TEACHERS REGISTRATION COUNCIL. Originally authorized by the English Education (Administrative Provisions) Act of 1907, the Teachers Registration Council was established by an Order in Council of Feb. 29, 1912. It consisted of 44 mem bers, all of whom were teachers or persons recently engaged in teaching. These members were elected by the appointing bodies named in the first schedule of the Order in such a manner that eleven universities and 42 associations of teachers were repre sented on the council, II members being drawn from each of the four main groups of teachers.
Under a new Order, officially known as the "Teachers Regis tration Council Order, 1926," the number of the council may be increased to 5o. There are four groups representing, respectively, university teachers, teachers in public elementary schools, teach ers in secondary schools, specialist teachers with teachers in tech nical institutes, and each group is represented by 12 registered teachers engaged in the type of teaching work to which the group belongs. These 48 elected members may, if they choose, co-opt two additional members to represent any type of teaching work which, in their opinion, is inadequately represented among their own number. The period of office for each Council has been extended from three to five years. The 12 university members are appointed by the 12 universities now existing in England and Wales.
Representatives of teachers other than university teachers are elected directly by the registered teachers of the country, who vote according to the types of teaching work to which they belong, and have a number of votes equal to the number of representa tives assigned to that particular type in the Order.
For admission to the register, the council has framed conditions which must be fulfilled by all applicants. The great variety of examinations in special subjects renders the task of standardiza tion very difficult, but already the council has established stand ards of attainment and of professional training in connection with the teaching of such subjects as music, art, handwork and domes tic science. The main principle that is being kept in view is that no one should be permitted to become a fully recognized teacher, or to claim professional status who has not undertaken a suitable course of study and a course of training in the art of teaching. The council has recently taken steps to bring within its purview not only those who are eligible to become registered, but also those who are likely to become eligible, by the institution of a list of associate teachers, open to all who have passed an approved entrance examination. The council has decided to remove from the list of associate teachers all who do not become fully registered within seven years of their admission to the list. (G.) In the United States there is no teachers' organization that cor responds to the Teachers Registration Council. There the govern mental agencies certificate teachers directly, and there is no register kept except the list of persons who have been granted governmental certificates.