New-York daily tribune., 1845-05-01
The State Normal School.

The State Normal School.
To he Editors Of TIE Tribune:
As friends OF Education, and advocates OF that
truest democracy which levels rptcard, you cannot
avoid being interested in the success OF the STATE
NoEMAL SCHOOL. ScareIy any of your readers
will need 10 be reminded that this institution is
Seminary of Teachers, 10 which Is appended
Model school: thus embodying both OF the inter-
prcIatons OF its Greek name. Having Just return
ed from passing day in watching its practical op
era,ons, ] am desirCus OF sharing with you The
pleasure which the visit has given me. The lnsi-
tuition is freely open TO all interested IN the progress
Of Education, and any oi your readers who may
pass through Albany, will be highly gratlfed by
visiting it at It's commodious location in the former
depot of the Railroad, halt way up the hill in State
street
1t contains at present, l75 students Of both sexes
preparing 10 pursue the profession OF teaching -
One hundred and twenty-eleh ht OF these (couespon-
ding 10 the number of Legislative members) are
chosen by the County Supenntendenls on the Ie
commentator OF The superintendent OF schools
They arc, therefore, generally picked men; well
qualified 10 receive prohably the instruction there
given, and 10 impart /, efficiently 10 others. They
d taught grainIousy, and receive an allowance
TO assist IN paving their board. The remainder OF
The 10 are voluntary students, VINO are received
only with the highest certificates of qualifications.
The supervision OF the school Is vested IN Mr. Da-
vld p. Page, assisted by Professors Perkins and
McCoon, and other teachers. The Trustees. (com-
prslng the State Superintendent, Rev. AonZo Pot
Ter, d D., Hon Gideon Hawley, Rev VIM. n
Campbell, d. d. and Francis Dwight had a Gell- |
cate task IN the appointment OF these officers, for
on ii depended the success OF the undertaking
They therefore exercised great care In the Seec-
lion, and their choice has proved mos, credtable
to their udgment and discrimination. The Pnncl- !
pal (whose lectures before the American Institute
OF Education testify 10 his enlarged and practical
wlSdom) appears 10 be regarded by the pupils with
the most perfect union OF respect and Affection
They seem 10 reverence the ability and learning
which they recognize In HIM, and al the same time
love MS absorbing interest IN their welfare. The
Mathematical classes happened TO come under my
more especial observation Their teacher, Profcs-
sor Perkins, is well known by his Mathematical
works, which evlnce most remarkable mental
elegance and we!l-ordered comrrehenslveness and
his pupils are rapidly imblblng from him these val.
uable attributes They were intensely interested
IN the lucid instruction they received, and were
not rehearsers by rote but showed that their minds
were all IN active and energetic operation Various
capacities OF course were 10 be found among them
but the least brilliant displayed an interest and
earnestness. such as must ensure valuable results
The other classes evinced merit o a similar KIND
Their general appearance was quite democratic;
physloenomlsl might lind among them many spec
mems OF the nobility OF nature but few oi that OF con-
ven,oualism They instructed IN all tie usual
branches o: good English education. suPeratdins,
moreover. wha, ought 10 be usual TOO, NrGirmg-
the education Of The eye and hand and Music
the education OF the ear and voice.
But the positive tur,. eGr" acquired IS only a
part of Iher rraIG! =, east important part
IN a NOrEict school. They acr most especially
taugh, now mes, eiiec,us'ly 10 I'M All Others this
knowledge, and that winch Ihelr 20 ary studies
may hereafter acquire. They are taught he sc,clct
o; teaching for II is science, and NEST important
and lofty one though one yet IN lis infancy. lis
corrc!atIve -drt Is ot the most delicate and dl-
fculi OF Offices and needs a long and dsen, ap-
premiership Other artisans deal with brute mat
ter even the delicate touch OF the matchmaker i
exercised only on the metals, while teachers have
to operate on the human mind. Their duIy Is there
fore not 10 be rashy undertaken, though fools do
rush IN where angels tear 10 tread" True edpca-
ton consists III trst inspiring a mind with desire
for improvement and cultivation, and then IN So
training and discipllnlng It's powers as enable II
most efficiently ltSsli 10 carry on that improvement
The mere acquisition OF the facts OF knowledge,
valuable as II IS, Is vet comparatively unlmportant.
4 good teacher, who comPrehends and practices
the higher Promehrus-ke branch al his profession,
exercises wider, more lasting, and infinitely
more beneficial influence than did Alexander or
Napoleon. TO qualify our young citizens most Ell
tectualy 10 WELD for good this mighty power Is The
object OF this cur State Normal School
safety of our country and lis free instltutions:de-
pends on the thorough and sosnd education OF The
people. II our form OF government has any radical
defect, II is that /, presupposss more intelligence
and virtue IN the mass Of the people than actually
exist Ii is too good for It's constituents We
should bring II 10 level with them, not by lower
ing IL sut by eleva,lng them To effect this, we
need competent instructors, and here Is means OF
producing them. Never has legislation passed an
act more honorable 20 It's enlightened and FAY
sighted PATRIOTISM than that establishing this !nst
tuition Who can estimate The glorious results
which few years viii witness, when these teach
ers have been sent into every corner of our State
Like stones east into still lake, whose ripping
circles increase and enlaTss l they oyevspread the
whole surface. will the graduates of this Normal
school over the Empire State with the coed which
will flow from their labors. They will be seeds
from which VIII proceed Spreading trees, bearing
;ruit thousand fold; or perhaps they may. rather
b. likened 10 glowing Goals, which will klndle IN
every nook the pure lire of knowledge. To fan II
into q warming and Illuminating flame, all that Is
needed is The breath of public sympathy and sppre
citation. encouraging that Institution which fur
nishes the primal spark and This appreciation can
not fail TO De the result oi an acquaintance with the
objects. means and success OF our State Normal
School W VI. u.