The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1849-10-27


} confined 10 the instruction OF the highe
classes Of society, ill the beginning Of tn
nineteenth century, when Pestalozzi begu
his great work in Switzerland. He wa
the frst to raise teaching to an art based o
a knowledge Of human nature" His gres
invention was prevented from perishing a
his death, being perPetuatsd by Fellen
bergh. and also being transplanted in sever
al other parts Of Europe. In 1909. Eel
lenbergh organised his Normal school, an,
fortytwo teachers Of the canton Of Bern
came together and received gratuitous in
struction in the art OF teaching. So grea
was their zeal, that on finding the estab
lshmen, was not large enough to Teceiv,
them, they were contenIed to lodge in tents
Even the Emperor Of Russia, few year
afterwards, sent several pupils TO Fsllen
bergh with a view to Introducing better
system of instruction smony his people
Afterwards Normal school was establish
ed at St. Petersburgh. The educationa
reform in Prussia, properly commenced
with the establishment Of Normal schools.
A leading principle Of the system adopted,
was that extensive" knowledge, sound
sense, and profound acquaintance with
human nature, must be combined in the
teacher. HIS habits must be formed by
practice. and experience mus. give him a
certain fact, without which the best endeav.
ors will Do useless. So powerfully has
this system commended itself to all en-
lightened men. that not only have these
semnaries for teachers been constantly in
creasing within the last ten years in Prus-
STA, in Saxony, and in the west and south
west Of Germany; but most Of the enlight.
ened governments of Europe have followed
the example.
Out Of Prussia, the plan was first adopt
ed in Holland. The celebrated Normal
school Of Mr.. Trinsen, was established at
HARLEM in 1916; and it is now acknowl
edged by all that common school education
has been reformed and UNNECESSARILY ad-
vanced throughout that enlightened coun-
try, by the influence Of that school.
In 1888, Normal schools were adopted
in France, as one OF the main features in
the great governmental measure in behalf
Of common Schools. Mr.. Mann mentions
the interesting fact that a Normal school
was established at Versailles, occupying the
very site, and some Of the buildings that
were the dog. kennels OF Louis XIV, and
his royal successors!
Scotland was not slow to discover the
advantages Of the preparation OF teachers.
That country has one such school al Edin
burgh, and one at Glasgow, besides the
Madras college at St. Andrews, which ex.
ercise the double function of giving a clas-
steal education, and preparing teachers Tor
schools.
In Ireland. the National Board OF Edu-
cation has established an excellent and ex-
tensiye Normal school at Dublin. one thou
sand pounds having been given to the object
by Lord Morpeth.
In England, several Normal schools
have sprung up under the auspices Of private
individuals and societies, the government
having limited its efforts to the bes.owment
OF aid upon the institutions thus established.
In Belgium three Normal schools were
established in 1S43.
In regard to a system Of means specih-
cally designed to qualify teachers for con-
mon schools. New York made earlier move
mems than any other State on this side Of
the Atlantic. In 1885 a teachers depart
ment was engralted upon one academy in
each Of the Senatorial districts OF that State.
The sum of $500 was given to each OF
these academies for the purchase Of aPpara-
Jus and library, and also the further sum
OF $500 to pay the salary Of an instructor.
In 1910 the State Normal school was es-
tablished at Albany.
In 1898, Mr.. Edmund Dwight, of BOs-
ton, offered to the Educational Board Of
Massachusetts, the sum of $4,000, to be
expended in the qualification Of teachers
of Common Schools, provided the Stale
would devote an equal sum to the same
purpose. His proposition was accepted,
and in the course Of few years three Nor
NAL schools were established in that State.
Several other States of our Union have
had this subject under consideration, but We
do not learn that any OF them have as yet
consummaled their measures so far as to
have Normal schools in actual operation.
WOMEN IN RUSSIA gentleman who
went out to Russia with Maj. Whistler, on
Railroad affairs, and has recently returned,
informs the writer, that in a very important
branch Of education and usefulness, the
Russian women are somewhat in advance
OF the American. They participate in the
duties Of the Medical profession, by man.
aging the department. Of Obstetric Practice
a vocation for which some pretend to think
our women are, and must continue 10 be
incompetent.
The gentleman, during his ten years
residence there. principally in St, Peters
burg. had occasion TO employ an attendant
for his Lady; and with his American ideas,
Of what was necessary to safety, he applied
TO medical man Of eminence to oficiate.
The physician laughed at him. and remark
ed that his attendance would be entirely
superfuous, and he should feel somewhat
out Of his sphere; but he would refer him
to a professional woman, for whose ability
and skill he would be responsible.
Institutions are provided by the govern
ment for the qualification OF these females.
Their education and practice are under ju-
dicious regulations; and they are employed
by all, from the Empress to the wife Of the
serf. The gentleman remarked, that hav-
ing become enlightened in reference to this
matte, Jur,pg HE res;dence ahroad he falt