further, that such first-grade certificate shall not be issued to the same person more than once.

Ninth-Certificates of the second grade may be issued to persons of not less than seventeeen years of age, who have taught successfully not less than three school months, and who shall fully satisfy the examining board as to their ability to teach all the branches required by law; provided, that persons receiving second-grade certificates shall make a general average of not less than 80 per cent. in all the branches prescribed by law, and in no case shall a person receive a second-grade certificate who falls below 60 per cent. in any one branch. All second-grade certificates must be obtained at public examinations, and shall not be issued to the same person more than once. Certificates of this grade shall not be renewed, and shall not be valid out of the county where given. Certificates of the third grade shall be valid only throughout the county in and for which they were granted for one year, and must be obtained at public examination; provided, that persons who receive a thirdgrade certificate shall make a general average of not less than 70 per cent. in all branches required by law, and in no case shall a person receive a third-grade certificate who falls below 40 per cent. in any one branch. Certificates of the third grade shall not be issued to the same person more than once. All certificates issued under this Act shall be valid only throughout the county in and for which they are granted. A fee of $1 shall be charged for each certificate obtained at the public examinations, which fees shall form a fund to defray the expenses of the teachers' institutes. All fees received for certificates at public examinations shall be receipted for by the superintendent, and shall be paid by him to the county treasurer, taking his receipt therefor. All fees received from this source by the county treasurer must be credited to the county institute fund. Temporary certificates or permits may be granted by the county superintendent in case of necessity, valid only in the county where issued, and valid only until the next regular public quarterly examination thereafter held by the county board of examiners; provided, that no such temporary permits or certificates shall be granted more than once to the same person, nor to an applicant who fails in an examination at the last regular public examination held by the county board of examiners. The county superintendent shall charge a fee of $2.50 for each and every temporary certificate, or permit, in advance, which fees shall be receipted for by the county superintendent to the applicants receiving the said permits; provided, that the said fees shall be paid by the county superintendent to the county treasurer, taking his receipt therefor, and which shall be credited to the county institute fund; provided

further, that teachers who have secured first-grade county certificates, in accordance with the provisions of this Act, shall be entitled to receive a first-grade State certificate without further examination, provided they have taught three years successfully in the public schools of this State, and are recommended by the county superintendent and the county board of examiners for the same, and have paid the fees as required by section 2582 of the laws of Oregon [§ 17 of this compilation]. Teachers who hold State certificates, as above set forth, and have taught four years successfully in the public schools of this State, shall be entitled to a State diploma, provided they pass an examination before the county superintendent, or the board of county examiners, in book-keeping, composition and physical geography, and are recommended by the county superintendent and county board of examiners, and have paid the fee as required by section 2582 aforesaid [§ 17 of this compilation].

Teachers who hold State diplomas, as above described, and have taught not less than six years successfully in the public schools of this State, shall be entitled to receive a State life diploma, provided they pass an examination before the county superintendent or the board of county examiners, in the additional branches of algebra, English literature, Oregon school law and general history, and present a recommendation from the county superintendent and board of county examiners, and have paid the required fee as set forth in section 5282 aforesaid; provided further, that the questions for all the above-named additional examinations shall be of the same grade as those commonly used in State examinations, and shall be furnished by the State board of examiners to the State board of education, who shall distribute them to county boards of examiners.

In lieu of the fees heretofore received by the county superintendent from fees for teachers' certificates, he shall receive, annually, the sum of $2.50 for each and every district in his county making the usual annual report as required by law, and as set forth in section 42 of the school laws, which a nount shall be allowed and ordered paid out of the general fund of the county by the county court.

AMENDED LAW.

It will be seen that the amended law is much more liberal in many respects than the law passed in February, 1887. Indeed, its provisions relative to State certificates and diplomas are altogether too easy, as well as too limited in requirements. The law, as it now stands, is simply a compromise with the opponents of the very excellent law preceding, and was so accepted by the friends of progressive education in order to preserve some reasonable and beneficial features of the law amended rather than lose all of the

advance already gained, and be forced, perhaps, to return to the absurd, unenterprising and sordid scheme of "private examinations" so long in use. If the major features of the law in regard to examinations for State certificates and diplomas be not revoked, then the provisions for the same should be made more extended and exacting.

When the present law was passed many zealous friends of education, and those who were especially awake to the best interests of the teachers' profession, were apprehensive lest the flood-gate of hasty recommendation, under the law, would be opened, and in this way many incompetent and indifferent teachers would receive. high grade certificates from the State, and thus the entire plan of the most advanced and permanent professional standing would become degraded and valueless. So far this has not been the case. On the contrary, the number presenting recommendations and receiving State certificates has been much less than had been predicted. At the close of this report there had been seventy-five teachers recommended for State certificates, three for State diplomas and two for life diplomas. In consideration of the time the law has been in force these numbers are surprisingly small. The seeming indifference of teachers relative to the prominent advantages now presented in the law for securing State papers is easily accounted

for:

First-The time for which county certificates now hold has been almost doubled. First-grade county certificates are now good for three years, second-grade for two years, and third-grade for one year. Second--One-fourth of the entire teaching force in our State is made up of beginners each year, and these, for the most part, teach for the first three years on third and second-grade county certificates. If they continue in service they may teach for the next three years on the first-grade county certificates, and thus they may remain in the work for the full period of six years without making application for a State license, the evident intent of the law being that teachers shall have an exceedingly long time in which to prepare for the very limited State examinations called for.

Third-Again, very many teachers leave the work for better places and more salary in other occupations.

Fourth-The average time taught by teachers of all grades in the public schools of this State is found to be approximately near six years, and from this it will be seen that the corps of experienced teachers will not be rapidly increased.

For the above and other reasons that might be mentioned, but of less importance, the applications for State papers have been less numerous than was expected.

TEACHERS' QUALIFICATIONS.

Of the total number of teachers employed in the public schools during the past school year 727 held first grade county certificates, 747 held second grade, 569 third grade, and 446 taught temporarily on permits. In comparing these figures with those given in the report for the year 1889 it will be observed that the standard of teachers' educational qualifications has materially advanced. This is very encouraging and indicates that the number of persons entering this work as a mere makeshift is being reduced. It is evident that many teachers are improving their professional standing and usefulness by improving their scholarship. In this we have more hope for the advancement of our schools than in any other feature of school-work. As our teachers grow more experienced, progressive and enthusiastic, so will their schools grow. The good teacher is the principal factor in every school system. The teacher makes the school, and all liberal legislation enacted that tends to encourage and promote the efficiency of our teachers will prove a great blessing and a permanent benefit, not only to individual schools, but to the State at large. Something should be done to make the teacher's salary correspond with his grade of certificate; and another question, of equal importance, and which should be regulated by law, is the uncertainty of his tenure of office. The problem of continuous service is, perhaps, the most important and potent of all to the teacher. Indeed, the very uncertainty of this matter has much to do with the improvement of the teacher, and the constant struggle to solve and secure his future employment is, no doubt, the greatest bane of the teacher's life..

As to salary, there is more encouragement. There is a growing sentiment among our more intelligent and progressive school directors to recognize the difference between a high grade and low grade teacher, and our best teachers are becoming more and more appreciated in proportion to their real worth.

On the other hand, there are school boards who still continue to seek for "cheap teachers." The cheap teacher is the weakest point in our school system to-day. There are several classes of this grade: the weak teacher, the indolent teacher, the shiftless teacher, the temporary teacher. All of these, if licensed at all, invariably go armed with third-grade certificates, and, if competition arises in the effort to secure positions, they do not hesitate to cut prices sufficiently low to suit the most parsimonious and non-progressive board of directors in the land. Indeed, the question of improving the schools through the improvement of teachers is, and should be, the governing point for future legislation. Good teaching is absolutely necessary and vital to the advancement of our schools.

This may be seen in many school districts. There are communities in our State that have been almost revolutionized by the power of a persevering and hard-working teacher.

The impulse thus given is directly attributable to the busy character of the efficient and painstaking worker in and out of the school-room, and the good influences thus wrought will continue long after the diligent teacher has passed away.

On the other hand, the unfortunate results produced through the instruction of an inefficient, careless and indolent teacher may have. great weight in controlling the advancement of a district for many years, proving that the character, standing and influence of every school are invariably determined by the qualifications of the teachers.

Fortunately the importance of this subject is attracting the attention of our ablest writers. I give, in this connection, an editorial appearing in the daily Oregonian during December of last year, bearing directly upon this question and entitled:

"THE CHEAP PEDAGOGUE."

"The pedagogues of Spokane county, Washington, have formed a "trust." They have entered into a combination not to teach school for less than $50 a month. Young men who take up teaching for a few months to pay expenses while waiting for something to turn up, and girls who enter the vocation of teaching at "pin-money" rates will, it is thought, be shut out of the "profession" by this action on the part of educators who propose to make teaching a vocation, and want sufficient pay to enable them, by the exercise of thrift and economy, to save something on which to live during vacation. It is well known that the business of teaching has been "raided," so to speak, by men and women who do not expect to make it anything more than a stepping-stone to something more remunerative. To persons who expect to follow teaching as a profession this competition with a class who, after the manner of the country belle toward her rustic swain, are "merely holding on, while they look around," is most discouraging. The supply of such teachers is practically inexhaustible, and there is no hope of relief in the possibility that all will in due time be married or otherwise settled to their liking. The reserve force of this element is enormous, and intelligent, energetic teachers who have an interest in their profession and a laudable ambition to excel therein, find this makeshift corps everywhere the most formidable obstacle in their path. The law both in this State and in Washington has done its part in raising the standard of examinations so that not quite every restless schoolgirl and listless young