Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1836-03-25


results. " Houses and funds and books,
saws an able writer " are important, but
! they arc only tho means Of enabling the
minds of the teachers to act upon the minds
of the pupils and we cannot have an en-
crgc,c system Of public instruction. TIL the
minds of The teachers have been prepared
to act upon those oftheir pupils to the best
advantage" II the scientific preparation OF
teachers be the first step, our next inquiry
| is hoW can we soonest and most perfectly
achieve an object, on every account SO de-
sirable. The obvious answer is, establish
| an Institution. either separate or IN conneX.
ion with one Of our academies, for this very
purpose, viz: to assist young men, first, IN
acquiring the requisite knowledge, and
secondly, to make them acquainted with the
philosophy of the young mind and put them
| in possession Of the best methods oflnstrnc
tion,% We pretend not to devise plan,but
we suppose the leading features of such an
Institution would be something like the fol
| lowing: LIST. It would have PrinCpal
aud perhaps assistant Professors in the diff
| ferent departments end. An appropriate
library collected with reference TO the OBJ
ccts of the institution. containing all the
facts of the science of INSTRUMENTATION
along in the history of the world. 81. A
school OF children, embracing both those
desiring general education, and those de
signed particularly for teachers, in which
school the theories Of the professors might
be exempfie1 in practice, for the benefit
Of those who are learning the science Of
teaching.
In those countries of Europe where elu
cation has taken its rank as science,
preparatory seminary for teachers, like that
we are suggesting, ia thought as necessary
as medical school for physicians. In
Prussia in 1928, there were 90 such semi.
naries for the training OF teachers, lcontan
ing 1900 pupils, furnishing 600 new teach
ers annually.
The character Of our schools depends
more upon the character Of the teachers
than upon any thing else. Their influence
will be strong or weak, good or bad, IN
proportion as their instructors are well or
, III fitted for their work. Whatever shall
be done by such an institution to elevate
the character Of teachers, will elevate the
character of our schools and enlarge and
, strengthen their influence on the cOnmnni-
ty. We designed submitting some add.
tonal remarks on the importance and bear
inrs of an institution or institutions in
different parts of our state. for the sclen-
, titic preparation of teachers, but having al.
ready transcribed our intended limits, we
must leave the whole subject, after few
, words upon another topic.
9 To complete our system and give energy
/; and unity to its operations, we have eX
G pressed our conviction that there ought to
ka in ocbI dict onl NJ l,a II,
= the state, responsible Head or Supervisor
c who shall b. required annually to present
# to the Legislature statement of the con-
dltion of the Schools, estimates and &C
counts Of the expenditure Of the school mo
MES and plans for the improvement and
better organization of Common Schools. =
= The system Of public instruction in the
y State Of New York has some distinctive
~ and excellent features. and 1t is worthy OF
= serious consideration whether we might moi
If most probably copy them Into orr own
# plan, Tnat feature especially WHICH pro,
G vidcs a supnrintende Mt to common schools,
It as an executive officer Of the governments ir
s this most important part Of icglsatlon- de-
r serves, in our view, to be immediately a
d dop'cd by the Legislature of Vermont
d Such an officer land The Office might b.
II blended in that Of Secretary of State as il
; New York; would BE- responsible head
- who without the use Of any arbitrary pow
:, err, wolld create suho dInate response
-, blny in every town aud district in tin
State. He would be what he ha
been called,a centre of motion, round who
l., he present Heterogeneous and dlscordln
r. elements of individual projects and plan
|. and wishes, may be made to rcvolve an
j. bring order ont of confusion. In urGcr t
N make any wise and permanent improve
,e ment, facts, illustrating the condition ofon
.. schools must be known, a RESPONSIBLE
:: Head Of this department would collect an
- bring ont these facts, and annually lay upo
20 the desk of every member Of orr l.egsla
/. turc a complete account OF the condition
Ia all our common schools. Such nformatlo
IN we must have to enable our Legislation
g. and othaf friends Of popular education, t
ve act wisely E promoting this tnndamnnt,
a. interest. Having expressed thus summar
IS ly, our views respecting the evils exlstin
mr. in our primary Schools, and having adver
ot ed to what W. deem necessary rene Ii,
if tor their correction, we now respectful
~ submit the whole subec. tn the consider
IN ton of an enlightened community and
,r. the action of their Llw-givers.
:, JOHN X. CONVERSELY
>" WILLIAM EATON, Committee
OF DANIEL GOODYEAR, of
'ut JOHN HOUGH, Conuentio
ars NAHUM PECK,
a. Such an Institution is now being orgo
IRE ed in connexio with the Academy of Him
len burgh. We bespcak for it the good wisl
or and patronage Of the friends OF popular educ
ate ton generally. We are happy TO know ii
len the Trustees under the recent provisions
his their charter, are taking hold of the subj,
My IN earnest ah1 lnat t.o if'e"us oi euuca,'on
,nr prompt and hearty co-operatlon The etfo
Nv ~, ifcarried through, will produce great good
'1' the State, and prove to be, we doubt not, t