The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1848-04-01
For the Caledonian.

FOR the Caledonlan.
Mr. EDITOR; Permit me through the medi-
UNI of your valuable paper to address few
words to those engaged in the cause of cduca-
ton, upon the subject of Teachers Institutes.
We are all well aware that much has been
done already in regard to improvement in our
system Of Common Schools-and, as well a
ware that much remains yet 10 be accomplish
ed before it can be brought to any degree of
perfection. And when the question arises,
"How shall we commence? or what shall we
do to bring about any desired Improvement"
if we should for moment listen to the sug-
gestons of our County Superntendents the
place ofoperation would soon present ITSELF
They tell us awe are heartily sick Of ever at
tempting to do any thing by lecturing the par
ents, we cannot get access to them. If we APP
point lecture and go with the expectation of
meeting full house, we are invariably mis-
taken" And say they, "The only way we
can do anything is through the children, and
complished, is through the fundamentally of
the teachers" And here we all can see the
necessity Of having our teachers what they
should be. Let us for moment consider the
nature and Importance ofthc calling of the
teacher, d upon the Importance of his being in
every respect qualified to discharge every duty
incumbent upon him. These will appear obvi!s
Gus to every rejecting mind. And now you
are ready to say "Where can we best qualify
ourselves for our important calling?" For,
say they fsWe are ready to grant that the occu-
patton of the teacher should be made profess
sion, and until this be the case we cannot take
the station in society that in reality we ought
| We say the Teachers Institute is the place
where every teacher should avail him or her
self of the instruction there to he obtained in
the art of teaching. "Attend an Institute to
qualify ourselves for teaching? What can we
learn in so short period of time as is ordna-
rily allotted to them that can possibly fit us
the better to discharge our duty?''-some I'M
doubtcdly will be ready to say / shall speak
from experience now, when say that knowl-
edge of the branches usually taught in our
common schools is much more easily to be OBJ
tanned than the manner they should be taught
And in this am sure have the concurrence
of the majority of teachers. And the Institute
is the place and the only place this can be OBJ
tanned. And we would say to every one who
intends to teach during the ensuing season TO
attend the Institute by all means. The ex-
pense IS trihing to any one, and my word for
it,you never will regret it. A TEACHER.
Benton ON THE PREsIDEHcY. The Wash
ington corresponds mt ofthe Philadelphia North
American says: The ratification of the Treat
y has left some heart burnngs, and dspirited
the forces of the Administration Mr. Benton
is free TO say, and he is no common authority,
that the Wings are now sure of carrying the
Presidential election.
| WAR EXPENSES. Daniel Webster year a.
go, declared in the United State Senate, that
the expenses of the war would amount to one
| million and half per week. The Govern
inent press and it's echoes every where ridicul-
ed the estimate. But the War Secretary has
made report to the Senate, at their call, in
which it is stated that the War Department
alone has expended, during the first year,
$41, 76l 200! INK, "a. Xxx.
uJPA Liverpool paper states that Louis Phil
ppe arrived at Folkstone, south coast of Eng
land, about eighty miles from London, on the
10Th of February AS the old gentleman is
well off in the world, and can afford to travel,
he may find it pleasant to revisit the United
States and witness the changes that time and
progress have made since his former exile
GTMexico is not yet quiet, and is not like
ly to be so as long as Santa Anna is there. 1t
would be we'll, if Mr. Polk, who gave him a
pass in, would give him pass out. 1t would
/ be quite as much for the interest of the coun-
try to recall Santa Anna as Gen. Scott.
| uJThe New York Tribune of March Goth
says: Maj. Gen. Gaines and his lady leave
here today for New Orleans to make arrange
ments for the resumption oftheir immense es-
tates in that quarter. Gen. Gaines and his
family will reside permanently in New York
I where 1t Is their intention to erect a splendid
RESIDENCE, which viii be among the chief orna-
nopts of the city.
1J7The impression appears 10 be gaining
ground, in Washington, that MIR Polk will be
nominated by the Loco Foco National Conven-
ton for re- election.
GENERAL ScoTT. The Rochester demo.
crat-a leaeng wing paper in Central New
| y ork--ayows its preference for General ScoN
| as the Nhip ga N didofe fur Tho pras;dcnc,- Z"