The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-01-29
SOME DEFECTS
Of the State Examination Law and
 the Remedy Proposed.

(By Julia s. Tutwiler.)
 The benefits of the law for the uni- form examination of teachers are too plain to need rehearsal From the most remote log cabin schoolhouse in the coves of Sand Mountain to the shanty in the pine barrens of the lumber re- gions, it's influence has been felt. With it's advent a new life has thrilled through the public schools of Alabama.
 But our task is not to eulogize a law, as to whose merits there is no dissent ing voice, but to show whereby it may be made still more efficient for good.
 In order to secure a first-grade certifi- cate an examination on twelve subjects viz: First, algebra: second, geometry; third, physics; fourth, pedagogy; fifth, school laws of Alabama; sixth, arith- metic; seventh. grammar; eighth, physio- logy; ninth. geography; tenth reading; eleventh history of the United States, and twelfth, history of Alabama. The last seven subjects only are required for a ond-grade certificate.
 This is a brave list of subjects; and the teacher who has honestly passed an approved examination in all of them has received valuable mental training. But let us see of what subjects a flrst-grade teacher (which should mean a first-class teacher) may still be ignorant. He may know nothing at all of first. vocal music; second, drawing; third. manual training; fourth, English literature dncluding Amerlcan) fifth, English history; sixth, ancient history; seventh, medaeval his tory; eighth. mythology; Iinth, chemis- try; tenth. botany; eleventh, geology; twelfth, meteorology: thirteenth, obser- vational astronomy; fourteenth, zoology; fifteenth, biology; sixteenth. Latin; seventeenth Greek: eighteenth, German: nineteenth. French; twentieth, Spanisn twenty-first solid geometry; twenty second, trigonometry; twenty-third, elo- cution: twenty fourth, calisthentics and military drill.
 . Now 1t is not to he expected that any teacher should have mastered all these subjects; but In old times when the many were little cultured and the few highly cultured. it would have been inn possible to find a 'first-ciass' teacher not acquainted with many of these sub jects. The great danger that now threatens our schools is an influx of teachers who are well acquainted with a certain number of text books on limit ed number of subjects, but without that indefnable essence called culture. .' which should vivify all they have learned W ledCHtIS WHOSt ana pleasure it is to assist the young com rades who are joining our ranks, find that they are more and more averse to studying any subject not included in the sacred dozen.' They could hardly reverence more the prescribed subjects if they had been proclaimed on Mount Sinai with the Ten Commandments.
 A Natural Result.
 Now this result Is very natural; the young candidate Is trying to fit himself Cor hersel0 to work for the State-in a certain sense for civil service; and he Cor she) reasons thus: The State does rot attach any value to this attainment, con sequently it must be vaiueless; so why should burden myself with 1t?
 My first acquaintance with the genus public school teacher" was in 1873 when went to Europe on a teachers excur- sion with several hundred teachers most ly from the Northern and Western public schools, So sharp! Yet so narrow! So well acquainted with their text books; so unacquainted with other books. Most estimable people, with many of whom l formed warm friendship. But they were not the teachers to whom l would like to entrust the training of the boy or girl to whom I wished to give broad anu SchtIOhS pulloOh uPoi
 There were about a dozen of us old fashioned. academically trained teach CTS in .he party. And the contrast was very great. The difference was frankly acknowledged by our new friends; but they asserted that In this matter drill was better for the State than culture. To a certain extent they were right: Tut now that we are emulating the example of our neghbors by multiplying the mum Der of public schools and public school teachers until not a child in the state shall be without the opportunity of schooling let us improve on their work by having our teachers broad as well as sharp; cultured as well as drilled
 After having thus used my steamship companions to point my moral ana adorn my tale" I should, in justice to them. say that since 1873 there has been immense improvement in the direction of culture in the public schools of the North and West.
 A Practicable Remedy.
 Now. what are you going to do about it?" That's the point. l want. to snow an easy and practicable remedy Tor the threatening danger. It consists in estao- fishing high examinations for professional certificates good for life. At present a