The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-07-18
PROFESSIONALS.
County Teachers Receive New
Form of Certificates.
Fifteen PedagOgues Take Ad-
vantage of New Law.
WRIGHT COMMENDS 1T.
Superintendent Thinks New
Plan Allows Time for Study.
Special Examinations Will Be
Held in August.
WRIGHT COMMENDS 1T.

County superintendent S. F. Wright
is inclined to recognize the professional
teachers certificate as a vast improve
ment over the first grade so sought
after by teachers in former years, and
will encourage all teachers to try for it
in future.
The professional certificate has nu-
merous advantages. 1t is a little more
difficult to get but is of greater value
after it has been secured. Not a first
grade certificate was issued by County
Superintendent Wright this season. All
the teachers who formerly secured first
grades got in the professional class pro-
vided by the law passed by the last leg
islature This is the first time that
such certificates have been issued
The statute covering the granting of
professional certificates provides the
following: professional certificates
shall certify that the person to whom
issued is of good moral character. is
proficient in and fully qualified to teach
photography, reading, writing, English
grammar, geography. arithmetic his
tory of Kansas, United States history
constitution of the United States, book
keeping, physiology and hygiene theory
and practice of teaching, elements OF
natural philosophy. algebra, English
literature and general history, and shall
not be issued to persons under twenty
one years of age, nor to persons who
have DOT taught successfully thirty-two
school months; provided, that the per-
sons who receive a professional certifi-
cate shall make general average of not
less than 80 per cent. and in no case
shall person receive a professional
certificate who shall fall below IS per
cent in any one branch; provided, that
any person who shall at any regular
examination make a grade of 80 per cent
or more in any branch. the same shall
be credited on a professional certificate;
provided, that no grade shall be carried
longer than two years, nor shall any
grades be credited unless the general
average shall entitle them at least to a
third grade certificate: provided also,
that any person to whom a professional
certificate shall hereafter be issued
shall, upon the payment of one dollar
fee, be entitled to a renewal of same
without examinations; provided, said ap-
plfcant shall not have remained out of
service as a teacher in the public schools
longer than two consecutive years, was
a regular member and attended at least
80 per cent of the time of the county in
titicate, was a regular member and at
tended all Of the meetings of the county
association, unless excused by the coun-
ty superintendent. and shall be a regu-
lar subscriber of some standard educa-
tional journal. and shall perform such
other professional work as the state or
county superintendent shall direct"
In explaining the advantage of the
professional certificate Superintendent
Wright said: Ordinarily teachers
grind at the institute on ordinary sub
jects for fear they may be a little rusty
and lose a point, when the work is en-