legally qualified Teachers whose qualifications will not enable them to secure a second class certificate according to the accompanying Programme. But the Council of Public Instruction has had regard to the present circumstances of the country, to the fact that this is the first step which has yet been adopted for establishing an uniform standard and system of examination of teachers throughout Upper Canada. It is painful to think, that there should be a necessity in any part of the Province, to license persons as teachers with no higher qualifications than those required of third class teachers in the accompanying Programme; but it is hoped such a ncessity will not long exist and every teacher of this class should be impressed with the consideration, that if he wishes to be recognized in future years as a legally qualified Teacher of Common Schools, he must apply himself diligently to the acquisition of higher qualifications. The profession of School-teaching can only be efficient, and influential, as the qualifications and character of its members are respectable and elevated. The accompanying Programme states the minimum of qualifications required for each class of certificates. 2. But the first, and perhaps most important duty which devolves upon you, is that which precedes an examination into the intellectual qualifications of candidates. The law expressly declares, that no certificate of qualification shall be given to any person as Teacher, who shall not furnish satisfactory proof of good moral character." This is a vital point on which you are called to pass a · conscientious and impartial judgment, before you admit any candidate to an examination. The law of the land thus makes you the moral guardians of the children and youth of your respective counties, as far as depends upon the moral character of their Teachers, the same as the Divine law makes you the guardians of your own children; and you should certainly license no character to teach the former, whom you would not permit to teach the latter. Many representations have been made to this Department respecting, intemperate, and profane, and Sabbath-breaking Teachers. To what extent these representations are well founded, is not for me to say. But when so many parties have been individually authorized to license Teachers, it were not surprising if isolated individual firmness should be overcome by the importunity of a candidate in some instances, backed by requests of inconsiderate Trustees. Now, however, you meet in Council; the candidates come before you on common ground; you judge of the "moral character" of each by a 9 common rule; you are less liable to those plaintive appeals and pleas which have so often been pressed upon the feelings of individual Superintendents and Visitors. I can not but regard it as your special mission to rid the profession of common school teaching of unworthy characters and of wholly incompetent persons, to protect the youth against the poison of a vicious teacher's example, and to lay the foundation for greatly elevating the profession of school teaching, and greatly increasing the efficiency and usefulness of Common Schools. The moral character of teachers involves the deepest interests of our offspring, and the widest destinies of our country. No lax expediency or false delicacy should be permitted to endorse a person of irregular habits or doubtful morals as a "good moral character," and let him loose upon society, authorized and certified as a duly qualified Teacher of its youth. I am sure you will agree with me, that your certificate should state what you believe to be strictly true, and therefore be a guarantee to Trustees of Schools and parents of children, in regard to the moral character and intellectual qualifications of every Teacher whom you shall license. 3. As to your examination of candidates in the several subjects mentioned in the Programme, I had at first intended to have prepared some general questions on each subject, as hints both to examiners and candidates for certificates of different classes; but on further consideration, I found it would occupy too much space, and might probably be better left to the discretion and judgment of Examiners themselves. I would only suggest, therefore, as all the candidates present at any meeting of a County Board of Examiners will probably be examined in a single class, the candidates entitled to the lower class certificates may be relieved from remaining (except as mere spectators,) at the continuation of the examination of those who are deemed competent to be examined in the subjects prescribed for the higher class certificates; and that as the object of the examination is, to ascertain not only the nature and extent of the attainments of the candidates, but their capacity to teach others what they know themselves, the examination, in each subject of the programme, should be specially adapted to elicit this primary qualification of a good Teacher, as also his knowledge of school organization, classification, and government. 4. It only remains for me to advert to the mode of calling the first meeting of County Boards of Public Instruction, and of holding their future meetings. As the mode of calling the first meeting is left as a matter of instruction from this Department (section 35, clause 3.), I have thought it would be most convenient for the members of each County Board to meet about the middle of November, and have appoined that time accordingly. Each County Board once assembled, will ever after, according to law, appoint the times and places of its own meetings. It is submitted, whether the first meeting of each County Board of Public Instruction would examine Teachers at all; whether the members present at such meeting might not consider and determine their mode of proceeding in the admission of candidates to examination, and in the mode of examining them-assigning to one or more members the duty of conducting the examination in each branch or subject prescribed in the Programme; and then appointing the time and place, or times and places for the examination of Teachers giving due publicity of the same. As but three members of the County Board are required to be present at any meeting for the examination and licensing of Teachers, they might at a general meeting agree to meet in sections of three or four members each at places most convenient for the examination of Teachers for different specified portions of the County-especially if it be large. As by the 15th Section of the Act, the certificates of qualification to Teachers, given by local Superintendents, are valid during the current year, the meetings and proceedings of the County Boards will have reference to 1851 and future years. No branch of a system of public instruction has ever been brought into operation in any country, without much anxious toil; and the efficient commencement of this most important and too long neglected department of our school system, will require no inconsiderable labour and much patient and earnest purpose to promote the welfare of the rising generation. The more serious and difficult part of the task will soon be accomplished, while the results cannot fail to be extensively beneficial, alike upon the application, the aspirations and improvements of Teachers, the character of the Schools, and the progress and interests of the pupils. I have the honor to be, Your most obedient servant, E. RYERSON. PROGRAMME Of the Examination and Classification of Teachers of Common Schools, prescribed by the COUNCIL OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION FOR UPPER CANADA, as required by the Act, 13th and 14th Victoria, chapter 48, section xxxví. TO BE IN FORCE UNTIL REPEALED OR REVISED BY SAID COUNCIL N.B.-Candidates shall not be eligible to be admitted to examination, until they shall have furnished the Examiners with satisfactory evidence of their strictly temperate habits and good moral character. I. QUALIFICATIONS OF THIRD CLASS TEACHERS. Candidates for certificates as Third Class Teachers, are required: 1. To be able to read intelligibly and correctly any passage from any common reading book. 2. To be able to spell correctly the words of an ordinary sentence dictated by the Examiners. 3. To be able to write a plain hand. 4. To be able to work readily questions in the simple and compound rules of Arithmetic, and in Reduction and Proportion, and be familiar with the principles on which these rules depend. 5. To know the elements of English Grammar, and be able to parse any easy sentence in prose. 6. To be acquainted with the elements of Geography, and the general outlines of the Globe. 7. To have some knowledge of School organization and the classification of pupils. II. QUALIFICATIONS OF SECOND CLASS TEACHERS. Candidates for certificates as Second Class Teachers, in addition to what is required of candidates for Third Class certificates, are required: 1. To be able to read with ease, intelligence, and expression, and to be familiar with the principles of reading and pronunciation. 2. To write a bold free hand, and to be acquainted with the rules of teaching writing, 3. To know Fractions, Involution, Evolution, and commercial and men tal Arithmetic. [Female candidates for this class of certificates will only be examined in Practice, and mental Arithmetic.] 4. To be acquainted with the elements of Book-Keeping. 5. To know the common rules of Orthography, and be able to parse any sentence in prose or poetry which may be submitted; to write grammatically, with correct spelling and punctuation, the substance of any passages which may be read, or any topics which may be suggested. 6. To be familiar with the elements of Mathematical, Physical and Civil or Political Geography, as contained in any School Geography. III. QUALIFICATIONS OF FIRST CLASS TEACHERS. Candidates for certificates as First Class Teachers, in addition to what is required of Candidates for Third and Second Class certifificates, are required: 1. To be acquainted with the rules for the mensuration of Superficies and Solids, and the elements of Land Surveying. 2. To be familiar with the simple rules of Algebra, and be able to solve problems in Simple and Quadratic Equations. 3. To know the first four books of Euclid. 4. To be familiar with the elements and outlines of General History. 5. To have some acquaintance with the elements of Vegetable and Animal Physiology and Natural Philosophy, as far as taught in the Fifth Book of the National Readers. 6. To understand the proper organization and management of Schools and the improved methods of teaching. N.B.-Female candidates for first class certificates will not be examined in the subjects mentioned in the first three paragraphs under this head. By Order of the Council of Public Instruction for Upper Canada. J. GEORGE HODGINS, EDUCATION OFFICE, TORONTO. Adopted the 3rd day of October, 1850. Recording Clerk, C. P. L |