Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-12-05
TRAINING OF TEACHERS
State Superintendent Barrett
Urges the Establishment Of
More Normal Schools.
Additional Facilities For Train
ing Teachers For the Public
Schools OF Iowa.
Over 5000 Unframed Teachers
Now Employed in the
Schools Of Iowa.
Special to Times Republican.

training of teachers in his biennial re
port for the years 19001901
"a few years ago DR.. e. Schlee, di
rector of the Real Gymnasium at Altu
ma, Germany, said to us:
"'If in every office the chief factor
the man, and in school the teachers, w
have come to the weakest point in tn
American school system-profession
teachers are wanting. That is to say
requisite scientific and pedagogic prep
aration for their vocation. The creates
number are women, and comparativel,
few make profession Of teaching.
"Such criticisms should create an am
bition to enlarge our present plane fo
| the education of teachers.
THE report Of this department. show!
the following data for the year 1900
Number of rooms in graded schools, g.,
766; first-class certificates issued, 2,917
number of persons holding state certifi.
Gates and diplomas, 1,2S5; total, 4,242
This is 1854 less than the required
number of teachers to fill the rooms In
graded schools.
During the period beginning in Sep
TENDER, 1895, and ending in September
1900 the number of rooms in graded
schools increased from Att to 5,766, OF
nearly 1000. Whatever may be the plans
inaugurated to educate teachers, there
should be kept in mind that as the state
increases In population and cities and
towns expand and multiply, there will
be an increased demand for more teach
ers trained in the art and science OF
teaching.
During the year 1900. 7.72S third class
certificates were issued by county SUI
perintendents. Assuming that all the
holders OF these certificates are en-
ployed in public school work and have
an average Of twenty pupils each. there
would be more than 100000 children
taught by those holding the lowest
classes Of certificates.
"Of those licensed in 1900. $3.50 had no
experience, and 4,20S had less than one
years experience, or. of the 1906 teach
ers required to teach the schools of the
state, nearly 5000 have had less than
one years experience, while 1855 in
country schools hold certificates Of the
second and third classes.
THE competency or incompetency OF
this large number Of teachers, many OF
school, will represent the efficiency OF
our schools and the standard of our ed
ucation for many years, and the state
can not afford to let them remain as
they are. Provision for their profess
sional training should be made in nor
NAL or other schools.
I'm 1892 President Homer II. Seerley,
Of Cedar Falls, in discussing the Nor
NAL School Problem proposed: Let the
state show itself in favor of teacher
education and Misunderstanding by prop
srly equipping, creditably supporting
md fully developing its present State
Normal School,
AT the time these words were writ
.en the Normal School at Cedar Falls
lad two buildings and 706 students.
since then two new buildings. costing
;13s, 900, have been erected. and the en-
ollment this year is 2.o17, exclusive of
he training department, which num-
,ers 1885, Thus has the state provided
or its Normal School.
Again the president says: Let the
tate found, equip and support other
;tate normal schools; make them strong,
Elective and good, and allow the teach
:r-students to be thousands where there
ire now hundreds. This position is
hat taken by nearly all who UNDER
tand the conditions in Iowa.
AT the uniform rate of 200 graduates
year from our Normal School it would
equire more than ninety years to sup
,ly the number of teachers required in
he state If all taught for life. Since
he mass OF the teaching body changes
very four or five years, the greater APP
cars the necessity for additional facili-
les. 1t is to the best interest of every
tate to have superior teachers, and no
reater blight can befall the people |
han to have its children placed under
he control Of those who are devoid of
eneral culture and good scholarship.
Our citizens pay annually in local |
axes $9,000,000 for the maintenance of
chools. Is 1t reasonable to ask the |
tate to provide skilled teachers? |
Without such there can be no assur-
nee that the common schools are a
eneft. 1t must see that the work
t the common schools is we'll done.
Men and nations are as they are
aught,' says one. AS people elevate
nd sustain their educators so will
heir educators be found, in time, the
reat fundamentally which brings
aem intelligence, freedom, prosperity
nd glory
NORMAL SCHOOLS.
THE need of other normal schools
J imperative. At least one should be
Established from the funds on hand.
For years the many friends who be-
eve there is need of additional IA
lities for the trading of teachers have
sked each legislature for one or more
ornral schools The need of such
,hools Is as great as ever Practically
ne-third of the whole teaching force
the state is without proper train
lg for teaching, even in the smallest
,hools.
I'm 1876 the legislature converted
ne of it's buildings, no longer used for
lie purpose for which 1t was built, into
normal school. That this was a wise
1T few now question. At the present
me the state has at Knoxville a set of
nildinss and ample grounds that
'uld. in the opinion Of many, includ
% the state architect. be fitted at
nall expense for another normal
,hool. 1t is proposed that this be
one.
This question Il ana of no littla oan-