The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1847-04-29
From the School Journal.
School Teachers.

! School Teachers.
AS is the teacher so is the school. IF the
teacher is qualified for his task, his school a.
general thing, will go on prosperously AnC
every teacher should be thoroughly prepar
ed for his work. In other pursuits men quail
ify themselves for the duties of their calling
The lawyer, the physician, the clergyman
each spends years in preparing himsefior the
duties of his profession. Are the duties of a
school teacher less difficult or less important
than the duties of a clergyman, lawyer OF
physician? And shall the one enter upon
the labors Of his calling with little OF nc
special preparation, while the other must
spend years in earnest and diligent study p
Even the mechanic is obliged to learn his
trade. The tailor, the halter, the shoemaker,
the blacksmith, the carpenter, must each
serve an apprenticeship, must learn his trade,
before he attempts to establish himself in bust
ness. No one would think of employing a
man to make him a coat, or a pair of boots or
to build him house, or shoe his horse, unless
he had previously made himself acquainted
with the business, and prepared himself for
the work. Is less preparation necessary to
unfold the powers, to inform the minds, to
mould the character of children and youth,
than is required to give form, and shape, and
coloring to wood and iron, and stone Would
wise man seek a skilful workman to shoe
his horse, or build him house, and employ a
novice to teach his child? Would prudent
man secure the services Of an able physician
to cure the diseases of the body, and employ
an ignoramus to inform the mind of his son or
daughter? Perhaps there is 20 calling or
profession which requires so rare combina-
ton Of talents and attainments in order to
complete success, as that Of school teacher
And successful teacher should be regarded
as holding one OF the highest and most hon
orable stations in society
But how and where are the teachers of our
schools to be qualified, well and thoroughly
qualification their arduous duties? What in
stitutions have VIC among us, that can accom-
plish this work? Can we rely on our colleg-
es ? They educate males only. Can we de-
pend on our academies and select schools p
Have they hitherto done this work? Is there
reason to suppose they will accomplish it in
future ? That they have not done it, is GER
tain. They were not established for that spe-
cial purpose. Their teachers have had too
many other things to DO to allow thom time
to attend sufficiently to this | trust that in
future they will do more than they have done,
to give to teachers the needed training and
instruction. Still, we ought not to expect
from them all we need. We need schools es-
tablished for the express purpose Of teaching
the tcachers-of preparing young men and
Young women for the office of thorough and
successful educators of the young schools
which shall have this for their great and chief,
if not sole object. Teachers Institutes, we'll
conducted, can do much to effect the desired
object; and they should be held in every
County in the State But more permanent
institutions are necessary to effect the object
more fully. A few Normal Schools are need
ed in the State. At least three should be cs-
tablished forthwith; one in the central part
of the State, and one towards each extreme
And who will set these on foot Shall they
be established by private enterprise, or at the
expense and. under the direction Of the State :?
A. b.
Rr1Ulo5oro 1TlaoI 1917