Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1921-09-01
Linton, North Dakota, Thursday, Sept 1, 1921.
PLENTY OF TEACHERS

The Sta;c Department C Public In
struction is literally flooded with ap-
.r';;cl.ioos 'f"r "ci2e ois. While up there
on business this week the dep.
stated that it would be absolutely un-
necessary to grant any permits this
year. A number have called at the
county srperinteEdent's Office seeking
permits to teach. We have refused
them continually because we ale re-
ceiving on the average of about ten
applications day. No school board
can say that it has not had the chance
to get all the qualified teachers it
needs. We have referred any num-
Der Of teachers to the various school
directors, and many have later writ
ten that the school director did not
answer their letter. Many directors
do not realize that it is the business
Of the director to hire the teacher
and that the county superintendent
merely passes on qualifications. 1t
has generally been an added duty on
the county superintendent of some of
the counties to have teachers on hand
when school. started, and even to
share the work of the school clerk in
making out teachers contracts. We
are still continuing that work. We
year, and will have a number of
teachers on hand for Sept. 5th and
SEPT. 18th to supply those schools
not yet having teachers. All these
teachers will be qualified teachers in
this state.
Z A number Of directors have insinu-
ated that it is none of the business of
this Office if they do hire teachers who
have not certificates or permits. To
those wishing to try the thing out, we
wish to say they are at liberty to try
the matter out, and they will have an
opportunity of finding out how much
this office does have to say.
To the question put to the State
Department in regard to those who
had held certificates in the past and
who were figuring on teaching this
year on account of hard times, the
answer was that none should be al
lowed to teach who did not have the
proper credentials, regardless Of con-
ditions.
Furthermore, representative of
the State Department will visit every
county this year, and check up on the
teachers and their qualifications, and
will rate each county on the kind of
teachers it has. This county does
not want to be in the limelight as one
Of the poorest ones in the state on
the score sheet, nor does it wish to be
censored by any one on account of un-
qualified teachers when plenty of
qualified teachers can be gotten.
In regard to those who took the ex-
animation in August, the returns of
this examination will be here within
9 week, and if these people are in
tending to teach they must wait until
the returns are in even if the school
is delayed in starting a week. These
people have nothing to teach on now,
and have no right to teach. You
would hesitate to call doctor, with
out license, to operate on you for.
appendicitis. Why not think of
those who to teach your children in
the same light? There is no other
argument for allowing people to teach
on permits when there are plenty Of
certificate teachers than that times
are hard. Do the people of this coun-
ty consider this good argument?
We do not believe schools should be
commercialized in this way. During
the war when we needed teachers,
these same teachers did not come
forward and offer their services, but
now, when there are plenty of quail
flied teachers, these people come for
ward and ask the schools to take care
OF them and keep out some qualified
teacher.
In conclusion will say that if these
people PASS the examinations, as we
sincerely hope they will, we will be
only too glad to have them in our
schools, but please do not ask us to
do what we do not consider right at
this time. Teachers salaries have
been made high for no other reason
than that of getting qualified people
to teach and issuing permits at this
time would be foolish.
In districts where there is no mon
ey in the treasury it is up to direc-
tors to devise some means, if possible,
whereby teachers can get at least
enough Of their salary to pay expens-
es. Let US all work together and
keep all of the schools running with
the best corps Of teachers we ever
had.