Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-11-03
FOR TEACHERS
President Ferguson at Northern
Illinois Convention, Urges
Move for Legislation
I'm HIS ANNUAL ADDRESS
Advocates Minimum Requirement and
Legal Minimum Wage for
Those Who Teach School.

At the evening session of the western
division. Northern Illinois Teachers
association, last evening. at Freeport
President S. J. Ferguson, county super
intendent of schools of Rock Island
county gave the presidents annual ad
dress. In his address MIR Ferguson ad
vocated legislation regulating the min.
imum qualification and the minimum
wage for teachers.
| Have Not Kept Pace.
| In the introduction of his address
| President Ferguson declared that the
teaching profession must admit that it
has not kept pace with progress when
compared with other professions. His
| address follows:
Teachers enjoy talking about the
profession of teaching with emphasis
on profession. In no sense would / de
tract from the glory and pride of the
teacher. The work is a grand one. and
most nobly is it done by many in the
ranks We can boast of eminent schol-
ars among our leaders YET when all
commentator is given. we must ad-
nit that we have not kept pace with
progress when compared with other
professions.
rs ii not strange that almost the
same legal qualification is required TO-
day that prevailed 90 years ago? OF
course there have been branches added
from time to time. The sciences for a
first grade. and physiology and hygiene
and more recently civics and Illinois
history were added. We do not say
this is not good. But we should begin
back of all this.
What other profession has met the
responsibility of advancement in the
same way?
In other Professions.
In law, for instance, there is very
little comparison between the present
requirements and those of 1915. An
applicant for the examination for adj
mission to the practice Of law must fur
nish evidence that he has at least
high school education. and has gradu-
ated from a three-ycar course in law.
or has read law the same length of
time in some practitioners office.
In medicine the same development
in requirements for admission to prac-.
tee has taken place. This same prog
ress is shown in every other profession
worthy the name. Medicine and law
are honored professions Would they
be 50 without this high standard of
professional training? In other words.
does not professional standing usually
depend upon professional attachments?
Can we find another profession. or even |
an occupation where Intelligence ana !
skill are required that has its legal |
qualification the same as that of more |
than a half century ago?
Tcachinr: Not Changed.
ours. as has been indicated has moi |
changed i'll its legal require
ments since 1915. Now if ours is to |
De come a profession that will rank
with medicine and others, should we /
not do as they have, not merely add
4 branch here and there, but require
by legislation that the person wh1 /
wishes to take up teaching shall first /
for the same by completing /
course in our profession schools? OF /
course it does not follow that all who
axe this professional training will be l.
,ome successful teachers. Not all who l.
ire trained in the schools of medicine l.
II law succeed in those professions Il
{ is. therefore not fair TO demand Sc l.
much more from those who are trained
or teaching. But we should revise
,ur system. 1t should require a high
.chnn1 aJY |
It least one years normal school work
before one is admitted to the examina-
ion for admission to practice, and said
examination should be given in the
'arious county seats, but it should be
prescribed by one head or body for |
he entire state. a certificate. there !
ore should be good in every county 4:
n the state. Would not this place
S on a truer professional basis?
Enforced in some Places
"A number of cities enforce the re-
uirements of high school education
nd normal training. or college grad
alton for those who begin with them
ow. They speak of it with just pride
5 indicating that they are only doing
hat the interests of their children Z
emand. Now what a city superin- )
endent who has a little consecrated {
Oncern for the children committed to |
is care, and who has a little manly s
ourage can accomplish to the real
dyancement of his system, should {
e accomplished for all. Should not !.
he teachers of the state then rise
nd demand the legislation which will
ring about such a condition for the
ntire state?
Legislation to Wages.
1T is argued that such requirements