Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-11-26

monize these differences Is the estab-
lishment of state board of examin-
ers. Our present system stops half
way in the creation Of such a board.
The questions are prepared by a GEN.
tral state authority, but the examina-
ton and the issuance and gradation
Of certificates are duties left to the
various county boards Of education.
One set Of men prepares and forty
two other sets Judge the material.
This division cripples the usefulness
Of both. The members of the state
board cannot know the actual difficult
ties encountered by applicants, while
the county boards cannot appreciate the
necessity for uniform questions, uni
form date Of examination or a limit
on their number. Teachers will not
admit that the same board conducting
the examination does not possess the
right to hold 1t at will. Trustees en-
ploying an uncertificated teacher take
affront when their request for spe-
cial examination, in order that she may
qualify, cannot be granted by the board
charged in the main with the duty Of
her examination and certification.
1.-The objection that state board
Of examiners would reduce the supply
Of teachers is contrary to the expert
ence Of those states where such boards
exist. II the uncertifcated teachers
now illegally employed and paid were
summarily discharged, a large major
ity Of them would clamor loudly for an
opportunity to qualify themselves le-
gally, by taking the examination before
the county boa:ds. II a state board
Of examiners were created, the effect
might be similar but could not be
worse. A. certifcated teacher would
then have the right to teach in any
county in the state. The examinations
could be conducted in the same way
that scholarship examinations are now
conducted, and all papers could be
graded by the central board just as
scholarship examination papers from
every county are graded by the facul-
ties Of each Of our four state colleges.
Formerly 1t was the custom to allow
each county board Of education to
award these scholarships for their own
county, but the interests Of every col
lege suffered SO greatly from this
practice that 1t has been altogether
abandoned. One standard and one in
depreciation Is now their motto. In
the free public schools we have one
standard with forty-two interpreta-
tions.
THE cost would be no greater than
the county system imposes. The per
diem and travelling expenses Of the
eighty -four appointive members Of the
various county boards Of education
approximate $4,000 annually. A fee Of
81 from every applicant taking the ex-
animation would raise approximately
$4,000 annually, and would protect the
board from the useless labor Of grad
ing papers submitted merely for the
sake Of practice. The FIVE thousand
dollars thus provided would not only
defray the cost Of a state board Of ex-
aminers, but would allow its members
to spend considerable time in other
school work. They could meet with
teachers associations, conduct county
summer schools, supervise teacher
training and inspect rural schools.
Since South Carolina Is q compar-
atively small state, three we'll trained
men would suffice for this work. Uni
form questions could be prepared and
distributed as at present, the county
superintendent could conduct the ex-
animation in each county, placing In
sealed envelopes, marked by numbers,
the name Of each applicant and allow
ing all applicants to place only their
numbers on their papers. No names
would be learned by the central board
until all papers had been graded, thus
eliminating any chance Of favoritism.
All reports could be made and certif-
Gates issued within four weeks from
the date Of the original examination,
and judging by the reports Of the pres
ent year, 1 do not believe many coun-
ty boards of education conclude this
work in so short a time.
Additional Glasses Of Certificates.
Through O. central board Of exam
liners the state board Of education
might readily offer additional classes
cf certificates. When teachers expect
to do only primary work, why should
they be examined on high school
branches? Why should kindergarten
or music teachers be required to dem
onstrate problems In algebra? Does
the experience Of any business or
professional men justify the belief that
thirty years practice In primary
methods keeps fresh the teachers
knowledge of high school subjects?
Every teacher in South Carolina must
qualify anew every second year. wheth-
er ne be the principal Of a four-year
high school, or only the master OF
small class in a remote country school
house. Experience now counts for
nothing except by courtesy. The
teacher Of twenty years experience
stands on the same footing as does the
beardless boy just out oc college, and
must be examined over and over
again in order to comply with the law.
Provision should be made for primary,
grammar school and high school GER
ti6cotes valid for two five or ten
years, according to ability, fitness and
experience. No diploma should entitle
the holder to a certificate until one
years work in the school room fas
shown his or her qualifications. Ger
tificates granted on the present grade
Of forty per cent In any one branch
should limit the salary Of such teach
ers to a maximum Of twenty dollars
month, if they are continued at all.
The present confusion Is little short
of chaos E,yerv state suDerintendent