The Wrangell sentinel., 1955-02-04
THROUGH THE SENTINEL PERISCOPE
A Little "Larnin' !"

n Attt&C
 Alaska school children, whether they know IL or not. are gong to have a principal role in the current ustaVsraUtous of the 1erritorial Legt~,ature in Juneau. Whether they and succeeding generations C.. .nem are to be subject to the old sayinr that a "Attie Iarnin' never hurt anybody even if in haphazard doses or whether they are to get the best the market can afford m qualified teaching appears to be the question the lawmakers will be called upon to decide.
 Almost before they had finished the opening prayer there was bill in the hopper based on the little learning theory which is causing no end of controversy around the Territory. particularly among those with keen interest in Alaska's pubic school system.
 introduced by Rep. Hubert Gil- bert cf Fairbanks. obviously in be- half of the University Of Alaska. which is located in the Golden Heart og the North. the measure, labeled House Bill No (. would set up two-year teacher training courses at the University and give those completing the courses certi- ficates to teach in the Alaska school system. with a preference for the teaching jobs available. Under the bill. the President of the University would be the overlord of Alaska education under the dir ection of the politically appointed Board of Regents. In other words. if a politically potent member of the Board wanted Susie Doakes to get a certificate to teach. regard less of whether she spelled cat with or a K. Susie would be among those passing out a little larnin' to the school children of Alaska.
 Opponents of the bill. and there seems to be quite a horde of them. contend the bill Is aimed at as lit- tie learning as possible. which may meet the approval Of the lad who finds algebra or some kindred sub 5ect the barrier to making the team. They point out that in fact the measure simply tends to lower the teaching standards in the Ter ritory in sharp contrast to the pre- vaiIing theory that Alaska children are entitled Go the best that money can obtain in the teaching profes- sion.
 The majority of the States and Territories require at least three. and most of them four-year train ing to qualify for teaching. Why Alaska should lower its standards to two years and give its children less qualified teachers is the S64 question.
 Proponents of the measure hold that its a way out Of meeting the teacher shortage. meanwhile. giv- ing Alaska residents a break over teachers from the Outside.
 The fact is that the present school law gives preference to graduates of the University of AL
 
 its generally accepted that the way to meet the teacher shortage is to make 1t attractive for qualified teachers to stay in the Territory. A goodly number Of the married wo- men in Alaska today are girls who came north either as teachers or nurses and the result has been good. That's one way to make it attractive. The other is to give teachers salaries commensurate tc their years Of training.
 Lower the teaching standards as H. B. 1 appears to do and it is simply inflicting on Alaska schoo children an inferior product when they are just as entitled to the best as youngsters in the States.
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