Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1905-12-30
STANDS UP FOR SCHOOL LAW
State Superintendent MeBrien Insists 1t
Will Improve Teashers
ALSO MAKES PLEA FOR BETTER SALARIES
Prot Ross Delivers an Address on
Sources of Americanism Pointing
to Causes for viriIity of
the Race.
tFrom a stan Correspondent,

LINCOLN, Dec 29.-(Special. To-day, at
the general session OF the State Teachers
association State Superintendent McBrien
declared that the new certifcation law will
abolish political pulls and favoritism Gs
factors in the selection OF teachers He
argued that 1t will serve a good purpose
in protecting professional teachers from
the competition OF non-professionals He
said he demanded that the Office OF teacher
be given its right place and that the tenure
Of good teachers be absolutely secure. while
the Ineffective ones are weeded out. He
summed up with plea for the protection
Of the professional teachers from the COM
petition OF non-professionals. thus referring
to of the phases OF the legislation
which brought forward the strongest oppo-
sition last winter. which alleged that the
iurpose of the enactment was to form an
educational trust.
State Superintendent McBrien read a pa
per upon the now much discussed question
Of certihcation of teachers. Mr.. McBrien
covered briefly as possible the whole
field in this state, giving. he said, most
attention 20 the spirit of the law. He ex-
planned the three principal classes of GER
tificates. state, county and city. taking each
up in turn and calculating its character
and privileges. He pointed out the change
in the character of examinations and
pressed his belief in the superiority OF the
new plan as being absolutely impartial, ac-
curate and uniform in its workings. lie
quoted four city superlntendents who had
voluntarily come under the new plan of
granting county certificates or have signi-
fed their intention Of doing so.
l heartily agree with these four city
supcrintendents. However am persuaded
that Omaha and Lincoln are far in advance
of any general requirements the state de-
partment could establish
Can supply Teachers.
The question has been asked during our
conference with county superintendent,
how Is a sufficient number of teachers GER
tifcated under the new law to be obtained
for our public schools and | have been
asked If I would guaranty. enough teachers
hcrculean task To supply this great de-
mand for teachers brought about by the
new law, we must make use of every
agency, both public and private. We must
provide for normal training in at least
nifty OF our strongest high schools. We
must create greater public desire for good
teaching by demonstrating the difference
between the counterfeit and the genuine.
As a matter Of simple justice we must pay
teachers salaries commensurate with the
qualifications. success and services rendered
by them. According to the New York Sun.
euphonlously styled the pound keeper re-
ceives $500 year; grade teachers $500 a
year Under the new law teachers are re-
Qulred to place upon the altar of the general
welfare superior qualifications. Equity de-
mands that the public shall now pay such
teachers better salaries
on this question of teachers wages I
stand for minimum graded salary law
paying teachers In accordance with their
qualifications and success in the work of
teaching And in the matter of the selec-
tion of teachers, / stand unqualifedly for
making fitness for the work to be done the
sole test
source of Americanism.
Prof. f. A. Ross addressed the Nebraska
state teachers association at the gath
eripg i'm ST. Pauls church this morning
on eThe Sources of Americanism" He
spoke for nearly half hour and said in
part:
How much is the present enviable posi-
ton of America due to the qualities OF
her people, how much to the rich land
they have occupied and to the benehcent
institutions they have inherited? While
not belittling the favor of environments
ink that If i'm 1900 or 1850 this country had
contained, instead Of its then population.
an equal number OF average English and
have been less rapid than II actually was.
The anthTopologist thinks he can preceive
a distinct American type the formation OF
shich he would attribute. not TO the eli.
mate or crossing of streams, but to the
same process that creates improved varie,
ties of domestic plants or animals.
The American strain originated in the
spontaneous influx of Europeans. Before
the days of assisted artfully stimulate
immigration the tearing up OF the roots
of the old world home required unusual
hardhood and enterprise 1t implied not
only self-relance and faith in the un'
known. but great readiness to take risk
4 The hardships of pioneer life pitiessly
r screened out the weak and debiltated, leav
: ing only the hardy and vigorous
Today the lure of America is chief,
economic But the early corners panteC
for something else than easy bread-wn
= ning. They sought escape from the con
nuemenJ Of crusted over societies. TIT
natural physique OF the American breed
E IS superior to that of the European. Ever
- In the sixties after the average Physique
OF the nation had suffered through the i'll