Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1846-08-27
COMMUNICATIONS,
FOR THE STANTON SPECTATOR.

For THE STANTON SPECTATOR.
MIR. EDITOR II was much oratilicd to see tina
the committee Education--tbe proceedings O
whose meeting has recently appeared both in you
paper ana the Democat--are disposed TO carry on
the object desired by their appointment. This OBJ
Ject, In the main, as understand it, was TO adop
the most suitable plan To excite the interest and at
ten'lon oil the good people of Augusta TO the i'm
Por'ahce oi education, and induce them if possible
10 ADOPT some more energetic and useful system
than the one now in use. Ought this to be difficult
OF attalnmentl Is it possible that any chance
which the people in their wisdom may adopt, could
be worse than the bungling one SD long dscredita-
bic to our good commonwealth? Knowing the
deep interest you feel in common with every GOOD
citizen ON the subject. am | asking too much AT
your hands to publish occasionally brief extracts
from the last annual report Of the Secretary of State
M Ohio, on the condition of Connfon Schools i'm
that State Tor 1919, which he did me the kindness
to forward me, and which, in my humble opinion
would do much TO excite the interest of every one
in behalf Of the cause, could it meet general dis
tributiOn2 Mr. Galloway has for many years been
engaged as Teacher, as also Il Professor at one
time in the Miami University and in one of the
Colleges of Indiana, and is practically informed of
the necessities of the changes he urges ON the lie
gislaturc Of Ohio, touching the subject of his Re
port. Among the interesting heads, under which
he treats the subject, is the
QUALIFICATION OF TEACHERS.n
although competency in teacher is a matter
OF the highest moment, vet suitable qualifications
for this vocation are less demanded by public sen-
ment, than for any other employment. Our cit-
zens arc usually prudent and discriminating in de-
Gliding upon the integrity OF men who ask their pa
tronage. They generally select men NEST mcrito-
rious in their professions trades to advocate their
causes or administer medicine to themselves or iam-
lies, make their garments, manufacture their farm
ing utensils, shoe their horses and mend their
watches yet, strange inconsistency will employ
unskilllul and stupid dolts To teach their children
If a bunglmg mechanic spoil their boots. watch.
coat or plow, or pettogger peril their causes the
loss is small, and the evil may be rcmedied but if
an Ignorant and depraved pedagogue porvcrt the
mental or pollute the moral faculties of their chill
dren, the sad consequences run parallel with the
course OF their existence. Impressions upon the
mind of the young pupil like tracks upon the
sand, easily made upon the yielding material ''but
by the pctrlfying process of chemical agency be-
come rs enduring as the rock itself"
| That Is no inconsiderable office to understand
and discipline those diversities of age, disposition
temperament and genius, that each faculty NAV
have lis appropriate direction and exercise and all
the powers be moulded into forms of virtue intelli
gence and usefulness. Here TO catch the feeble
spark and fan it into glowing fire. to scan the rsino
OF those thoughts which welcome diligent culture
to discern how and when memory, Imagination or
Judgment may be quickened reprcssed. controlling
Influences applied or withdrawn. There TO watch
the opening flower of PROMISE cherish its expand-
ing beauty and pluck the thorns which spring in
wild iuXuriancc CT, to drop the figure, protect
the gentle and meek-to restrain the turbulent and
froward-to breathe new life upon the kndlier emo
uons-to govern and break the fury of h,rful pas
sions and propensities. To discharge duty so mo-
mentouS, what well assorted union of Qualities is
necessary! How apt to teach ought he To below
familiar with the elements of the human cons;itu-
ton, with the depth and purity of human feelings
and with the power and variety OF mental faculties
how cool in Judgment, clear in conscience de-
voted In heart and strong in inteect--how init
mately ought he 10 be acquainted with the princi-
pies and details of all science and literature en-
braced III his professionalism especially how lber-
ally ought he to be endowed with that wisdom
which is from above which is first pure then peace
able, gentle and easy to be entreated full OF mercy
and good fruits. without Partially and without by
pocrisy.
| Elevated and commanding as the talents and at
tainments OF teacher ought to be, one obtains Ii
cense to teach photography who replied To the cues
ton, spell ocean, that there were two ways of spell
ing 1t, otiom and OSI,ion another who spelled phi
losophy, ftcSctcy; and another who spelled the
common word earthly, crthtcy. Upon others were
bestowed the honor CT teaching arithmetic-one o
whom could not tell the cost OF Q cords of wood a
81 81 per cord another, how many cwt were II
a ton, and another who was ignorant of the multi
PilcatiCn table. Another was licensed to teach geo
graphy, who, IN reply to the question, how is Vir
glna bounded ! answered, by Tennessee on tn,
North and Maryland on the East. "These are bu
lew OF many specimens communicated by friends
OF education, evidences of the kind and amour
OF qualifications tolerated in some sections of ou
1 country. What admirable counterpart such ;
corps OF teachers, with their intellectual exhibitions
would form to one of our modern militia companies
performing military evoutions, with their yarec
arms and accOuTements marked however with th
striking difference, that the latter is intended as ;
mock imitation OF the real, and constitutes plea
SAINT comedy, whilst the former, full of painful re
/ tragedy. " "
How can a reform be introduced? LIST. BY i'm
pressing on the public mind its necessity.
This subject challenges the attention and interes
of those who control the puipd, the press, and al
who by their prominence in talent and station, car
utter awakening truths to the mass Of their fellow
citizens. strong pervading excitement is needed
to break the torpor which has settled upon the pub
lie mind The paralysis has been so long continued
that ii will require powerful shock to arouse thC
heart into lively exercise and to speed the life
gYIs current through every part, even to the OK
NXfics OF tie system. The elements of battery
81 Sufficient energy are with us. Let them be
rigNy placed by master hands, and successful re
s,rIt will crown the effort"
This, MIR. Editor, with your appreciation. vii
be continued and if the arrangement will be agree
able to yourself and the Editor of the Democrat
the public might be more benefited by your mu
tually publishing the pieces as they appear in eacl
Others papers. FRIEND TO THE Cause.
Mn FDtToU-Rv vour Kindness I am per