Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-01-01
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10 GLl lnE LAWS
STARTS MOVEMENT TO PLACE
TEACHING ON PURELY PRO-
FEssloNAL BASIS
Wants School Laws of Iowa Revised
and codified-WouId Have Powers
of Board Of Educational Examiners
Expanded by Legislature.

Des Moines, Dec. 31.-Superintend-
ent Riggs is wonder when it comes
to getting things done AS state SUI
perintendent he has accomplished more
than any former officer in that office
ever did in the way of securing legis-
latioa and the way that he manages
the state teachers association is a
caution.
He started out to get state certifi-
cation OF teachers and got it through
the leglslature-a most revolutionary
measure. 1t is the beginning of what
is bound TO be a successful movement
to put teaching in Iowa on purely
professional basis. After while teach
'ers will not have to be examined but
once for life work.
He now wants the powers of the
board Of educational examiners ex
banded to allow greater discretion an,l
re wants the school laws of the state
not only codified, but he wants them
revised And he'll get that from the
legislature. also. This winter !he as
sembly will pass the law he asks for
and may extend his requests to do
something to consolidate the rural
schools.
If this kind of law does not come
this year 1t will In two years from now
or before Mr. Riggs reIinauishes his Of
flee.
Probably the most interesting thing
about his administration is the way
that the state teachers association
does everything that he proposes. 1t
endorses his suggestions in full and
the legislative committee follows his
lead implicitly. When he proposed
that the present law be endorsed it
was endorsed with a whoop. Henry
Sabin offered the resolution and that
was sufficient to do the business, for
Mr.. Sabin is easily the most popular
educator in the state today, aside from
the influence of Riggs.
Teachers Get Together.
But the significant thing about it
all is that the teachers are beginning
to hang together in Iowa and doing
that way they may be able to better
their condition. While other profess
sions have been getting all kinds of
aid from the legislature and many fa-
vors of all kinds. and also steadily
raising their standard the teachers
have been doing nothing to help EN-
selves or each other. The resu. is
that the profession is filed with girls
and people who are using it to Ain a
living while they study to enter the law
Or get ma; ried.
If the plans made by Messrs. Riggs,
Sabin and others are carried out the
teaching profession in Iowa will get on
basis where men and women can de-
vote their lives to it and not run the
risk of starving to death in the pro-
cess.
No More Passes.
Iowa representatives of the railroads
will not have it in their power in the
future to issue passes, according to
their sta&ament here.
1t is claimed that the ruling of the
Interstate commerce commission to the
effect that pass between points in
Iowa when used in making an inter
state journey would be a violation of
the federal and anti-pass law, has led
to the decision of the roads not to is
sue passse of any character after Jan
uary I
A legislative session without passes
will be curiosity. None has ever
been held, SO far as mans memory
runs. II has been the rule to flood the
town with free transportation during
the legislative session. There seemed
to be no special reason, but anybody
most could get transportation for the
asking. But this winter it will be diff
ferent.
One result may be noticed in a con-
tinuous session from the first day. 1t
has been the habit of the legislature
in the early part of the session to adj
journ from Friday to Tuesday morn
ing. There is a common belief that
this will be stopped in the session this
winter, for the members cannot travel
back and forth on state mileage pay.
Leon Brown.
coRTELYoU LEAVES COMMITTEE.