The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1904-01-29

cific coast states at Boise.
PROBLEM OF COUNTY
SUPERVISION.
BY z. G. EGBERs, County Superintendent.
NOTE:-The following IL the paper which
Mr. Egbers had prepared for the annual
meeting of the State Teachers Association
ut Boise last December but which. owing to
his inability to attend. was not presented
1t is published here, py permission, and con-
tains much valuable information and sugges-
tions. OF interest to all educators Ed
CONTINUED from last week.,
The matter Of teachers examina-
tions, taken alone, furnishes a diff
cult problen-a problem which has
never been satisfactorily solved.
While we recognize that the custom
ary examination is at best an
imperfect test OF the fitness OF a.
teacher to teach, still we are Just as
fully satisfied that 1t is absolutely
necessary that we should apply some
test Of scholarship. In a broad sense
the examination is intended to limit
the number Of those who are permit
ted to teach, to those who are
especially fitted for the work. This
being true, it might be advisable to
increase the requirements, especially
the PROFESSIONAL requirements,
necessary to qualification as u public
teacher, With a view to bringing
about condition Of fewer and better
teachers. We are all familiar with
the history Of many OF the eastern
states, where an oversupply Of teach
ers results in reduced wages, and
reduced wages in turn drives the
better talent out of the profession.
| We have not as yet reached a con-
d!tion, In Idaho, which makes IL
possible for q teacher to depend alone
ON his profession for livelihood.
I True, limited number Of teachers
are able to do SO, and it is also true
| that great advancement has been
made within the past ten years
toward that end. But certainly there
can be no reasonable objection to the
proposition Of increasing the require.
ments for securing license to teach,
especially II those requirements are
largely Of professional character,
and impartially applied.
The matter Of classification of
certificates will ever remain a ques-
tlon, and yet it would seem reasonable
that certificates Of fitness to teach
should have direct reference To the
requirements of the course of study
to be followed. Following out this
principle In Ida. (and in fact IN most
statcs) there would be three classes OF
certificates, viz: the primary certifl-
cate, the grammar school certificate,
and the high school certificate. The
requirements to obtain these certifi-
Gates would have direct reference to
the qualifications OF a teacher to
teach primary school, a grammar
school, or high school. This plan
carefully followed out would eliminate
the present Inconsistency of requiring
branches to be taught Ia our public
high schools which are not required
In any examination to secure certif.
cate even of the highest grade in the
gift OF the State. l refer to the fact
that our present system requires
book. keeping, Latin, and chemistry to
be taught In the high school, and yet
no examination In these branches Il
required to secure life diploma.
On the other hand we are required to
pass examination in the subjects OF
zoology. and political economy which
are not required to be taught in any
of our high schools.
The fact that nearly II not all
states require moral character as az
. evidence Of fitness to teach, and
specify IMMORTALITY as sufficient cause
ror revocation OF certificates, would
imply that in the minds Of the people
there Is no question as to the nccessit,
Of this qualification on the part ol
. the public teacher. AS county super
intendents, are we endeavorlng tt
carry out the spirit and intent of thu
law in this respect? Let me urge thai
as the FIRST great necessity TO carrying