Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 41, Number 40, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 January 1909 — Should Rtvise Teaching Laws. [ARTICLE]

Should Rtvise Teaching Laws.

Governor Marshall struck a decidedly American keynote in his message when he said: “Recent legislation makes graduation fiom a high school and instruction in pedagogy necessary in teach ng school. The state should only require qualification and should nsver require graduation from any particular institution.” There are a number of institu'lons, supported by the state, which are exceeding the bounds of fairness and encroaching upon the welfare of the state, as well as upon the opportunities of young people, who have to earn their own way, to get an education. It is absolutely neressary that everyone teaching school should be thoroughly qualified; but it is contrary to all reason to assume that such qualification can be secured only by beirig graduated from certain schools. The art of school teaching can te cultivated like any other art; but, as in any other occupation, those naturally fitted for the work will make the greatest success. School teaching requires a diplomacy and a faculty of reading human nature that comes from natural endowm nts, rather than from a course in any institution of learning. This does not mean that those naturally gifted for teaching school should not develope their natural ta’.ents for the work; but it means that there should be no tyrannical requirements es to how or where they should get that instruction. Many persons who would make the best instructors are unable financially to attend any ce tain school which might be designated by people who have no regard for the rignts of others. It has always been the American spirit that nothing should prevent the progress of any one with honor and ability. It is because of this spirit that our nation occupl s the pre-eminent position to which it has been raised by our great men and women who got their training by hard work and experience, rather than from any institution of learning. ” In the cause of equal rights to all let everyone take a firm stand against the laws which prevent many of our ablest young people from becoming teachers. .