
OF many candidates for certificates teachers
under the system prevailing there until the last
Legislature remedied il by the creation of a State
Board of Examiners. The new regulation permits
the granting of certificates only graduates OF
normal schools. but the Federation Committee
points out that this rather overshoots the mark
a graduate of Harvard Yale would be
obliged to take separate examination for ap
pointment
recent examination under the old regime
showed the ignorance prevailing among those who
sought to teach and actually often received certf-
Gates The committee presented number of
amples selected almost at random. and mentioned
that the errors were not chosen because of their
rarity but only a few of many.
Here some of the startling replies:
Q-what are the three coverings of the brain7
A-The skull, the skin and the hair.
the trunk and the extrenities.
One erudite young defined the political d.
visions of North America the Arctic Ocean, At
lantic Ocean, Gulf Of Mexico and Cambian Sea-"
Another sententiousy answered: The Republican
and Democratic"
1t would be difficult to conceive OF extraor-
binary colIocation of than this: THE Isl
and Of Java is located in North America and be-
longs to Wilhenina, Queen of Holland; Devils
Island is located in South America. and belongs to
Germany" in answer 10 the question. What parts
of North America belong foreign countries?'
There is an element Of picturesqueness in this reply
to the query. What is the position of Japan 1T
is like dog with his feet crumpled up under him"
A deep student Of history airily overturns estab-
lished opinions regarding ar important event by
declaring that the Declaration of Independence
written by Abraham Lincoln in 1862, and went
into effect in 1863 a Washington, D. G" Another
replying a question Is the advantage dis
advantage of uniformity in textbooks, said: The
uniformity tex book is good book to yuse. It
/ 1o~~~
favor the uniformity tex book
Grammar is a subject fraught with for the
majority and they hopeIessly beaten when they
attack IL. One bravely advances to simple ques-
ton thus: "A cort-Tnartial is kind OF a
utenciel use. Utenciel is a noun, BeCaus II q
name" Then adds in desperation: i would be glad
| to now what gramn1er IS the Best.
Another is moved to poetic dtCtion in this wise:
Since Time first began tide her wings Of time,
our foreign possessions nave been riding the wings
of time. We have for foreign possessions Cuba
| and Alaska We have for possessions lands of
/ various climates We have Tor our foreign pos
| sessions the L. S. flag which proudly floats
the of the angry deep. We have for foreign
possessions that hope which is causing strive
! to become better again now are and we
| continually spreading the wide world.
| We have for foreign possessions Of war,
| Dewey and Sampson"
| The same would-be teacher writes on Our South
| ern Heroes thus:
Gen. Lee a man. he hero, he was
! gain, he watchful- He Of the best
| generals the South had. Joe Wheeler. did
say Joe, l should have said General Joe Wheeler,
the Brave little fellow, and say and proud
! Z No of Alabama and I proud that I say
/ that He, Joe climbed the tree that stood Cuban
| Remember Hobson who slip between between the
walls of Cuban prison, and have sentiment for
all the General OF the South, both living and dead,
that is cheers for the living and tears for the
! Dead"