Year: 1861

QUESTION In the new edition of Teach
er'S Monthly reports, sent out by the Depart.
ment, it is stated that the Lunar month will
in all cases be regarded as the school month
and columns are inserted for the SATURDAYS.
How many days are to constitute the teach
er's month? 1t would appear from the new
| monthly reports as if it was to be tacenty.fou
| I-Ieacher an LuzerRc co.


! ANSWER Though the Lunar month of %
days will hereafter be taken as the school
month"; it by no means follows that the schools
must be kept open every weekday in such
month. The Department has no authority to
| say how many days in each week or month
the schools are to be open. That is TO be a
matter of contract between the directors and
the teachers. The Saturday columns were
put into the reports to suit the various prac-
tceS which prevail on this point. In some
districts the schools are closed on SATURDAYS.
and this is the better practice in others
they are closed on alternate SATURDAYS while
in others again, they are open every Saturday
forenoon. But the Insertion of column for
Saturdays by no means indicates a preference
much less decision, of this Department, in
favor of Saturday schools.


QUESTION Our County Superintendent
has published that he will not examine teach
ers IN other townships than those in which they
expect to teach. Is he not bound to examine
all who apply, and at any of the public exam-
nations which they may choose to attend p
Teacher an HcStmOreLand co.


ANswER:-He is not; and for very obvious and
sufficient reasons, both of law and expediency.
In the first place, he is only to examine per-
yVh n ara nm l., l.
is obvious from the first five lines of the 4lst
section OF the school law Of 1854. The appli-
cation is to be to the Directors and as thew
do not examine, but only emPl0H-the applica-
ton is really for employment, and not merely
for examination.


In the second place, examination is to be IN
the presence of that Board to whom applica
tion for employment is first made in that year
by the express words OF the same section
And the Objert of this is to enable :he employ
ing directors to judge, by hearing the exami.
nation, OF the appearance, manner, language.
power OF lmparting knowledge, and the geHer-
al qualifications of each Of the persons examin.
ed,so that they may employ the most suitable.


In the third place, it is no infringement of
the rights of any, to enforce this rule. It is
true, an applicant may assert that he does not
desire to teach at all for the present, but only
desires admission to the profession. The reply
is, that it is not the business of a County
Superintendent to admit generally to the pro.
feSsion,-that is the province of the State
Normal school his sphere in this respect is a


limited one aud is only that of examining in
the presence of employing directors and for
their information and satisfaction. those who
applyto them for employment The exceptions
to this rule are those of the holders of Pro-
teSslonal county certiica teS. and of the State
certificates; the former being supposed to have
been issued after due examination, in the pre-
Sence OF the then employing directors; aud the
possession of both being evidence of full quail
ication.


In the fourth place, a mos: injurious and in
convenient practice has, in some places, grown
up, which the strict enforcement of the law
as it is, will extirpate 1t is that of a teach
er accompanying the County Superintendent
during tour of examination, till be obtains
some general idea of his questions, and CLEANS
little knowledge from the answers of other
teachers and then coming forward, at the
end of the season and in distant district, and
obtaining low certificate which be carries
back to the district be originally desired an.
plying in thus violating the law and depriv-
wing the directors he applies to of ore of their
rights.


For these and other reasons, the course
adopted by the Superintendent OF Westmore-


land, is legal aud proper, and in conformity
with the distractions OF this Department