Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1843-11-16

obtain Information concerning them, and to
see that proper teacher is provided for
them. The teacher is the important person
We want men who W III stay long enough to
be nseful Our teachers are often men who
only employ teaching as means To some
thing elsc-a mode of earning funds To pny
for their professional education, aud drnp II
as soon as the object is accomplished. The
consequence Is, that The teachers are continu-
ally changlng,and hence no progress is made
The books too are continually changing.
Every new teacher thinks he must have o
new book, and this is attended with a gren,
expense TO the lnhabitants, as well as the
injury of the scholars. Why, Sir, one term
teacher comes along and opens The school
aud asks-"lIave you Drury's Geography
aud Atlas ?'-No "Well, must have that
can't u.s. nny other."-"What's the price p"
Three dollars. Well, that's bought, and the
next term, another comes along and says
"Oh Drury's won't do-that's all onl of vogue
we must have Abbott's" And 80 they
change. Now, Sir, these schools can never
be worth any thing under such a system
The Legislature ought to see TO this
Sir: Connecticut school masters which
have been turned ont Of the schools in that
State, are wandering over Rhode Island
need IN this State, is Board of Education, TO
control and regulate these matters. The
teachers ought to be examined. Are they
ever examined in this State? A teacher in
none OF our country schools, is subjected TO
the ordeal OF an examination, to test his cana.
blllties Tor his important duties. No, sir, il
1t not matter OF po'icy,of expedcncy for the
Legislature of this State TO provide that The
children OF this State have moral education.
ns well as literary? Ifyou morally educate
child Till he is Is or IS, the chances are no,
one in thousand that he will fall. Now.
ought not the moral character and habits of
teachers to be inquired into /? Fifty children
are perhaps committed to his care, all locking
up to him, all ready to initiate him. Is il of
no importance who these men are? Whv.
who are these children? Are they not those
who arc to be the electors, the Jurors. of the
State, those who are TO haye n voice in the
government aud the laws? SIR, the school
house is more lmpor,aD. than the meeting.
house-for IN the one we meet only once n
week; in the other, every day. Morals can
be insiied into The hearts of children by n
faithful teacher, hotter than any where else.
Here are $4,000 annually expended, and
would ask where are the fruits of it? Are
they visible in auy of the towns of this State?
l know the condition Of these schools. Sir.
with proper management, ! am persuaded
that, without dollar additional expenditure.
we could have as good schools as any State
IN The Union. rs Legislators, do we not feel
bound TO see that the youth of this State re-
r"ive good education? See what other
States are doing. See what Russia is doing,
mud has done Look at England, with Lord
Brougham at the head OF a society for the pro
n nh
Normal scEool in tins State for the instruction
Of teachers, for fitting them to perform their
duties? IL we want horse shod we 20 to
blacksmith; If we want an instrument drawn
we 60 to lawyer if we arc sick we employ
observation-disclosures these men are fitted for
their work +; but If we want our children
taught-if we want their moral and inte .lcc.
tnal characters formed for time and eternity,
whom do we get To do lt2 | will not name
whom. Now, teaching is n science which
- 10 bc learned-wlat do these men know of
II n?-Nolhng-thelr only system -, Get
your lesson or take whipping" 1t is all
whipping. Tho teacher commences by pray.
ipg, and as soon as he gets through commrn
ccs whipping, and keeps on until the end
Now oil tins is from total ignorance of the
art of teaching. IL is all useless. and worse
than useless. What we want, is information
on tins sub information TO be got to the
people ofthis State. IL Is not best TO act with
precipitation IN matters of so much impor.
lance. and the subject of this bill is, Simply to
obtain that infornatioD, and bring il home to
the people. We want information that shal
show 10 The people the immense odyantage
which the city of Providence has over them
in her public schools Information which
shall teach them the Importance Of schools
Which shall educate our glrls and qualify them
10 educate their children. Look at Mrs.
Adams IN the days Of the revolution, when
schools were few. receiving letters from her
husband in Congress telling her she must
herself educate John in the languages and
that boy became President of the United
States
Sir, The education of women is Of vital con-
sequence. They have in their hands the
moulding Of the character.
Mr. Updke made some further remarks,
which were very able, but which we are
unable to give our readers, the remainder of
the report being lost
The act was passed to a second reading.