NORMAL.
53
NORMAL.
TEACHERS' EXAMINATIONS.
At this time of the year more than at any other, the problem of teachers' certificates and to whom they should be issued, comes prominently before the public.
It is conceded by all that those who are to instruct our youth should give evidence of their ability to "teach and govern." But as to how much evidence, or the manner of furnishing this evidence, many of our best educators differ. The present custom is to hold public "examinations," where, if the aspirant answers certain set questions, which too frequently are mere technical catches, his ability to teach is taken for granted.
Fully one half of our so-called examinations are no more a test of the teacher's knowledge of the branches examined, than the failure to answer, "How many toes has a cat, or legs has a spider?" proves that you know nothing of these animals, or of their habits. Under our present system each county has a board of examiners. Sometimes they are broadly educated, occasionally (?) they possess the merest smattering of the branches in which they are to examine. And as a rule the less the examiners know the more technical the examinations.
There is no standard of ability recognized all over the state, but each county is a law unto itself.
Now wouldn't it be a great step in advance if our state legislature would entrust the preparing of all examination questionous to a state board? This would make all examinations throughout the state uniform, and by providing competent men to prepare the questions,the examinations would
be a fair test of the teacher's knowledge. And another piece of "red tapeism" which should be dispensed with is the compelling of experienced teachers, those who hold first grade certificates, and who have again and again proven their ability to "teach and govern," to go through the ordeal of a petty examination.
It does seem as though a teacher who has fairly satisfied a board that he is fully qualified to hold a first grade certificate, should be exempt from further examinations, so long as he is actively engaged in teaching, or teaches three months during the year.
This would be no more than justice to the good teacher, and such a law would stimulate more of our teachers to "post up." But with such a law we need the other one making examinations uniform throughout the state.
Kansas may boast of her schools, but it is the educational pride of her people, and not her school system, which every Kansan may be justly proud.
Normal students will not be required to take laboratory practice in chemistry this year. We think we can safely say that the professor in that department will not lose any friends from the normalites on account of this arrangement.
Emery Stanley, of '81, was in the halls of K. S. U. a few days ago, shaking hands with old friends. He was employed last year in the Hesper schools. We understand that Emery is going to bid farewell to bachelorhood in the near future. That success may follow him and happiness attend him is the wish of all normals.