The news & observer., 1901-03-06
PRIVILEGE SHOULD NOT BE ABOLISHED
Mr. Lawrence Thinks Graduates Of the Norma
should Teach Without Examination.


To the IIdior: A bill is pending be
fore the Legislature TO take from the
graduates of certain normal schools the
privilege of teaching in the public schools
rcGuircd examination.
In the interest Of orr common schoo.
system, l sincerely trust that the bill
aforesaid may nc: become law. The
ch'ct objection to such exemption is tha,
IL discrimnates against teachers holding
diplomas or certificates from other insti-
buttons, whose reputation for liberal ana
thorough training is beyond question. A,
FIRST thought this objection might seem
TO lie, hut surely il is o0viated when
the grounds are considered upon which
the exemption is sought OF those who
not only have d liberal course of training
IN Whist they are required 10 teach in our
pubic schools, but also professional anG
technical training as to how to teach it.
The justice and expediency of such al
exemption is uniformly recognized il
other States by special enforcement. ct
re instance of the best cduca tcrs; and
there is no question that the necessity
for technical training upcn the par of
he teacher, IN order 10 the best RESULT
II heine more and more recognized by an
intelligent public. and normal training
mere generally insisted upon as prepa-
ration Tor common school training
These vino are responsible for the choice
ot teachers know full we'll that liberal
education and correct scholarships are not
I'll that is required to secure as a teacher
Any enc occupying such a position surely
tnows from experience that applicants
may come from the very best institutions
IN he country with truthful youchers a.;
TO high standing in class and general pro.
ficiCucy in study, and prove sad failures
IN the class room, emphasizing the ne
tessity Of technical and Professional tra in.
ing in the ART Of teaching
Iii the normal school instruction is re.
ceiyed from experts in the best methods
Of teaching. and the pupil Tor future
iCaChcr) spends a number of hours each
day during her last year in school, teach
ing under the same expert in the school
CT Tractice as it were Ito use an army
phrase out on the skirmish ine}. recciv
irg her criticism and suggestions. and
unless The pupil is able to acquire
reasonable aptitude for teaching she
is not permitted TO graduate whatever her
scholarship may be and fails CT a diploma.
which is not merely voucher OF correc:
scholarship but teachers certificate az
we'll: and whilst the ordinary examination
prescribed by law may determine the
question Of scholarship. it is utterly i'm
possible fer Eer to determine the most
Important question OF all. az TO whether
the individual can teach or not, ab;l'tv
20 teach ,s much rarer than sufficient
scholarship.
We repeat ii the exemption which Ike
pending bill would take away iEvo.V 80
invidious discrimination against othe,
aclcols whcsc diplomas are vouchers for
high and correct scholarship. The normal
sch' Jl is just as necessary to the eff
cisGcy of the public school system as the
Military Academy at West is TO the Army
or The Naval Academy at Annapolis is to
the navy. II is q well known fact that
there was hardly an officer Of distinction
en- either side. sdIring the late Civil War
who WAS not from West Point. The grad
uatc from West Point is made q second
icutenant in tho army on his graduation,
whilst such a privilege would not be OK
tended TO the graduates OF Yale. Harvard
or Princeton Notwithstanding
where tho young men unQucstionably gets
wcGld never occur however. by any right
fhinking man 10 accuse the government
with discriminating against these grand
institutions in favor of West Point. There
is ono thing that West Point does, it
trains officers. There is one thing the
normal school does. il trains teachers and
his Is he sole consideration upon which
exemption from local and ofsen securing
examination is, claimed at the hands of
those who arc not experts ard sometimes
incompetent.
The withdrawal Of The Friyilege in ui.as-
fion by the passage Of the pending iii
would 7 fear. be regarded by every IL
fclliscnt and experienced friend Of popular
education as serious blow 10 the educa-
tional interests of tho State. and put
the common school system of North Caro-
lima cut OF alignment with educational
world al home and abroad.
THOMAS LAWRENCE.