The Lewiston teller. (Lewiston, Idaho) 1900-1905, 1902-12-09
THE PERMIT SYSTEM BOBS UP


One Of the Best Known Teachers in the County
Expresses His Views Upon it-Says II Is
Bad.
"Well, what do you think of the effort
being made to re. establish the permit
system in your profession?" asked rep
resentative ofthe THLLER Of we'll known
teacher. The teacher replied:
"For some time past there seems to be
movement fostered by eome one to re-
establish the old permit system in grant
ing certificates to teach, by the county
superintendent of Idaho. There is in this
country no institution that can be found
more original with Americans. and in
which Americans take more pride, than
its free school system.
ut has been truly said that a nation
can raise no higher than its citizens 1t
can be as truly said that nation of peo-
pie is only free as far as each individual
Is monarch of his or her own destiny and
possesses that power of knowledge that
has enthroned kings and prevented us.
urpation by possible superiors. There is
no honest American parent but wishes
his child to become the peer Of every
other in the land, and who will not make
costly sacrifices to accomplish that end.
There is no one purpose for which the
Atoerican taxpayer will more willingly
and cheerfully pay his portion than Tor
the maintenance of the public schools,
but the question will arise III every econ.
omic mind, lis this bringing the best
results to be obtained3' To use the old
phrase, in nine cases out of ten If the
child is comfortable while studying, pro-
vided with the necessary working uten.
sils and is guided by a proficient teacher.
this question should be answered in the
affirmative, but if these conditions are
not present, then in the negative.
Snow when few brave pioneers have
found themselves huddled together in
corner of this once wilderness, the first
question of public interest to be discussed
at public meetings is the ways and means
a school house can be built. Out fthese
comes the little log school house. set
around with wall boards and split log
benches. This is tne root of all our
grandeur, Il was going to say nobler, but
I doubt it) structures. ideals in architect
ure and ventilation. The first part Of our
question has been answered, but not SO
the last.
with the teacher this is another
question. There are two kinds of
teachers. One from his childhood is
imbued with desire to know, aud by
untiring efforts and noble sacrifices have
attained the heights of knowledge and
find no greater pleasure than to see the
little child drink at the fountain Of know.
ledge. These teachers draw pleasure
from their work in spite Of the drudgery
and criticism connected with it and spend
l might say, thousands Of dollars prepar-
ing themselves for the task. They rise
high in the profession and secure good
certificates and state normal diplomas.
ION the other hand we 6nd a class Of
would-be teachers trudging along through
their onerous duties, hardened down with
atask Of which they wish to rid them
selves. They sit up nights to keep ahead
Of their pupils and long for night to
come the next day. This class IL the
class that have poor certificates and want
permits. They never intend to make it
their profession. It is the young girl
that wishes to make money enough to
buy wedding lress or whose family
is in need and the directors wish to help;
or il is the young man who only wants
some spending money and sees no easier
way to get il. The children are misled
and the teacher that follows, for they
seldom last more than one term or until
their permit expires, finds The school in
. worse condition than it was before this
failure" took it. The school has retro
graded in place Of advancing and the
work has bad no aim. Better had il
been had there been no school and the
directors had made this teacher present
Of his salary.
''Some cav that ther was demand for
teachers In this county this fall and that
demand should have been filled II there
was demand, let the demand stand until
the demand can Be 6lied By pro6ciens
teachers. A demand 10 the only thing
that will do this and this fact 10 proved
| by the best class Of applicants It The
snperiutendent's Office the last examiua.
ton that has ever assembled there and a
out of - secured certificate. II should
be the duty Of every citizen and every
legislator to - that the present Law y
maiptained. That the tescher's standsrd
10 raised and protected from nnprofes
aiomal coanretition. encourave ecOmnn,v