Ottumwa tri-weekly courier., 1904-04-12
.FAVORS CHI GES
SUPERINTENDENT EMMA NYE BE-
LIEvEs PROPOSED SCHOOL
LEGISLATION WISE.
Teachers Examinations Reduced to
Four Per Year-The Papers to Be
Marked and Credited at State Su-
perntendent's Office.

| PeTiHIenQSrlI OIIlCe.
Miss Emma Nye. county superin
tendent, is in hearty accord with the
proposed new legislation in regard to
teachers certificates. 1t is proposed
| to reduce the number of examinations
| to four for the entire year and to ar
range for the marking and grading OF
the papers at the state superintend-
ent's office instead of in the offices OF
the county superintendent.
Concerning these proposed changes,
State Superintendent John f. Riggs,
recently made the following utterance
that will be interesting to the readers
of the Courier:
Proposed Legislation.
NOW with a view to putting the
whole question of the examination and
certification of teachers on more ra-
tional basis, the legislature has within
the past month been examining our
present laws on this subject and has
had under consideration comprehen-
sive measure providing for the examin-
alton of teachers by the county super
1ntendent as at present, and the read
ing and marking of the manuscripts at
the capital of the state under the di-
rection of the state educational board
of examiners.
Il want if possible to set before you
very briefly the changes contemplated
and some of the arguments that have
been advanced in their support.
"The first change proposed was to
limit the number of teachers examina-
tions in county to four instead Of per-
mitting twelve as at present. The
great majority of county superintend-
ents agree that frequent examinations
are wholly unnecessary and that they
require the time of the superintendent
when he should be engaged in visiting
the schools and in awakening or sus-
tanning a good school sentiment in
some of the districts of his county. 1t
was proposed to hold two examina-
tions in the summer-one in June and
one in July. All the successful candi-
dates in both of these examinations
would then receive certificates dated
August l following. 1t was proposed
less than one year. so the teachers Of
the county could all, practically, have
their certificates for the entire school
year, before the opening of the schools
in September. A third examination
was to be held in October for the ac-
commodation of those deprived of at
tendance upon summer examination,
or who were engaged to teach in dis
tricts where the school year begins
with the winter term. Then, for emer-
gency cases. a fourth examination was
assigned for February; SO, it was
thought with examinations the lastsof
February, June, July and October, the
entire body Of teachers in any county
could be accommodated quite as we'll
as with twelve examinations, as now
provided by law.
Higher Class Certificates.
Another change, very interesting to
teachers l am sure provided for
the renewal of the higher class certifi-
Gates. provided proof should be furnis-
ed of successful experience during the
life of the certificate. But the most
important change from present meth
DDS provided that the county superin-
tendents should forward all manu-
scripts, excepting that of didactics, to
the office of the state superintendent,
and that the scholarship, as shown by
the examination manuscripts, should
be determined by readers appointed by
the board of educational examiners.
The certificate was then to be issued
by the state board and was to be effec-
tive in any county of the state when
registered with the county superin-
tendent and receiving his official sig
nature. A standard, uniform for the
state, was to be secured; county lines
were to disappear; the value of GER
tificate was to be greatly increased, as
it was to be practically state certifi-
cate, and premium was to be offered
to those who should rise to the highest
thereafter was conditional solely on
continued successful teaching.
Benefits of System.
"The benefits of such system are
apparent. First, the county superin-
tendency would be strengthened. I
make the statement knowing that a
few county superintendents regard the
law as a blow at this office. | cannot
so believe; neither would 1 stand for
any measure that | felt would weaken
the county superintendent. l believe
this office is of great Importance in our
educational system and l want to see
it strengthened and made more a pro-
fessional Office.
'.The other day a county superin-
tendent said to me: This law will
take the lash out of the county super
intendent's hand But l say to you
the age of the lash is past. A super
intendent must be leader and a guide,
and not a driver. I believe the teach
ers of Iowa do not need the threat of
an annual examination by the county
to keep them in coop
Grafton with him in his efforts to ad-
vance the educational interests of his
county,