The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-06-30

ALBANY, june Is, 1852
The State Normal School-Pyospeet of its Discon-


ALBANY, June Is, 1852.
The State Normal School-Prospect of its Diseon-
tianGnes, &c.
II is now reduced almost to certainty that
the institution known as the State Normal School
must be, sooner or later, abandoned. TIE oppose
ton, only as q mole hill, which sprang up against
soon after it's organization, has reached the di-
mansions of a mountain; and the meandering rivulet
first turned against it, has now become increased in
its dimensions by the streams running into it from
every portion of the State until it has increased to
a mighty torrent Of public opinion The expert
ment Of school intended for the manufacture Of
teachers in common schools was q most laudable
and praseworthy one The whole people acknow.
lodged the necessity of having higher order
Of qualification for teachers in the primary
schools, and the Legislature, some eight or ten
years since, very literally contributed dona-
ton in order to ascertain the practicability OF
thus ditfusing and spreading among the people Ia
borers in the noble cause of education, more
lghtencd, more practical, and of higher standard,
than the teachers of common schools then were.
The State furnished the professors and teachers and
the city of Albany the building in which the Normal
School was kept. For two or three years it seemed
trustees were so highly acceptable to the Legisla
ture that, some four years Since that easily per-
suaded body made an appropriation Of large sum
for the purpose of erecting building near the Ca
pitol, and thereby making the Normal School per-
manent appendage to the other institutions Of the
State. From that moment the public, or consi-
derable portion Of the rejecting people, began to
question the utility of the school. 1t was aseer-
tanned that the objects Of the State, in very many
instances, were thwarted; that graduates, in
stead of entering the profession Of school teach
els, resorted to other business. Many Of the
males entered lawyers and doctors Offices, and be-
came indicted into the mysteries Of the one and
of . ho thaf AZ
third Of the number whose education is furnished
by the State, engage as teachers in the country
schools, after having graduated at the Normal nsti-
tuition Thus the object of the Legislature becomes
frustrated, and the charities of the State, in great
measure, msappGed. No blame, however, should
be attached to those youths who seek this method
Of obtaining an education. Many Of them, doubt
less, sincere in entering the school, believing
that, when competent, they will pursue the pro-
fession Of school teachers But they very soon dis
that the miserable pttance which, in general,
the trustees of country schools allow the teachers
is scarcely sufficient to keep them from starvation;
and they therefore induced TO seek other
of living. Such is the uniform practice in the
country; they make no discrimination between
dolt fool, an lgnoramus, and Literally educated.
well qualified teacher They pay more regard to the
durham COW, or the fertilzing of a flock of Me
rino" sheep, or the fattening of " Berkshire pig.
than the Improvement OF the intellectual faculties
the elevation Of the morals--the inculcaton Of ex
kind of economical country gentry will willingly
give fifty dollars for Chinese game cock and hen,
thousand dollars 6r pure blood Spanish ram, a
dozen times over, rather than pay II competent
schoolmaster monthly stipend sufficient to furnish
him with a ''Sunday suit" These are some of the
why scholars from the Normal school. after
receiving education, abandon the idea of whip
ping the cat from one country house to another
and resort to some profession atfordng more lucra-
tive employment and better prospects in life than
teaching the young idea how to shoot"
The State has fairly tried the experiment, and it
has utterly failed of accomplishing the laudabe
object intended, 1t has furnished competent teach
ers for the common schools; but the people, whose
individual interest 1T is to carry out the system:
have most shamefully and outrageOusly neglected to
perform their part of the important duty. No
State has done more, is annually contributing
more literally, than New York, to dfuse intelligence
among the rising generations. in the incpent stages,
in the middle order, and in the higher branches of
education Immense sums are yearly expended.
arising from the income of tho United States de-
posite fund and the literature fund, and annual
tax of $500 600 is collected from real and personal
property, all for educational purposes; and besides
this the State sends into each school district teachers
male and female ready and willing to engage in the
laudable work OF education. From such unprece
dented iberality, not single child in the State
ought to arrive at the age of fourteen, but would
be thoroughly educated in all the ordinary branches
OF common school education. The people them
selves guilty of allowing so many thousands of
their own offspring to grow up in Ignorance OF
neatnon, ana 1lpeneu INTO SUBJECTS IOr puDuc sup
port in prisons and anshouses.
A difficulty has arisen within month or two be
tween the trustees Of the Normal School and the
principal professors. which caused several of them
to resign The public not fully advised Of the
cause. and the part Of the trustees, will no. be
until they present their annual report to the Legis
lature in January next. The gentlemen who re-
signed state that attempt was made by the trus-
tees to seduce their salaries, to which they would
not submit. There are probably other reasons,
which will in due time be piyen,
1t is more than probable that in consequence of
not having accomplished the laudable objects in
tended, strong effort will be made in the next Lee
gislature to disband the Normal School. Several of
the most prominent members of the last House
strongly opposed to its further continuance and
know that the introduction Of law for that purpose
only prevented by the earnest entreaties Of GER
tain persons deeply interested in private view.
New Line Of Steamers from New York to
Quebec.
We perceive by advertisement in our columns Of
this date, that fresh impetus has been given to
our daily increasing connection with the British
Provinces, by the establishment Of line of steamers
from our port which intended to sail BIZ monthly,
for Halifax and Quebec, calling at Pctou, Charlotte
town, Prince Edwards Island Shodiac and Mira
MICH, New Brunswick, and from thence TO Gaspe