The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1920-04-20
TUESDAY, APRIL 20, 1872"
TIGHTEN THE LOOSE NAILS

The Okmulgee Times has remarked
that 1t is not surprising 10000
teachers are quitting their jobs when
tho men who drive nails In boards
draw better pay than do those who
wedge IDEAS into the heads OF the
rising generation"
There is something radically wrong
IN the manner the schools are hand
led in oklahoma. insofar as the re-
quirements and remuneration OF
teachers are concerned.
oklahoma, the new state. ha, been
noted for the high grade OF its teach
rrs. tol the efficiency with which
they handle the young ideas" and
FOR the ensuaut efficiency Of all
the schools. But Oklahoma Is tremb-
ling upon the verge of losing all thus
ar gained along educational lines.
oklahoma school superintendent,
backed up by the boards Of educa-
tion demand, in almost every in
stance that the teachers OF the city
ward and the small grades OF the
small town schools, be normal school
graduates.
NO matter how high grade GER
titcate the teacher may hold follow
ing an examination. no matter how
well educated and qualified the teach
er may be, no matter how much eX
periencc the applicant for a school
may have had as an instructor, un-
less the Normal Diploma" is avail
able, the bars TO teaching ia an ac-
'leditcd school are up
While We believe in higher edu
cation. and while we believe the
higher education ~ made possible
only through securing the best quail.
fled teachers in the school. we fail
TO see the necessity of requiring a
normal diploma from u teacher whom
the board Of education refuses To pay
4 salary equal TO that paid to the
mcrest tyro the beginner il stenog
raphy.
The teacher, man or woman, who
secures "a normal diploma, does so
Al an enormous expense. Year after
var is taken from the school-room
work as an instructor, and put in
the sohoolroom Of the normal as a
st;idrut, = student who l. called upon
TO dig deep into the savings from
meaSer salary Of the year before. |
10 pay high living cos, expenses.
Ii the state OF Oklahoma would
maintain its present high educational |
'andatd, il must both remove some
Of the restrictions placed d. require .
ments, upon teachers Of ward and
small town schools. and increase the
salaries paid these teachers.
The normal schools. as training in !
>titutions for the teachers OF the
state. are invaluable. but 1t is right !
that they should be maintained with !
The life.hlood OF the teachers, men |
and women, who are doing the hard |
oet Kind OF work for the meanest |
possible remuneration?
The high training, the thorough
education of the teachers OF the state
20 far toward making the small |
town the rural schools successful, |
but should the teacher be required |
% hold a normal diploma in order
that the pupils who learn their a.
o'aOs under his or her direction may
enter the state university some ten
or twelve years later?
If the normal diploma is required |
Of al the ward teacher, and all the |
srade teachers in the accredited"
chools Of oklahoma. in order that
= multiplicity OF normal schools, en-.
ployng q multiplicity OF instructors
may DO maintained, then 1t is time
Tor the legislature 10 step In and
Gecapitate = few of tile heads Of
The thing which may be evolving
rom al institution OF learning, into
AR educational hydra.headed monster.