The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1903-05-22
EDUCATORS ARE BUSY.
South Dakota Wise Men Discuss I'm.
portant Topics at Canton
Meetinq.

canton, >. u, MAY 1S.--Ihe state con-
vention Of educators assembled in this
city a. Friday afternoon with the
county superintendent of nearly all the
counties in the state present.
The convention was called to order
by State Superintendent G. w. Nash.
Colonel Chas. o. Knudson. city at
torney, on behalf of the nay and the
citizens Of Canton welcomed the edu-
Gators to the city. Professor Geo. H.
Dean of Lincoln county welcomed the
superintendent on behalf Of Lincoln
county.
o. w. Coursey, superintendent of
Dawson county, responded on behalf
of the visitors.
After the opening exercises, which
lasted out half an hour, the convention
without loss OF time proceeded at once
to business.
Most Of the afternoon was spent in
the discussion Of chapter one Of the
school aw. The state superintendent
called attention to the increase in his
allowance for travelling expenses, which
he hoped would enable him to visit
every town and county in the state dur
ing the two years of his administration.
He also called attention to the ques-
ton Of Issuing state diplomas to teach
ers under the new law. He had al
ready refused to honor applications for
diplomas because applicants failed to
comply with the Law in all respects,
and he should continue to do. so in the
future.
Great stress was laid by nearly every
speaker upon the Importance Of prac-
teal experience, up-to-date fitness and
gilt-edged moral character in teachers
to fit them for their professions. The
superintendent expressed surprise hat
SO many teachers in the state We're
permitted to teach on old certificates is
sued years ago, not having passed ex-
aminations for years. In some cases
that were related town and city school
teachers had been allowed to teach
continually year in and year out with
out ever passing an examination. All
this should be changed, was the mani
nous sentiment expressed by the oun
ty superintendent at the convention.
The state superintendent called the
attention of the convention to the fact
that a great many times teachers had
been received from other states and
permitted to teach on the certificates
they brought with them. He insisted
that such practices must be stopped at
once. An Iowa or a Minnesota or a
North Dakota certificate, he said, is not
good in South Dakota.
This sentiment was heartily echoed
by Superintendent C. E. Swanson, Of
Kngsbury, w. f. Eddy, of Brown, Hell
en- M. Bennett. of Lawrence, F. S. Ran
dolph, of Roberts. f. c. Leggett, Of I'm
ion, q. F. Williams, Of Yankton, H. A.
Ustrud, Of Minnehaha. Maud r. Carter,
of Hughes, and many others who
pressed themselves On the question.
Superintendent George H. Grace of
Hand county. questioned the conven-
ton how to determine the matter OF
good moral character in teachers COM
Ing over from other states. He sug-
gested that the law was apparently
very strict on this point and yet there
seemed to be a great lack Of Information
as to how the question could be set
tled in anything like a practical way
Considerable of the time of the con.
vention has also been taken up in the
discussion of the most suitable time tt
hold the different examinations pro
yided by law.
After adjournment last night all the
members Of the convention enjoyed
steamboat ride on the Sioux river a
the invitation Of the Commercial clut
of this city.