Milford chronicle., 1925-02-13
Improved Legislation Concerning
Teacher CertiicatiOn

Improved Legislation concerning
Teacher CertificatiOn
This is legislative year in A
states. Many new laws pertaining tC
schools will be enacted. Indications
are that a greater number of legis-
Iatures will consider the enactment
of laws exacting higher qualitica-
tiOns for teachers certificates than
ever before, says the Federal Bureau
of Education.
State certificatiOn laws are of spe-
cial importance to rural school Off
cials and parents Of rural children
since they represent the only insur-
ance against the employment of I'M
qualified teachers. Upon the eficien-
cy of the teachers depends to great
extent the opportunity for an educa-
ton which rural children have.
Naturally every parent is interest
ed in securing the most progressive
type of legislation possible for the
regulation of teacher certification.
During the war years standards
were lowered because of the scarcity
of applicants for teaching positions.
The emergency is now over and dis
regard of professional standards is
no longer necessary. Indeed, reports
TO the Bureau of Education indicate
that the supply of teachers is now
more nearly adequate to fill the de-
mand than for many years. High
school enrolment has increased dur
ing the past ten years in an unpre-
cedented manner. There are plenty
of high school graduates anxious to
prepare themselves to be teachers.
In view of these facts, State super
intendents are proposing to the leg
islatures now in session that they
prOVide laws which gradually raise
certifcatiOn requirements until a
minimum of high school graduation,
plus two years of professional prep
aration of higher grade is reached.
Already several states have set that
as their goal for 1927 or 1928.
Increasing Demands Create
Pressing Problems
Those who live in the open coun-
try are attending high schools in
RAPIDLY increasing numbers. Small
high schools have been established
to meet the need and demand OF this
population group, until now more
than 80 per cent of all high schools
are located in the open country or
in villages of less than $500 pOpula-
ton. These schools enroll on an av-
erage 50 pupils each, compared with
an average shown that these small
schools are much more expensive
than large high schools, in spite OF
the fact that general standards are
much lower in the small schools. A
typical state reports that schools !
enrolling 35 to so pupils each cost !
SO per cent more for each pupil in |
average daily attendance than
schools enrolling 200 to 300 pupils. |
One State reports a small high
school operating at an expense OF
over $1,132 for each pupil in aver
age daily attendance, When it is
that many communities
are not yet served by local high
schools and that not more than one
third of the children of high school
age are now enrolled, it is evident
that the maintenance of a sufficient
number of high schools to accOmmO-
date all rural children, and organ
.zed as city high schools are, would
prove a serious financial burden. Is
t necessary to operate such schools? ]
The answer means many millions of
iollars yearly.
Fresh Air for the Children
Proper ventilation of school
is essential. Fifteen per +:
,ent of the high school juniors, in a
study recently made, stated that the
school could help more than it does
o develop health habits by looking
sfter ventilation more carefully. OF
hose stating ways in which the ]
school tends to produce ill health, 40 /
per cent mentioned poor ventila- l
ion" Pupils want fresh air. Twenty t
me per cent of the 15,075 answering !
fresh air" among the i
three best health habits possess t
3D." This recreation-indulging {
group placed it second only to
plenty of exercise" {
Small rural schools meet the re- 6
luirements by providing ventilating
heaters or satisfactorily jacketed {
stoves with adequate fresh air in t
let's and foul air outlets. Some have s
furnaces, gravity exhaust ducts, and {
window boards at the majority of
The windows. The window boards I
are frequently panes of glass one {
foot high set as dehectors in the t
window sash. These, properly regu- !
lated, serve ventilation needs ad- !
According to experiments perform {
ed under the direction of the New
York State Ventilation Commission, /
Window-ventilated rooms with gray t
ty exhausts seemed fresher and '
,reer from odor and more comofort- /
able as to temperature than rooms
equipped with more expensive fan t
systems. The appetite for food is !
decreased as a result of i
stale air. Malnutrition and t
II health retard pupils. The temper {
ature of the room affects the vigOr
If pupils. A reliable thermometer in !
plain view of the teachers desk s
should register a room temperature I
If 68 degrees. The lower stimulating l
together with IN air I
change, without chilling drafts, suf- Y
icient to remove the accumulation
If bodily odors, is most favorable f
or study. School boards should pro- E
ride proper ventilating equipment. t
should learn how to regu- t
ate it. t