The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1908-02-06
SHOULD THEY BE EXEMPTED?

! NSHOLLD THEY he EIsAEMPIED:
.n.. The movement which has for It's Oh
ject the exemption from examination
of the graduates of our state normal
o.! schools, who may wish to teach. is q
backward step, the opinions Of its
hackers to the contrary notwithstand,
j ing.
r We arc told that our state normal
graduates, having, in many instances,
suffered privations to finish the course
should be encouraged; that some othe:
d, statIA accept their diplomas in lieu
OF examinations. and that West Vir-
sinia should do likewise Grant that
all this is true. still t seems insult
ficient to ona acquainted with the
,. facts, and he can not but ask himself
il IL is not an acknowic j ment OF
weakness On The ralt OF the heads Of
the ,Io"mal schools who ara reported
to be the primo move 70: the change
in the law.
>
instructions in the branches, as re-
CURED by the department of free
schools, and their graduates have pur-
suGo these courses in a satisfactory
emption? Is it because so many of
the,n are weighed IN the balance and
found wanting when they appear for
the uniform examinations? 1t is a
Z them on the first trial are granted a
Humber one certificate. Not, over 25
per cent. are rated better than the sec
=. cnd grade, while the great majority
either come unde' the wire third or
a:e among those who also ran. in 9th
er words, fail. Whose fault is it?
Shall we mold the normal schools or
these preparing the questions for ex-
amiEations responsible for the poor
showing made by state normal school
graduates?
IT the West Virginia Educational
. Directory" recently issued, may be
: found these words:
.- Il he law demands that the phySi-
Clan, the lawyer, and even the minis.
ter, shall possess certain qualifications
before he can enter upon regular pro-
fc*sional duties, and it is believed that
the standard established in this state
: TO-: the certification of teachers is
4 nc1le too high. In fact. it is the opin
ION of our leading educators that il
should be raised gradually, and that
:, thosc who do not prepare themselves
to meet the higher requirements. made
necessary by the demands of the tau
+. payers of the state, will have to fall
I. b2ch where they naturally belong"
+, From this it appears that the exam
liners are of the opinion that not only
/. is 'he present standard too low. but
= a'sr that it should be gradually rails
Z ed. Where then would the norma
- graduates be? We see how they funk
I'm the present tests, and but very lit
tie imagination is required to fine
their latitude and longitude if the re
Quirements were raised
Instead Of agitating exemption O.
Bor.3al graduates, would it not be t
tic greater advantage Of our cduca
1iotal system to prepare so thorough
.1y these graduates that they would re
quite no such class legislation? From
the district schools the normals mus
draw their students, and Just in Pre-
=, post as the district teacher is fittet
for her work in that same proportion
: will her pupil lie prepared TO take u
tue work at Marshall College, Yves
< Liberty, institute. or Bluefe1d. Give
y all incompetent teacher and VIC find
!, backward school whose pupils have $
= long retarded progress in the hghe
q Institutions. in that they have bee
Z compelled to teach elementary whe
~ they were established and are support
y, cd IS the state for secondary AMI no
4 NAL instruction. None Of our so.calle
r. p9ttuaE schools will compare favorabl
~ with the normal schools of states t
tho north and west OF us, and to G.
y smet theft graduates, confessed
q weak, TO send back to their alma M
"a fcrs students weaker than they Is I
gradually lower the standard Of ed
$asstiea- througbout the State and ema
sEulate the admirable system Of un
2Ufjn examinations which nov obtain
What the tax payers Of. West VI
l1ba want ~ better teachers. Sal
q are !, being gradually increase,
Atp bofng Enlightened, and be
giss are naturally expected III
NOR tAi sehooas are piaesd O
- TIA -: eas41 zsih $3.50 :. No