CHAPTER VII.

STATE CERTIFICATES AND DIPLOMAS.

BOARD OF EDUCATIONAL EXAMINERS.

STATE CERTIFICATES.

SPECIAL STATE CERTIFICATES.

STATE DIPLOMAS.

PRIMARY CERTIFICATES.

1.

Each candidate must file the following credentials as the official proofs of being qualified to hold a state certificate:

a.

Official letters ADDRESSED TO THE BOARD by one or more county or city superintendents, or other professional educators, certifying to the success of the applicant in government and instruction. The work thus commended must have been done under the person's supervision who certifies to its excellence, even if he is not now in office.

b. Statements from the school boards for whom the candidate has taught, certifying to teaching covering at least three years, of thirty-six weeks each, in which good and successful service was rendered. Credentials should be original, explicit in character, of recent date, and addressed ''to the state board of educational examiners."

C. Candidates who are graduates of good schools, whose courses of study are approved by the board, and who have pursued a two years' course in didactic subjects, consisting of school management, elementary psychology, principles of education, and methods of instruction, will be admit ted to the examination on making proofs of two years of thirty-six weeks each of successful experience. When, in addition to the above didactic course, such candidates have also had a year of special training in a well organized training school, one year of thirty-six weeks of successful experi⚫ ence, satisfactorily proved, will admit to the examination. Candidates who are graduates of higher institutions of learning, whose courses of study are approved by the board, and who have pursued during the junior or *Term expires 1902. +Term expires 1905.

senior year of their course a year of pedagogical study consisting of history of education, science of education, and school supervision, will be admitted to the examination on satisfactory proofs covering thirty-six weeks of successful experience.

2. To be assured that the candidate is successful in instruction and government, the board reserves the right to investigate farther, until all doubt is removed. It is necessary that the applicant be a resident or teacher in Iowa, at the time of registration, and part of the work certified to must have been done in Iowa.

II. Plan of the examination.

1. Preliminary.-The application blank properly filled out, the fee of $3, and the credentials mentioned in I and II, must all be filed with the president of the board thirty days before the dates of the examination to receive consideration at that meeting, and approved by the board, before the written examination is given.

2. Didactics.-School management, elementary psychology, and methods of instruction constitute the examination in this subject. The topics and questions selected will be such as to permit a well informed teacher to complete the same in one and one-half hours.

3. U. S. History and English.-An essay prepared in one and one-half hours on some topic in United States history, which must be written without delay, and not copied, will constitute the examination in United States history, orthography, penmanship, and use of English language, if the other papers written do not discredit the English.

4. Grouping of subjects with options commonly provided:

Sketching and illustrating the answers in group four will constitute the examination in drawing.

1. Proofs required.-a. The candidate must file letters from superintendents or other prominent educators that certify to the present success in instruction and in government, and to the fact that his present physical condition and mental and moral character are still such as to justify the board in granting him this renewal.

b. He must also show, by official letters from school boards for whom he has worked, the fact of his being successful as an instructor, and as a disciplinarian, under the expiring certificate.

2. Examination required.-Unless otherwise decided, the candidate must appear at the time assigned and take such examination as the board may think necessary, but, where personal knowledge or acquaintance of the board with the applicant may permit, and where the first examination was good, an original essay on an educational topic, assigned by the board, may be substituted for personal presence at the examination. This paper must be in the handwriting of the applicant, and must show professional study and investigation.

V. General suggestions to all candidates.

1. An examination for state certificate must be had before there can be an application for a state diploma. A teacher must do work under the supervision of this board, before an application for a diploma can be considered.

2. Applicants will bear in mind that the possession of a state certificate, a primary or special teacher's certificate, or a state diploma, will not in any sense lessen their duty to comply with all the rules and requirements of the county superintendent of the county in which they are teaching.

3. Candidates are advised to arrive the day before at the place of exami nation, as no allowance can be made for delayed trains or for poor physical and mental condition, caused by illness or loss of sleep.

4. The examination at the times announced, will be restricted to the published program given in this circular.

5. All necessary paper, pens and pencils will be furnished each candidate at the time of the examination.

6.

Lists of old questions are not sent out to applicants, as such questions are no guide to the next examination.

7. The law governing this board can be found in sections 2628-2634 of the code, and amendments enacted by the Twenty-seventh and Twentyeighth General Assemblies.

SPECIAL STATE CERTIFICATES.

The law authorizing the Iowa state board of educational examiners to grant special certificates was enacted in 1900, and is as follows:

"SEC. 2. It may also issue a special certificate to any teacher of music, drawing, penmanship or other special branches, or to any primary teacher, of sufficient experience, who shall pass such examination as the board may require in the branches and methods pertaining thereto, for which the certificate is sought. Such certificates shall be designated by the name of the branch, and shall not be valid for any other department or branch. The board shall keep a complete register of all persons to whom certificates or diplomas are issued."

The special state certificate is intended for teachers of special branches, as a recognition of professional skill and successful experience in teaching a particular subject.

While the candidate must possess complete and technical knowledge of the special branch for the teaching of which a certificate is desired, some general education and culture will be required, as a certificate cannot be granted on account of proficiency in one subject only.

The holder of a special certificate will be authorized to teach the branch specified, in any public school in the state for a period of five years. The fee, as fixed by law, is $3, one-half of which is returned in case of failure. Certificates will be issued to the same person in more than one branch, but the fee of $3 must be paid for each, as no special certificate will authorize the holder to teach more than one subject.

In addition to music, drawing and penmanship, special certificates will be granted in English (involving English grammar, composition, rhetoric, and literature), Latin, German, mathematics (involving arithmetic, algebra, geometry, trigonometry), and individual sciences.

I. Documentary examination.-The following testimonials and credentials are required as evidence of success as a teacher of a particular subject, and of good moral character as a person:

1.

Official statements from school boards, certifying to the service of the applicant as a teacher of the subject in which certificate is asked, for a period of three years, of thirty-six weeks each, two of which years must have been under one school board.

2.

Candidates who are graduates of good secondary or normal schools, and graduates of higher institutions of learning, may have such reduction in time of successful experience required as the board of examiners may decide after consideration of each individual case. It is to be understood, however, in all cases of reduction of time, that candidates have pursued scholastic and pedagogical courses, approved by the board.

3. Professional statements from city or county superintendents or village principals, under whose supervision the applicant has worked, certifying to the particular and professional success of the applicant as a teacher of the specified branch.