Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-12-28
MUCH OPPOSITION
Proposed Bill Taking Power to
Issue Teachers Licenses From
Superintendents
READ AT STATE MEETING
Aim is to Reduce Political Power oi
County officiaIs-Authority With
State Board.

Springfield, H., Dec 2S.-The calm
of the convention of the State Teach
ers' association suddenly was whipped
into storm yesterday afternoon with
the certification of teachers under
state control and thus deprive county
superintendents of their political
weapons and of much of their power.
The bill transfers the right TO issue
certificates or licenses to teachers
from the county superintendents to a
board of state examiners, which, the
bill provides, shall be named by the
governor.
The certificate issuing prerogative
which has been enjoyed by the county
superintendents since the old Illinois
school law was framed in 1888, has re-
suited in putting so much power into
the hands of the county superinten-
dents in rural districts that they are
safely intrenched in office.
Dill Prescribes Details.
The proposed bill not only takes
from the county superintendent the
right to award certificates but pre-
scribes the exact method by which the
licenses shall be awarded, sets forth
in detail how the examinations shall
he held and what shall be required of
the candidates for certificates. The
measure is calculated to greatly in
crease the efficiency of rural schools
by barring the doors of the little red
schoolhouse against inefficient teach
ers.
1t is charged by the county superin-
tendents that the bill was framed as a
result of the efforts of the normal
school and university faculties to in
crease the attendance of their institu
tions by closing the doors of the pro
fession against teachers not equipped
by any training to instruct the chill
dren of the state.
What the Dill Provides.
The proposed law, which was read
for the first time at a meeting of the
superintendents' section of the State
Teachers association yesterday, was
drafted by a specially appointed COM
mittee made up of representatives of |
the college. normal, superintendents. |
and elementary schools, and |
teachers sections of the association.
The bill was read to the county SUI
perintendents by Francis G.. Blair, state
of public instruction,
who also is president of the county |
section. Beyond pro
viding for the appointment of a board |
Of examiners. of which the state super
a normal school president.
and a county superintendent shall be
among the members, it provides that
al male candidates for certificates
shall be over IS years of age and all
female candidates over II years. 1t
also provides. among other things, that
he candidates shall present evidence
If good moral character.
No HaskctbaII for Girls.
Basketball no longer will be played
~ the public high school girl if the
lction of the athletic section of the
association is obeyed. At the after
loon session this section of the asso-
iation. by unanimous vote, adopted 4
esolution disappearing of the playing
# the basketball games by girls
where the game is in the nature of
contest or for prize
DR.. James E. Armstrong, principal of
he Englewood high school. in moving
he adoption of the resolution, said the
anne is likely to injure the health of
he girls.