The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1914-04-23
TEACHING IN THE
RURAL DISTRICTS
Training the "Young Mind how to Shoot"
has its Pleasures and Drawbacks; as
Shown in This Paper Recently Read to
the Chdutauqua.
BULWARKS OF NATION
By Beau Esprita


eminent men that the rural schools
are bulwarks of the nation. | be-
lieve it to be so. The best examples
of American manhood are those
which come direct from the soil.
The president of the Chicago Uni.
versity recently made the statement,
that the most promising students
who came to Chicago came from the
rural districts. They enter with
higher marks, lead their classes. and
graduate with greater distinction in
their chosen fields, than do the ur-
ban students. This eminent educa-
tor attributed this distinction to the
different training given by rural
and suburban schools on the one
hand, and the schools of the large
cities on the other. In this paper |
have tried to deal with the rural
schools, their advantages and some
of their defects, as 1 have found
them in a close study of the subject
and some little personal experience.
Required Examinations
The examinations which one is
required to pass before securing a
certificate of fitness to teach in the
rural districts, are. in the opinion of
the writer, reprehensibly lax. From
comparative tables, issued by the
National Bureau of Education. l
gather that Minnesota holds up rath-
er a higher standard than most
states. This, however, is no great
compliments to Minnesota. as you
will see. To obtain a second grade
teachers certificate in this state one
must pass an examination consisting
of dozen simple questions in each
of the following branches. Elemen-
tary Arithmetic, Grammar, United
States History, Geography and Civil
Government Of Minnesota. The
passing mark is an average of 70 per
cent. In addition to this written
examination, the Superintendent of
Schools for the county in which the
examination is held, is required to
certify to the State Board of Educa-
ton that the examinee is seventeen
years of age, or more. To secure a
first grade certificate requires Sec
ond examination including, in addi-
ton to the second grade subject. a
passing mark in Physiology, simple
Algebra, and Music. Also, at least
six months actual experience in
teaching a public school. Now
comes one of the weakest points in
the examining system in this state.
If, through the fact OF shortage of
qualified teachers, or any other suffi-
cie1t cause, { emphasize this clause
deliberately the Superintendent of
Schools of any county considers it
to be in the interest of the edu-
cational system of the state, and of
the schools of that county. he may
furnish written permit to any per-
son whom he considers competent
to teach in second class school, to
take charge of specified school and
district within that county for pc
riod not to exceed two regular
school terms, or until the next regu-
lar state examination to be held in
that portion of the state.
Evadins Examinations
Now. under this proviso, an ex-
aminee who fails to pass the regular
examination, but who has, in antici-
patton secured a position with the
school board of one of the rural dis
tricts to teach in the schools of that
district, will, in nine cases out of
ten, be granted teachers permit.
rather than subject the local board
to the inconvenience and delay nee
essary to secure another teacher. If,
at the second examination he still
fails to pass, another permit will be
granted, and so on, ad libitum. !
have known of instances where
teachers have held schools for sever
al years on these re-issued permits;
failing at each recurring examination
to pass the state requirements and
obtain regular certificate. This.
too, wien the examinations for the
second class are such that almost any
grammar school pupil in the 9TH or
9Th grades could pass them readily.
This brings US to another weak
point In the present examining sys-
tenn. There is no requirement of
physical or temperamental fitness
Tor the duties and functions of a
teacher. Here we lay our finger on
the vital weakness in our present
day educational system. not only in