The Julesburg grit-advocate., 1911-06-29

and have completed four years. high
school course or its equivalent; and. il
addition to the subjects for examina-
ton now specified, agriculture, horticul-
ture and American literature are requir-
ed for first grade, and agriculture
and horticulture for a second grade
certificate. The latter section provides
that no first grade certificate shall be
granted unless the applicant has had at
least eighteen weeks of professional
training and three terms of not less
than six months each of successful
teaching experience; and NO second
grade certificate, without at least
twelve weeks of like training and two
terms of not less than six months each
of like experience; and no third grade
certificate, without at least six weeks
Of such training or one year of such ex-
perience; and, presumably. for the pur-
pose of making such training schools
accessible to all, House Bill No. 85 was
enacted to amend the present normal
institute law by dividing the State into
six normal school districts, and provid-
ing for term of not less than six
weeks summer school in each district
for each year.
Ever since this bill was approved by
the Governor it has been the almost
constant thought of this office to devise
some method whereby the hardships
above referred to could be in way ov-
ercome, or at least minimized; and at
one time it was thought that the en-.
forcement of some of the most onerous
of these provisions might be postponed
for another year, on account of the
seeming impossibility of being able to
hold the six weeks normal traing school
in each district during the present year,
and thus allow the examination of teach
ers in August, December and March
next ensuing to be held under the pro-
visions of the present law
In meeting the requirements of the
law it is apparent that gross injustice
will be done by this law going into eff
feet on August 4th, and if any legal
way were open to me to do SO, would
willingly defer its operation for the
time suggested. However, as the head
of this department. Imust obey the law
as fully as the most humble citizen, nor
hovo I opy vooro outhor;ty tbop s,,ch a
one to say when law shall or shall not
become effective; and passing to the
consideration of House Bill No. 81, l
am confronted with mandatory provi-
sion thlt sfuer August 4tir next all ap-
plicants for teachers certificates must
have completed four years high
school course or its equivalent; and, ev-
en- if assumed to delay the operation
of this law for another year, for which
l have no authority, am at loss to see
how it would be of any material bene-
fit to those not possessing such qualifi-
cations, as they would be in no better
position to take the examination next
year if they continued to teach in the
public schools; and, in addition, any at
tempted action on my part would be
added unkindness to all teachers taking
the examination, in that it would jeo-
pardize the legality of any contract en-
tered into between district board and
any teacher holding certificate obtain
ed in such manner, as any person who
wished to make trouble in a district
could do so by attempting to deprive a
teacher of her justly earned salary.
This being the status of the matter,
it now becomes imperative for the
County Superintendents and the Board
of Trustees of the Normal School at
Greeley to make immediate provision
for holding a six weeks summer nor
NAL school in order that all prospective
applicants for certificates at the coming
August examination may be provided
the nessary six weeks normal train
ing.
Normal Institutes are now being held
or are about to be held, in the various
districts as now constituted throughout
the State, and in accordance with the
provision of the present law. In this
connection it is imperative that at least
two weeks school should be held, and
the expenses incident thereto paid from
the presnt normal school fund, prior to
August 4th next; and in those districts
where the funds will allow it, l would
suggest that as much longer term be
held as this limited time and the present
funds will warrant.
The new law provides that registra-
ton fee shall be collected from each
person attending the summer normal
school; that the executive committee
shall certify the names of such attend
ants to the county commissioners, and
they, in turn, shall appropriate two
dollars for each such person; and that