PLANS FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF TEACHERS.

Until the State Normal School provides for each County
home-teachers thoroughly prepared for their work, expedients
must be adopted to improve teachers, now engaged in the
schools, who have not had the benefit of thorough professional
training.

These are Examinations by the County President, Teach-
ers' Institutes and Teachers' Associations.

The want of qualified teachers is felt, in all partis of the
State; teachers competent to instruct, and by temperament
and moral habits fit to have the care of young children, and
able to secure the confidence and respect of older pupils.

Letters frequently received at the office of Public Instruc-
tion, asking for competent teachers, give evidence that the
people are awakening to the importance of scrutinizing the-
work of the school room and the character of those who dis-
charge the most sacred and responsible duty which can de-
volve upon any citizen. The difficulty in supplying the
demand is great. The existence of the demand suggests the
consideration of plans by which it may be met. Upon the
efficiency of these will depend to a great extent the success
of the effort to make the Schools acceptable to parents and
beneficial to the children.

The Agency most likely to produce immediate and profi-
table results is the careful examination of teachers. This is
required by the law and has proved its value not only by
purging the Schools of ignorant pedagogues, but by develop-
ing true teaching talent and placing competent instructors in
a large portion of the Schools.