The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1907-02-28
TEACHERS CERTIFICATES.
Supt. Riggs Tells the Real Status
of Affairs in Iowa.

VI
Referring to the various reports con-
corning the new teachers certificate
law, Supt. John f. Riggs for the benefit
of Iowa pedagogues has written the
following:
81. 1t requires 1877 teachers to
fill all the public schools of Iowa. The
total number of teachers. however,
must be considerably in excess of this
number, since there many designations
in the course of the year. There are
1851 state certificates and life diplomas
in force in Iowa at the present time.
In 1905 county superintendent issued
3,649 first-grade or two-year certificates.
Doubtless as many, if not more, first
grade certificates were issued in 1906
and are valid in the counties where
they were issued for two years from
the date of issue, so they will not eN
pire until 1908. Under the new law
fully two-thirds of the old county certi-
iicates are renewable either in whole
or in part. Since the new law went
into effect there have been few less
than 1000 applications for renewal of
old county certificates filed in the state
Office and favorably passed upon. 1t is
estimated that fully 10000 more are en-
titled, under the provisions of this law,
to renewal privileges either in whole or
in part. Those teachers receiving their
first certificates in 1906, or who had
taught less than one year, may not
under the new law have their certifi-
Gates renewed. These must pass the
examination in full. AS nearly as can
be estimated, the number of teachers
receiving certificates in 1906 who can
not have any renewal privileges is be-
tween 5000 and 1000. But these teach
ers are all fresh in their knowledge Of
the certificate subjects. They are sup
posed to have passed thorough eX-
animation under the county superin-
tendents in 1906, when the average re-
CURED for first-grade certificate was
80 per cent, for a second-grade certifi-
cate 50 per cent and for third-grade
certificate so per cent. Under the rules
of the state board the average now re-
quired for tirst-grade certificate is 50
per cent, for second-grade Is per cent
and for third grade 65 per cent
Since passing the examination in 1906
these young teachers have had time to
add to and improve their knowledge.
The certificates they will receive under
the state board will be valid anywhere
in the state, and both the first-grade
and second-grade certificates are sub
iect to renewal. There is no injustice
therefore, in requiring such teachers tc
pass the examination for this better
certificate, especially since the average
required is less than they were obliged
to make under the county superinten
dent.
80. 1t is reported that it will cost
the teachers $4,000 besides the time
spent in taking the examination. You
readers should know that examinations
under the new law are held in the
county seats, exactly as under the ole
law and the teacher paid 81 if second
grade or third-grade certificate wa:
sought, and 50 if a first-grade certificate
was sought. Under the new law appli
cants for all grades of uniform count,
certificates pay 81. The time required
in passing examinations under the ney
law is no more than under the old. l
!. is true that an additional dollar is re
quired annually as registra ton fee
but there is bill now pending in tn
Legislature to remove this fee alto
gether.
( "a determined effort was made pre-
!. ceding and during the recent stat
|! teachers meeting, where more tina
4 1900 Iowa educators were assembled
to discredit this law, but the followin
, resolution introduced by Iowa's great
4 est educator Henry Sabin- passed tn
!. convention without a negative vote
!! Resolved, by the Iowa State associa
! ton, That while we approve the genera
!. principle of said law we realize tina
Y the law has had no time to demonstrat
y it's weakness or its strength, and W
!; therefore request the Thirty-secon
, general assembly to allow the law
d remain in its present form FOR two year
i in order that we may test it's working
y and determine in the light of experienc
y what points should be amended wit
i the view of increasing it's efficiency
y That ought to indicate the position (
the educators of the state on this la
i. that means so much for the deservin
y teachers and for the schools.
JOHN f. RIGGS"
There is only one thing a wOma