Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1912-02-02
TEACHERS ARE :.
ALL ON THE
ANXIOUS SEAT
over EXAMINATION ORDERS
Supt. Miller Has Gone to At
IdRtd For Information

The teachers of the public schools Of
Americus feel as one of them express
ed it, as though they were each sit
ting on a dynamite bomb, with a slow
lighted fuse attached. When the
bombs will go off they can't tell.
This feeling all grows out of the an
nouncement that every teacher in tie
schools here, as in every city that re-
ceives state support for it's schools,
must submit to a state examination i.i
order to be entitled to continue teach
ing in the public schools.
This is the latest wrinkle in educa-
ton in Georgia. In some respects it
commends itself In some others it
does not And it cannot be said that
it meets with any general local ap-
proval either from the teachers or
citizens generally although it is ap-
preciated that it's purpose is all in
tended to be for the best interests of
education throughout the state
State Superintendent Britain has
announced that under the plans and
rules adopted by the state board OF
education the new controlling and
regulating power in educational al
fairs, every teacher will have to stand
examination the coming summer. All
who have never passed the regular
state examinations must do so then,
to be qualified to continue teaching in
the fall.
Two classes of examinations have
been arranged for, one covering the
teachers engaged in primary work,
and another those in the higher
grades
In the schools here, as is the case in
many other incorporated cities of the
larger size having school systems Of
their own are many teachers who have
never passed state examinations. In
cluded among these teachers are some
of the most experienced and most SUE
cessful in the Americus schools. Some
of them have taught satisfactorily for
number of years. Naturally they
have grown decidedly rusty on stud
les they have not pursued since leav-
ing school, To be compelled now ir
addition to their regular school duties,
to take up these studies and prepar'
for complete examination in them
as a condition to remaining in the ser
vice, is regarded as an uncalled for
hardship.
Supt. A. G. Miller went up to At
lanta last night to see the state SUI
perintendent and get more complete
information as to the nature of the
examination that will be prescribed
The examinations in cities having .
school system of their own will be
conducted bv the local school officials.
but IT is understood it must conform
to general tests laid down by thu
state board. As soon as Supt Mile
returns he will acouaint the teachers
with the rulings of the state board
While Supt Miller naturally does
not desire to come into conflict with.
or seem in opposition to. the state
hoard. at the same time it is apparent
from his comments that he regards Y
as unnecessary for trained and tried
teachers to be put to the ordeal of
qtate examination Of this character.
He appreciates that those seeking t"
enter the work as teachers might well
he required to pass such examinations
but teachers who have been in the sci =
vice for some wears, whose work has
heen nroven satisfactory by its results
No seems to feel, should be relieved
from such examinations. 1t is quite
likely that the local sentiment here
will run entirely in this line, and else
where, too.