Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-09-18
Why TEACHERS Fail
CERTIFICATES MUST BE REFUSED
SOME OR STANDARD OF
SCHOOLS LOWERED.
SOME SPECIMEN ANSWERS
MAKE APPLICANTS RIDICULOUS
State Teachers Examinations to Be
Held in November-Some Talk Over
State of Pushing John cownie as
Candidate For Republican Nomina-
ton For Governor
pecial to Times-Republicar.

Des Moines, Sept. 1S.-When one of
the applicants for teachers certificate
answered one Of the examination ques-
tons recently that the skin was COM
posed of the cura and cuticura, it was
considered not so bad, but il was taken
as one reason for not lowering the
teaching standard in the state. How
ever, this is not as bad as an answer
made by a teacher in one of the last
examinations. There is some demand
over the state of Iowa for lowering Of
the standard of teachers in order TO get
enough teachers to supply the schools.
Counties with many rural schools espe-
cially find it difficult to get teachers
because The best teachers dislike going
TO the country and being the best are
able 10 get positions in the city All
teachers in fact prefer the city schools
which makes a shortage in the country
when there is one. County superin-
tendents even have advanced the argu-
ment that the examinations must be
made easier in order to set more teach
ers
A person who has been employed as
a teacher in Iowa and with a very fiat
tering recommendation from the coun-
~ superintendent was among those re-
Gently examined. One of the questions
was: Tell what you would do for a
burn
The answer given, spelling and all is
as follows:
Burn. For a severe burn such as
ones cloathing catching on fire wrap
! the person in heavy cloathing and pour
on water until the flames are destin-
euished then remove burned cloauhing
and battle the burn flesh with sweet oil
2 or cold water; and soda until the smart
ing has ceased. The main object in
a is 10 keep it from the air. The burn
should be wrapped we'll after rubbing
il with carbolic acid salve.''
This teacher was an applicant for a
first grade certificate. Not an exam
ination is held in the state but many
answers as bad or worse than this are
given. L is the claim of the state
board of educational examiners that
he questions asked in the exarnina-
lions are such only as every person
should be able TO answer if they are
TO teach the children of Iowa and to
lower the standard means to give certi-
lcates TO persons who know no more
than TO return such answers as the
above and allow them TO teach in Iowa
schools.
State Superintendent Riggs and al
the mem bers of the state board of ed1.
cational examiners are staunch in theil
determination that there shall be nc
lowering Of the standard for teachers
and that there is just one way 20 get
teachers and that by the route of pay
ing better salaries. Many of the lead
ing educators of the state believe the
standard if anything is too low as it is
and that there should be better teach
ers, but with salaries as low as they
ara it is impossible to attract people
of greater ability away from other pur-
suits in life where they make bigger
salaries. There has been a noticeable
increase in the average of the salaries
paid country school teachers OF recen
years but it is but slight.
Schools that formerly paid s35 {
month are now paying $40, but the
point in the minds of the foremos
school men is that no person capable o.
earning no more than $40 month
ought TO be teaching school at all.
Considerable attention Is being Civ
en- by school men in Iowa this year te
the time Of holding the state teachers
examination It has been held for years
during the holiday week between
Christmas and New Years. This de-
prived the teachers of their holiday
visits and rest. This year it will be
held in November. Just before the
holding of the state convention tbs
northeast district convention will be-
held in Cedar Rapids, the dates beins
about the middle of October. The
northeast district convention is usual,
attended by l,400 to 800 teachers
quite as many as attend the state con.
ventions. The program will include
addresses by such men as George E.
Vincent, Of the Chicago University, ant
4 Professor Steiner. of Grinnell, and 9th.
ers, program quite equal to the STATE
convention program. There is there
fore some worrying lest the distric
4 convention cause slump in the at
h tendance at the state convention as few
4 teachers will be able to attend boil
at least when they are so close togeth
er and school boards will be loath t,
give two vacations in the middle of tn,
term. Holding the convention durin,
holiday week will not necessitate al
extra vacation.
Reports are reaching Des Nome
y that there is talk over the state O
Hon. John Cownie. chairman of tn
state board of control, as candidat
for the republican nomination as gov
ernor. The law provides that member
. of the board of control can not par
ticipate actively in politics. If M
; Cownie should become candidate 70
governor it would be necessary frs
for him to resign as a member Of TIL
board of control. He has given tn
matter no countenance as he expect
to remain on the board till the expira
ton of his term at least.
Mr.. Cownie is perhaps the bes
known farmer in the state of Iowa an
is recognized as being one of the hes
farmers. and foremost men. He /
- known wherever farmers institute
are held and is a ready and fuer
: 'talker If he should enter the race fo
4 the nomination for povernor tho ot1,e