The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-03-05
ONLY A MAKESHIFT
PRESIDENT WELD, OF MOORHEAD,
so CHARACTERIZE THE GER
TIFICATE COURSE
POINTS OUT DISADVANTAGES
Protests Against Idea of Absolute
Uniformity for All Normal Schools
Local Conditions Should
BE Considered.

President Frank A. Weld, of The state
formal school at Moorhead, in his report
10 the state normal board yesterday, call
ed the boards attention to a much needed
reform which in the opinion of the best
normal school men is sure to come 1t
was a mild protest against the tendency
to make the normal schools too mechani-
cal, a protest against the uniformity
idea-the idea that because one normal
school does a thing in a certain way at
certain time all the normal schools should
do the same thing in the same way.
1t was a protest also against the certt-
ficate course instituted by the board
when the course of study was rearranged
two years ago. When the board did away
with the three year course and instituted
a five year course it made a concession
TO those who did not want the old course
done away with by instituting a three
year certificate course. This course does
not lead to a diploma. AS a result of it
many high school pupils take this course
with the idea of preparing to take the
state teachers examination for first grade
certificates. which are good for five years
in this state. This results in sending out
into the rural districts a greater per cent
age Of undergraduate students than be-
fore. Mr.. Yields report to the board,
which was the only event of the session
=
The abolishing of the elementary course
of study affected this school, probably
more vitality than any one OF the otner
schools. The northern part of the state
was not ready for such action on the
part of the normal board, and there will
not be nearly as many graduates of the
normal schools doing work in rural
schools next year as formerly. The certi-
fcate course of study will, IN a measure,
take the place of the old three years
course but it will never accomplish tor
a certain class of schools in Northern
Minnesota what the old course of study
stood for.
The certificate course of study is a bet
ter course of study than the old element
airy course, but it will never attract
students to our normal schools. 1t will be
regarded, and justly so, by young men
and women, VINO desire to teach, as a
makeShift. / apprehend that during the
next few years a large number of students
VIII enter the normal schools, not to COM
plete course OF study, but TO prepare
themselves to secure a state certificate by
examination. The number of under
graduates in the Moorhead normal, at
least, engaged in rural school work VIII
next year be greater than at any time in
the history of the school. This condition
will be both fortunate and unfortunate.
The certificate course of study is not at
tractlVe to candidates for the teaching
profession, nor does it meet the require
ments of rural school interests from the
county superintendent point of view
The function of the normal school should
be, in my judgment, not only to make as
strong teachers as possible out Of the ma
terial which comes to them, but the work
Of the schools, it's arrangement, and what
the work leads to should be made as at
tractive as may be. We have all agreed
that the certificate course of study shall
he made as unpopular in a way, as we
can make it. This in order that the STAN
dard of work in our schools may be alb
EOlute in its excellence and l do not wish
TO be understood that l would lower the
standard determined upon by our schools.
We have, however, certain conditions to
face in the northern part Of the state,
which do not exist in the southern part
of the state. The conditions affecting the
development of educational interests, in
cident to the settlement of new territory
were eliminated long ago in southern
Minnesota. The scores of efficient high
schools scattered through southern Min
nesota are accomplishing for the educa-
1ional interests of that section of the state
what we in the north cannot expect for
years to come.
This is not the time for me to make
Communications to your honorable body,
nor to enter into arguments as to what
should or should not be done. However,
I believe that the policy of this board in
SO far as it insists upon absolute uniform