Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1846-03-14
COMMUNICATIONS.
For the Herald.

For the Herald.
Common Schools-TcaChcrs.
10 Nm. r.. Smith, Esq, Cor. Sec'y.
ofthe ". e. Society.
Mr.. EpIron AT the School Con-
yention held at Madison in Jan. last,
at which the 6 Wisconsin Educational
Society, for the promotion Of Common
Schools was formed, | find by the
report of the proceedings that l was
elected one of the Vice Presidents, ana
that these officers, one for each county,
in addition to their usual dutles' are
made "a committee Of correspond
ence." But as the objects IN view by
the society are the public good' these
could hardly be attained BY private
correspondence with the Secretary I'M
less made public, propose to address
the Corresponding Secretary, w. r.
Smith, Esq of Mineral Point, through
your columns, on the mode of Pr0vid-
;ng Teachers for Common Schools !;
and knowing you to be friend Of ed
ucation, / trust you will award to me
this privilege. And if other cores
pondents and editors will pursue a
similar course, whatever light is cast
upon the subject of common schools
will be before the public eye, where of
right it should be. In this paper pro-
pose to discuss but one topic-that just
named above.
The question is Of deeply absorbing
interest, has often been agitated, and
various plans have been devised and
adopted, TO supply our common schools
with competent teachers. Normal
schools, teachers, schools and semin-
aries have been in vogue, and in some
of the States provision is made by the
Legislatures thereof, in endowing col
leges and academies, for the gratuitous
education of persons for teachers of
common schools. But after reading
much, and thinking more onthe sub
ject, I cannot divest myself Of the
conviction that common schools are
capable Of supplying their own teach
ers, on the same principle that colleges
supply themselves with their own pro-
fessors.
That graduate from college, or a
student from high school may be ca
pabIe of teaching common school,
will be cheerfully admitted but it
must, at the same time, be admitted
that such teacher could not adopt the
mode of instruction used in the col
lege, that is, memorizing and reciting;
but he must, to be successful, teach his
young pupils, in the same manner he
was taught when in common school
himself. What he learned 10 the acad-
envy and college, was alone, and I'M
suited to his own capacity when he was
in the common school, and of course
would be above and unsuited to the
capacities of bis common school pupils.
What he learned in college may give
him better knowledge of the idioms
and axioms of language, but children
in a common school are not sufficiently
advanced in either years or study to be
indicted into these. In fact, the teach
er can communicate nothing to his
young pupils, beyond what he himself
acquired In The same kind of school.
But If the teacher is better scholar
for having a collegiate education, yet,
those very advantages, though they
qnalify him for other and higher duties
ia life, may disqualify him, in degree,
for teaching common school. For, il
in his higher course of study he ha:
imbibed the elevated feelings and ideas
such course is naturally calculated to
inspire, he is entirely above the atmos-
phere and capacity of his present pu.
pills.
1t is a maxim, the truth of which
will not be contested, that any one
capable Of communicating what he
knows. can bring forward his pupils te
his own level. This is seen in every
day experience. The doctor, lawyer
mechanic, the farmer, and the house.
wife, as well as the graduate, can teach
to others what they know and can
usually do this to the best advantage
when the business to be taught is fresh
IN the mind, and has not been partially
erased by application to other mat
tiers.
1t will be objected, however, that {
graduate of college, to be quallhet
for professorship must extend hi
studies beyond what he learned in hi
capacity Of student. Be it SO. Blu
these additional studies, to qualify hin
for teaching, must be on the subjec
matter to he taught, or they can be Q
no advantage to him for thar calling