Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1854-12-02
Correspondents of the spy.l

the appointment rendered him has vet been
announced by DR.. Sears, it is generally be-
lieved that he will do so before long, and that
his accession to the institution referred to will
enure largely to its increased vigor and sue
cess.
While we are by no means DESTROYS of losing
the valuable services which we believe DIR.
Sears capable of rendering III the sphere of
scholastic authorship and academic instruc-
ton, i'll the State where he has so long labored
we shall not be at all surprised to learn that
he has determined to relinquish his present
post of duty for what must be, to him, the
more congenial one of President of College.
The professional habits of Dr. S. have been
formed and moulded within the College walls;
and his mind, tastes and manners, disciplined
by such an exact and restricted routine, par
take, almost necessarily, of that theological
and clerical cast which cannot easily be ig-
nored and which units man for ready adap-
tation to other kinds of business, and more
extended intercourse with the world. Nor,
is it to be wondered at, that, with this pres
tige, our present gifted Secretary has failed, in
some degree, to commend himself, personally,
to the younger portion of our teachers, and
those in the position of candidates for that vo-
cation, through lack of that Winning, attrac-
tive enlarged congeniality, which all will re-
member, as having so eminently characterized
his predecessor, the Hon. Horace Mann. This
fact, however, though observable and felt IN
the varied and promiscuous contact of chief
visitor of our public schools, counsellor for
teachers of both sexes and of all ages and con-
ditions, and the conductor of Teachers ILsti.
tutes,--would scarcely appear Objectionable,
among body of theological students, seen on
ly for a few hours day, in the lecture room
Al, 81 ~.
intend it as no disparagement, whatsoever, of
DIR. Sears, personally, when we indulge the
remark, that no one who has attended the
Teachers Institutes, conducted by the present
Secretary, and those of his predecessor, could
fail to perceive the difference in the social ant
mus characterizing those gatherings, which
their presence respectively inspired. Where
ever Mr.. Ma ms countenance was visible, on
such occ sion it seemed to act as a sort of
magnetic point from which were diffused--as
it were electrically, gladness, brightness, and
mutual endearmenI, all around. The saluta-
tons and benedictions, which we have seen
him receive from the youthful multitude who
focked around him, as he spake benignant
words of friendship, good cheer, counsel, and
instruction, were such as king might well
exchange his crown for. This was one of the
main secrets of Mr. Mann's great popularity
with the honest masses, and of his successful
administration of common school affairs, dur.
ing the long period he officiated in the eapaci-
ty of Secretary of the Board of Education.
If, therefore, vacancy is now to occur, in
this important and responsible office, through
the resignation Of the present incumbent, we
beg the liberty to suggest, that the public
good will be subserved by the selection Of a
successor, from the ranks-not again of the
Il l,,,e 81, 60
Teachers of our State, among whom, we doubt
not, one, at least, can be found, competent to
superintend, with honor to the Commonwealth
and benefit to the cause, the great interests of
our common school system. Let him also be
a man, not only intellectually qualified for
the station, but possessing warm heart, a
kindly amenity Of manner, free from profess
sional hauteur or literary mannersm, -one
AROUND whom the teachers and youth in our
schools viii gather, with eonfding, gladdened
hearts, as well as with intellectual ewes an
ears.
There is another point-one respecting the
arrangement of our Teachers Institnte,-up-
on which it may not be III evalent for us to
say few words, in this connection. If our
view of the matter is correct, the establish
ment of Teachers Institutes, unlike that of
normal schools,-as a part of the improved
system Of public education, in our State, was
primarily designed by Mr.. Mann, with whom
they originated, and by the legislature which
authorized their establishment, az a means of
dlsciplining young teachers, and those expect.
ing to enter The teachers profession, in the
best modes of imparting instruction to the pu-
pills, and Of administering school government.
The normal schools were intended to give sol
idity and completion to the attanments of
ubo HOW 20
instructors and, as we understand it, the
Teachers Institutes contemplate, on the other
hand, greater finish, on the part of teach
ers, in the moaus operaaaj of their school la
bors. Especially were they not designed
unless we greatly miscontrue their object-for
presenting and discussing abstruse scientific
hypothesis, but, as we repeat for exercising
teachers in the most thorough, unique, and
successful modes instructing and governing
those in their charge. In accordance with
this well understood intent of these new aux
ilaries in the promotion of the educational
cause, legislative appropriation was immedi-
ately made, and is still made, for them. 1t
is, however, question well worthy to be
considered, whether, as at present conduted,
our Teachers Institutes fulhl-we will not
say their precise original purpose, but-as
profitable an end as is practicable, considering
the amount of public money expended upon
them, and the kind and amount of talent,
easily available, if brought into requsition, to
the accomplishment of that end. 1t is well
known, the present Secretary of the Board of
Education has given considerable popular &C.
lat, as well as general usefulness, by the en-
ployment of gentlemen OF the most recondite
learning, in the department of natural science
we refer to Professors Agassiz and Guyot,
laat11rnrs and that tho oddraSses and die
cussiols of these Sa0antS have formed the
most notable, if not the chief staple, for some
time past, of all the Institutes held in this
State, sometimes to the exclusion of any par
ticipation in the exercises, on the part of the
Secretary himself, if we except the religious
deyotons, and a few extemporaneous remarks
of a general character.
Now, we do not for moment doubt, that,
in pursuing this course, the Secretary is actu-
ated by desire to promote the largest good !;
nor, can it be doubted that, on the score of
general usefulness and edi6cation, lectures by
gentlemen of such scientific requirements, as
these are, III the highest degree, valuable to
the community, and that multitudes through
out our State have thus been privileged to lis
ten to what, perhaps, they would otherwise
have always been ignorant Of But we cannot
for our own part, viewing these Institutes as
established and supported by the State, thro
liberal drafts upon its treasury, for the special
purpose which we have indicated above we
cannot believe that the time consumed and
the expense involved i'll abstruse scientific
lectures, highly theoretical, for the most
part, and abounding with difficult technical
ties, and tasklng the understanding and the
memory of the most painstaking listeners
are within the legitimate scope Of the leach
ers Institutes, or are adapted to permanently