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Show A WORD ON SCHOOL MATTERS. It is often said by teachers who pass examinations more than once, that the Board of Examination require these additional tests only for the purpose of securing the fee. Any one who would consider the subject at all properly, will soon see that such an insinuation is foundationless, since either member of the board can make twice as much as the fee in other ways. The school law requires the appointment of this Board, and the aims should be to secure persons competent to perform the duties. And when such men are selected it cannot be expected that they labor for nothing, since the qualification of teachers is nothing to them more than to other persons except in the capacity of an examining committee. Very little on this subject is enough. <br><br> Some explanation of the reasons for certain steps taken by the Examining Board may not be remiss. When first appointed, the board wrote to Dr. Park at Salt Lake to get the examination papers from that county. On inspection it was found that so severe a test here would debar a large majority of the teachers of this county from the school room. There was little hope of getting enough teachers from other places since the people have not yet learned the money value of the qualifications for a good instructor. To meet the requirements of the situation, a simpler set of questions was adopted, and proved no special test for many, while others were able to get only second grade certificates. It would not do to let the conditions be always thus, and teachers were advised to study as diligently as possible, and make themselves worth of their situations. The standard of the schools must be raised, but could not be done suddenly; and each examination was made more difficult. The teachers who had advanced with their work, found no trouble in passing, while others were forced to go away without certificates. Such persons would excuse themselves by saying they had worked in the field or canyon for a year or two and forgotten much they knew. Or they plainly showed that they had entirely neglected their profession except to attend school. Teaching was a matter of livelihood, and they did not care further for it. This class will understand why they now cannot pass an examination, still simple to those who advance as they should, and why it is necessary to hold examinations occasionally to see that teachers do not forget their obligations. <br><br> With some persons there is an impression that the Board is responsible for the poor teachers employed. We have explained above, why the examinations are not more thorough, although an understanding of the principles involved should make a person capable of instructing most of the school children. The Board has no way to test the person practically, and is really left with very superficial proof of ability. At present there seems no remedy for this condition, and certificates are sometimes ??? to persons who afterward prove themselves incompetent to teach. A certificate does not carry with it the force to demand? a school, but only shows that as far as the Board deems proper to investigate, the person has been tested. No person without a certificate is entitled to teach, but the trustees must use their judgement as to whom they employ and need not accept anyone though his certificate may be perfect. There are certainly more ??, essential to success, in the work, that can be measured only [unreadable]. After seeing the result of practical ??, this latter task must for a while devolve upon trustees, and a faithful dischard of their duties would relieve our school system of much of its opprobrium. We hope that before long, the examinations will be made as thorough as necessary, and the board adopt some means to see how the applicant conducts himself in the school room. <br><br> Educator. |