The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-05-29
STANDARDS
IN MUSIC
Teachers Certificates Are Is
sued by an Organization.
Which Has No Legal Authority
to Do So.
INSTRUCTORS COMPLAIN
Those of Recognized Qualifica-
lions Suffer Hardships
Through Being Compelled to
Compete With the Quacks.

The interest in music in Topeka is
one Of the towns characteristics, and
that interest is yearly increasing.
During the winters, some of the
worlds renowned artists are brought
here and are fairly we'll patroniZe6,
and more and more of the young peo-
pie are taking up the study, either in
a professional or an amateur way.
In accordance with the public's in
creased desire for musical education,
the Kansas State Teachers associa-
ton, at its last meeting, formulated u
plan for standardizing musical instruc-
ton in Kansas The idea seems to be
a new one as the committee in charge
of the plan worked it out.
A set of questions was drawn up to
be answered by applicants desiring the
permission or approval of the commit
tee TO teach music in the state of Kan
sas. Certificates were to be issued to
applicants who answered the Ques-
lions SatiSfa ctOrily to the examiners
A charge of one dollar was planned
for issuing the certificate. During
the session of the legislature last win
ter the board of education asked for
the passage of a bill allowing the
board to issue certificates of credit to
public school students. showing that
the pupil had finished a certain
amount of work in the public school
course in art, music, manual training,
etc. Thereupon the committee of the
board of education to incorporate
with their bill, section authorizing
the association to issue certificates
to teachers in music in the state and
requiring all music teachers to pro-
cure a certificate before being allowed
to teach. The bill of the board of ed
ucation was introduced without any
clause relating to the purposes of the
Music Teachers association. Mean
while, the committee issued it's GER
n G nUrT a rIf "
That there should be a certain
standard of ability required of music
teachers is an idea that appeals to
many of the leading musicians of the
state, and the State Teachers associa-
ton in its consideration of that need.
had hit upon a subject that is of gen.
eral interest to both teachers and stu
dents of music.
Examinations Worthless.
A local musician who holds Gre
dentials from a noted authority, was
asked for an opinion on the associa-
TONS scheme. The answer was: "It
seems to me that the committee of the
Kansas State Music Teachers associa-
ton has left ample room to credit or
discredit at pleasure any applicant
seeking what he might believe to be a
teachers certificate actually issued by
the state. At least some of the ques-
tions asked by the examiners impress
me as vague. Anyhow, it is utterly
impossible to formulate questions or
answers by means of which ones
actual ability to teach could be de-
termined. Teachers must be able to
impart their knowledge, and they
must have a gifted as well as a school |
ed ear, and a clear conception of the |
individual requirements of each pupil, |
since no two pupils are alike in their |
needs. A competent teacher must |
have judgment and innate ability. No
written or oral examination could de- |
termine ones ability to teach music, |
especially singing. Some of our great
est singers would not be successful |
teachers do not sing nor play very |
creditably.
THE only possible way to know a |
teachers ability is through credentials |
from an acknowledged authority I'M
der whom he has studied. 1t is for |
this reason that I think the method |
used now by the association is made |
quate. For instance, no question could |
be asked or answered that would en-
able one to determine another's ability |
to place a voice correctly, and mis-
take in the placing of the voice, means
the ruin of that voice. The same
thing is true in regard to the exercises
best suited to each individual pupil. |
The plan adopted by the committee
looks to me like an effort to get con-
troll of the music teachers in the state.
understand that they issue the GER
tificates in the name of the Kansas
State Music Teachers association, for
which they charge a fee, after the
state superintendent of public instruc-
ton told them they had no right to
issue such certificates, and refused to
recognize their authority or to intro
duce their bill with his.
A Hardship on Teachers.
"One of the best piano teachers 1
know has lost pupils because certain
students looking for a teacher wanted
one with a so-called state certificate
and I have heard of some singing
teachers in possession of the certiff-
Gates that 1 think are incompetent.
The jealousy that musicians have for
one another is we'll known, and the
power to disqualify a teacher placed
in the hands of some self-appointed
judges might easily be disastrous to
the musical education in the state, |
while the law that has been asked for
could flood the state with incompe-
tent teachers. A teacher holding Gre
dentials from 4 master would not care
to qualify before this i;roup of judges,
but no one would object to submitting
credentials for approval to fair
perintendent of public instruction.
think there should be law in every
state, especially for the protection of
working girls from fake music teach
ers.
Louis c. Elson, an eminent author
ity, says in reference to state law re-
quiring teachers to pass an examina-
ton: L greatly doubt the feasibility
Of such a law. In the older musical
France and Germany
such a law has not been called for.
In these countries the diploma of a
good music school or a degree of Mus.
BAG. or Mus. Doc. stamps the elite of
the profession
The following is a copy of a law
that was suggested for introduction
into the last legislature, and which
probably will be presented at the next I
session:
Teachers of singing or instrumental
music who produce credentials from
sorne acknowledged authority or from