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About Hesperian student / (Lincoln [Neb.]) 1872-1885 | View Entire Issue (May 1, 1878)
388 EDIT0KIAT.8. Vol. vii, . V. f "V "" "S"? r , T ' . w J- . .dfrj. doubly rewarded for the efforts wo will make to sustain tlie Student in its pros ont degree of excellence. A PLACE FOK IMPHOVKM ENT. Our state has made great and praise worthy efforts in behalf of its education, al interests; yet our country schools have not reached that degree of efficiency which they can and should possess. It is now generally admitted, we believe, that the teacher's profession, in its responsibili ties, requirements and importance, ranks among what are called the higher nrofes sions. Since this is the case, il stands equally in need of pers.ons who have carefully prepared themselves for the call ing, and who intend to follow it for so'mo time. But this not all. The practical work ing of our educational interests must be such as to create a demand only for well qualified teachers. It is true of teaching, no less than of other professions, that un less competency is insisted on, ils ranks will be largely filled with its distinctive quacks. This is the bane of our enn moil schools to-day. They are also in too unsettled a condition to have a high de gree of efficiency. Quite rarely do we find teachers who intend to make the occupation their life work. But few, even of those others who are faithful instructors, expect to follow il "more than a few years. An idea of infe riority still clings in some degree to the employment; but it accounts only in part for the shortness of a teachers profession al life. This is rather because the claims of the calling are neither fully recog. nized, nor sufficiently encouraged. Il is a well known fact that persons who have made little or no professional prep uration are freely employed as teachers. Yet as most of them turn to the calling simply because access to it is so easy, they arc, in some degree, excusable. But their great number and the low rates at which they offer their services, have pro duced a depression of wages both great and general. Such teachers, owing to their unskillfulness, arc often changed, thus causing, on the part of the patrons, a great deal of interference that is indis criminate and unfair. Then again, the length of a school year is uncertain. In most districts, it is but six months; sel dom is it nine or ten months, though it could, without great difficulty, be made in all districts eight or nine mouths at the least. Since this is the present condition of our schools, is it much wonder that an un. inviting field lies before the one who wouldbeooinon professional teacher V As the people, and especially the school boards, are largely responsible tor this fact, the primary improvement of the schools rests upon them. Competen cy should indeed be insisted on; yet teachers must receive sufficient com pensation. The examination of teach ers should be more complete than it is, and conducted mainly to test the candi date's nliility to instruct. Quite often the certificate indicates a certain amount of mere knowledge, rather than both that and the ability to impart it well. "When a certificate is trustworthy evidence that its bearer can successfully conduct a school, there need be little hesitation about hiring him, and seldom excuse for outsiders to meddle witli the affairs of the school. Fewer changes need then occur, ami teachers will thus be largely freed from that bane of the profession, forced mi. gratory habits. By continuing some time in a place, they take more interest in their work, and do it more efficiently. THK MILITARY DEPARTMENT. All act of Congress, July 2, 18G2, donut. ing to several states and territories for the purpose of establishing colleges, states that "the leading object shall be