Year: 1872

c teachers who are really competent to Civ
: instruction in all the branches named i
the certificates which they hold. A certif
cate of the fourth class limits th
f holder to particular town, an
is issued to any applicant who's
! knowledge mag enable him to teach witt
some degree of success in a prescribed 10
. calitv, bu. whose lack Of julsmont, ex


perience, or want Of proficiency in certain
branches di.quali6es him for other posi-


tions which he might obtain if not prevent
!: ed BY the limiting clause in his certificate


! limited license permits the holder Il


teach III a certain district mentioned ir


The license. 1t does not certify that tho


boiler possesses satisfactory qualifications


on the contrary it is evidence of ineffciency


and should be so regarded BY all distric,
officers. Usually, these licenses have
been granted only on the application OF
school boards. | have tried to adhere to
this principle. especially when the appli
cant wished to teach n mixed school. In
some instances licenses have been given
to teachers of primary schools without the
intes 5ntion of officers, but in nearly every
case Of this kind l have aftcrward had
cause to regret my action. The marked
scarcity of properly qualified teachers in
this county has hitherto rendered the issue
of these licenses an imperative necessity
when it was desired that all the schools
should go into operation: but the wisdom
of the measure is questionable, ant any
one who has seen the work performed by
some teachers of this class must incline
TO the belief that school districts derive
BIZ. little benefit from their services. In
primary schools a few Of them may DO
their work well when they have natural
cndowments for the pursuit, or when tact
and experience have been acquired by long
continuance in the employment; yet it is
fair to presume that with more compre-
beusiye knowledge they could do their
work still better Many of them make no
effort to improve, chtrishins the hope
that the oh order Of things will never be
disturbed. This inaotion impeaches their
energy, proves them devoid of professional
ambition, and must terminate in their
supersednre by teachers who are not too
lansuid to study, nor too unobseryant to
realize that this is an age Of progress.


District officers shouid always examine
the certificates Of teachers before employing
them. \ glance at the form and
language of the paper presented By any
applicant will enable them to determine to
which of the grl les above enum Grated it
belongs. If it corresponds to either of
the first two, there need be no fears enter
tanned of the applicant ability. Teachers
holding full third grade certificates seldom
lack the education required to teach the
branches named in their certificates.
Among the most successful, conscientious
and harl-working teachers of the county, |
- h'a -tyual some who are ranked with |
(o,,t' ss .a.@'tl ~ Present; but they keep
If the teachers certificate belongs to the
fourth class, the members of the School
board must be Suiiel by their own u lg-
lncnt in deciius whether to hire or reject
him. If his standing is good in those
branches to which most prominence is given
in their school, it may be we'll to contract
with him, provided the services Of more
competent person cannot be secured.
Wheu the teacher holds limited license,
or when he requests The Board to commu-
nicats with the Superintendent tor the
purpose Of procuring such license, my ali
wee to the Board is: Do not hire him
while there is left Il possibility OF engaging
"A properly qualified person within the IN


teryi preceding the day on which your
8 lnooI Is to be commenced. 1t no suitable
applicant belonging to this county seeks the
position, write to the president OF o normal
school, To the principal of some weil-con
Quoted graded school and ask him to send you
teacher whom he can recommend. Our
home talent should be promoted when 1t Is
mer sorious, and preferred when it ls OF an
order that deserves recognition; bat even
Horace Greeley would not advocate protcc-
ton for class of teachers who do not
spend dollar for educational works, nor
! give an hour to study, and who are INDECENT
! " waiting for something better "to turn
up Reasonable wages should be offered,
sufficient to induce competent persons to
accept the positions rendered. Some teach
ers accomplish more in three months
than others in six or nlne
months; and, if children receive more
sound knowledge from the new teacher in


one term than they formerly acquired
in three terms, the district saves


money by making the change though double


the usual salary is paid. As the only al


tentative, the teacher holding q limited
license may be engaged when the members


of the board think his instruction likely to


prove better than none.


A number of applicants who have had


some experience in teaching will be refused


certificates this spring because they have


failed to pass satisfactory examination


Others may expect to be set aside just as


soon as the contracts under which they are


now teaching have expired. Every teacher


in the county whose examination average


is below 4 ID must understand that hi:
position is insecure, and that he is merely


tolerated until some one more worthy can
be found to take his situation. Continu


ing him in place single day beyond thu


time when his services can be dispensed
with is offering premium on incompe
tency; and the hope that his social or politi


cal standing, or his family relations will


some member of the school board may in
sure him certificate, will prove delusive
D His only safety is in his own e1ertions Il
Z fit himself for the work he has to do.


MICHAEL kIRwAN, Co. Supt.