The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-09-11

1 found him at n game of chess. a pas
time OF which | learned he was passion
ateiy fond. He was Just finishing u
game. so, after learning of my errand,
he excused himself and continued. When
he had finished, the conversation turned
on the game. / admitted that | knew a
little about chess. Thereupon he insisted
that l try a game with him. We play
ed and of course, he won. Then l sug-
gested the examination again.
oh, we'll have time for another short
game he urged. and then we can finish
the examination before supper time.
Well, we played another, and again
lost. The commissioner was beginning to
get fond of me. When 1 suggested the
the clock and found 1t within half an
hour of supper time. He called for an
early supper and said we could hustle
the examination off In short order after
ward.
After supper II was the same story.
He insisted on more chess until 1t was
too late for business. and then kept
me up all night I arose early, determine
ed to get away soon. No; l had to play
more chess. We kept 1t up all day. FL
rally at in the afternoon he suddenly
realized that / might have other bus
mess He took a blank certificate from
his desk, filled 1t out without ques-
I.
he talked about our last game until
drove off. | earned my first teach
er's certificate by knowing how to play
chess-not too WELL
Rigid Examination.
Today the teachers grade certificate
for limited time requires a rigid exam
nation In all the common branches. and
then gives opportunity to teach IN only
the smallest district school. Practically
the certificate of that class has ceased
10 exist and has given away to the life
certificate. This is given only. to grad
uate of a normal school or equivalent
training course, to a college graduate
with a certain term of approved exper-
ienCe. or to one who has had the requir-
ed experience and has passed state ex-
aminations In all the subjects embraced
In a good high school course. AS for the
private schools, while they are indepen-
dent of state supervision. it Is the aim
of all headmasters to surpass II poss-
ble the standard set by the public
schools, and some of the most efficient
teachers in the country are employed In
such institutions.
Today the teacher must have besides
the thorough grounding in the subjects
required for him to teach, a knowledge
of psychology, sociology, ethics anthro-
poIOCy ana pHy slOlOEN as dpplitu " tne
problems of pedagogy To keep abreast
with the latest thought in these sub
jects requires constant study.
A striking tendency in pedagogy today
is the passing of the old time normal
school Twenty years ago the normal
graduate had everything his own way.
Today there Is q score of them watch
ing for a vacancy in every position,
ready TO teach at almost any price. The
college graduate with special pedagogical
training has supplanted him in most OF
the better secondary schools Only in
the lower grades and small high schools
has the mere normal graduate still hold
and from these positions he $ being
crowded out by the teacher OF better
preparation.
Normal School.
At the same time the normal school
itself has made enormous strides in the
last decade 1t is now In the transition
stage between the normal school of yes
terday ana the normal college of tomor-
row. In the latter half of the nineteenth
century this class of school grew from
its first inception in modern education
till at the century's close there were
nearly five hundred such institutions.
public and private, in the United States.
Then educators awoke to the fact that
the normal school was not keeping
abreast with new educational ideas. In
many quarters II had become a laughing
stock among both teachers and laymep
In this state the pupil entered at The
age of sixteen. passing an examination
of the most rudimentary sort zone that
would not now admit him TO a good high