Potosi journal. (Potosi, Mo.) 1894-1929, 1913-10-08
To The Teachers And .aScnool Of
fice!s OF Washington County.

\ failure Of scIlnpl teachers ant
school officers To acuuaint item
selves with the pi;,l,' pr vi~ions %
the school law ipau~ to inuc!. u,l
necessary trouble :t:ti 70 niue. un
jas; criticism III ~<,:..ls,! ;luthurit;rs
He o. ;'.'t III ,!.,., ;i,ticl-- is Ia INA ky
clear to tliu ;'.th.:.' III" provisions .:
the law atfectif- school tr:lc.icr, III. (,
school Officers and especially those
parts fixing tia.- duties of each
Section lQ.,il and IGy42 relate. to th..
q"allfic&:ions # teachers and i.t.
F-ile ": of cs:.tt.cate>. They d--
ciale .4.:t :,.,:.' Ja:iu:iry !, ia.1 u
teacher c::n u,taiH Il ,niru ,g.tl:c
certifc,,t" uni..- foiIr consecutive.
times. = :hird grade certificate is
not reneH al. :, that in order to obtain
a secon,. grade or a frs. grade certifi-
cate the applicant must comple,"
one yea high school work between
September l, 1912 and September l,
1914, two years high school work
between 1914 and 1916, three years
high school work between 1916 and
1918 and four wears high school work
after 1918. 1t also declares that a
second grade certificate under the
new law may be renewed once and a
first grade an unlimited number of
times. These renewals can only be
| made when the applicant has done
the professional work required by
the State superintendent The con-
ditions for the renewal of county
holder of a renewable certificate
! must attend either state teachers
association. his county teachers
| association or meeting, or district
teachers association which embraces
| several counties.' Attendance at
three townships or local district as
| sociations may be accepted in lieu
| Of attendance at the county associ-
alton. In addition to the foregoing
| each applicant for renewal must al
| so do the reading circle work for two
years prior to his application. The
County Superintendent is required
| TO hold various district association
| which it is the duty of the teachers
| 70 attend. These are the provisions
of the law and not the dictum of the
! County Superintendent.
The object of the law is to compel
| teachers to make better preparation
for their work. Many applicants
expect TO use teaching as a stepping
stone to something else. They cram
to get certificate if they have to
and care nothing further about the
| matter. They look upon the teach
er's fund as a fund to be appropriate
ed to their use for year or so un-
der the forms of law. Recent legis-
latiun is intended to preserve the
school fund from raids of this nature.
The man who expects to teach must
the same care that the lawyer or
doctor must use. The teacher deals
with the raw material of citizenship.
Why should he not be compelled to
prepare himself for efficiency in his
work before he attempts it? High
School work is prerequisite to en-
tering upon any professional career
whether it be law. medicine, t h g
ministry or teaching. Young per
sons who intend TO teact. can only
| reach the object of their ambition
through the high school and should
prepare for it. The school funds of
| this state have been closed to the
| party who wants to quickly make a
| few dollars and go Oh his way without
| preparing for his work. Tie law re-
ouires that he shall have profession
| al training before he connects with
the coin. The new law will raise
salaries for ii eliminates the cheap
teacher. If the teacher must in
vest so largely before he enters up
on his profession he will as other
people do, demand reasonable re-
turn on his Investment and all fair
minded men Will concede the right
fulness of his contention. There
will be no teachers association in
this county ih the month OF October
The teachers who attend the State
Association will be given credit tor
their atte dence. Enrolment
blanks and receipts will be given at
the State Association the same as at
the County Association and an
organization effected there, On a
. future occasion We will dea! with the
laws that affect school officers.
BURWELL Fox,
County Supt.
They Are All There.