Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-12-30

ippines.
Every school taught by competent
teacher, trains for honesty, industry,
liberty without license, righteousness
justice, law and order, and under the
influence of such a school every child in
this state should be brought.
The state by law recognizes the
value of supervision by providing for
inspection of schools by county superin-
tendents. The average school year in
days is 1859. If each superintendent were
to visit two schools daily for the entire
school year he would not be able to In
spect each school once in four months.
Often the inexperienced teacher who SO
much reeds advice and counsel regard
Ing course of study, records, classical
ton and gradation Of pupils at the
opening of the school term is not
visited at ALL but compelled to
grope in a half dazed way thru
out the term or for a longer period.
whereby the time of pupils Is wasted,
and the money OF the district paid out
without realization of even the small
est adequate return of 1t should be in
vestigated and improved
'In many counties there are as high
as 800 schools in daily operation, and in
some as many as 500. Usually in such
counties clerical duties of the office are
so great that the superintendent can dc
only limited abount Of visiting. School
officers report that in some instances
schools have not been visited for more
than four years. and in others as many
as six. For the system Is at fault and
not the superintendent. am pleading
not for county superintendent, but for
schools and children in this address. Of
flee duties must be performed, but
should be reduced to the lowest point in
order that the more important work
could be accomplished. Philanthropy is
educationally inclined toward higher
education. Millions have been given to
endOW colleges and universities by indi-
viduals. while higher state Institutions
are cared for by annual appropriations.
Thus far neither the wealth Of individ-
uals nor states has been turned into the
channels that lead to the public schools.
These are under the direct care Of the
people In this state and to them we
must continue to look for help to care
for and improve.
THAT some change must come il we
have efficient supervision must be ad-
mitted. In some Instances in this state
the county is too large for one man to
supervise intelligently, and the law
should be 80 modified as to empower the
Of one or more assistants to
assist In the visitation of schools under
the direction OF the county superfntend-
ent. The assistants the committee OF
twelve recommend should have only SUI
pervisory power. The law now provtd-
ing that the county superintendent may
have deputy prohibits his visiting
schools This prohibition should be re-
moved in order that both the superinten-
dent and the deputy may give time and
talent to the supervisory work. The
compensation paid this officer might
now in justice to both the servants and
those served be placed upon the same
basis as other county officers.
what shall be the attitude OF this
association on the question Of training
teachers? Let us first request that the
state shall fix minimum requirement
for those desiring to teach. This we
may do with justice to all. What the
requirement should be is a
matter OF opinion. It must be reasona-
Bile. To say that none but college and
normal school graduates shall teach
would be to close temporarily atsleast Sc
per cent Of our schools. To even say
that only those shall teach who have
graduated or attended normal schools or
colleges would result in closing 81 per
cent of the public schools. The standard
may not at present be fixed 30 high, but
the state should no longer hesitate to
take an advance step regarding the
training Of teachers. 1t can, l think,
now safely require that after July I.
1904. no person shall be certificated to
teach who has not previously taught or
pursued scholastic course equivalent
to that given in an accredited high
school. The result Of the passage OF
such a measure would be to stimulate
zeal, to raise the standard
Of admission to the teachers profession,
and in the near future give to our
schools teachers with a broader know
ledge Of the general subject Of educa-
ton. Such teachers would be able to
inspire pupils with greater degree of
confidence in their ability to teach.
"The enactment of a law embodying
such provision as that indicated would
prove Of assistance to schools which
now give normal instruction by at least
partially removing the necessity OF CIV
ng so much time to academic work,
-hus enabling them to give emphasis to
he professional subjects. The passage
II such a law would In no sense remove
The necessity Of normal schools and nor
nal training. A normal school is more
han high school or an academy. It Is
coming more and more to be looked up-s
m as a school for those desiring to
each who have had preparatory work
itting them for admission to the college
,r university A place where teachers
ZONE into touch with the real problems
II school administration, and learn to
solve them, rather than school in
which text books and theory are only
This may be somewhat ideal
ind is only mentioned to show that
normal schools have a great field even
after students have been academically
instructed"
After reciting briefly the history Of
he action taken by the state teachers
in favor Of an increase in
he number Of state normal schools. he
said:
prosperity has taken up its abode in
his land. Our granaries are full OF