The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1855-01-13

nus sufficient TO establish branches, and to
organize and support large number oi
teachers institutes IN different parts OF Tie
state The contracts which | have made
are, however, subject to the approval of the
legislature. r. these contracts the pub
fishers have agreed not to charge higher than
the prices named for each book, AS no
other state has offered them the same IN
luccMeutS, and aS they could not dl'"r!min-
ate between their customers from the sever
al states, they have agreed to pay this boz
nus to the state, aud TO furnish the books, So
that the pupils in Illinois may not only be
supplied at As low price "a thcy have here
tofor2 paid, bu. as low IS the price TO he
paid by the pupils in other states. The
plan, therefore, instead Of levying Il contri-
button on the scholar in the form o. tax on
the books, protects him against the danger
Of enhancement in the price, and allows to
him the benefit Of any reduction in prices 70
other states, and may be returned to HIM by
atfording facilities for acquiring, at less
price an education in the common schools.
cannot too strongly urge the importance
Of state normal school, the object Of which
will be to elevate the profession OF a teacher,
and place it on level with the other learned
professions. For all the other professions,
arts and trades, schools have been establish
ed. Then why should the teaching proies.
/ sion, one Of the most important of them all,
/ be neglected? In this normal school ] pro-
pose to provide for a practical education, in
/ which shall be included not only what is
/ commonly embraced in the common school
I ,.,,.,;oot tp,,u.t taiu Of tho sri.
enccs in their application 20 the ordinary
pursuits Of If. II is not intended TO have
prosecuted in this institution the various
branches of manufactures and the mechanic
arts, nor agriculture. except so far as may
be necessary TO teach agricultural chemistry
and vegetable physiology. ! only priyide
for instruction in the scicnces, so far as they
can be taught by the study Of the best text
books, lectures, aud experiments with an
apparatus for illustrating the most important
points Of each science,
Such an institution should BE located on
tract OF land large enough for a fair applica-
ton Of the science Of agricultural chemistry
and vegetable physiology, and also, for bo-
tanical garden. Such an institution, under
the direction Of a well qualified superintend-
ent, would not only send forth a host ofablc
and efficient teachers for our common schools,
( but would send forth food Of light to the
people, and produce the most happy results
| in the ordinary pursuits Of life. To this
school vast numbers Of pupils might be
transferred by the various township boards,
where their education would be rs well per-
f.cted as in the best Of colleges, and where
they would be einincntly and especially fitted
G., ,I Ia. ,,,ll.ut e ssinnl-tb.f a n fercI.
. Crs Of y0uH.
I 1t is deemed matter Of Importance that
all our common schools be supplied es early
I as practicable with a standard authority OF
our language, TO which both pupil and
teacher can refer for the proper use and
meaning Of words, anu for their orthosraphy
and pronunciation. Our youth should be
tau lit in all our schools the ccrrcct use of the
English language. Great care should be
taken TO eradicate proyincislism, and TO pro.
cure that purity and uniformity of language
50 much to be desired. 1t will operate as a
bond OF national brotherhood to the count
less thousands, who seek amonSOs a com
mon country, common language, and a
common destiny. A purchase, by legisIa.
tive authority, is therefore recommended, Of
a sufficient number Of copies Of Webster I
American Dictionary Of the English langu-
age, unabridged, to supply each dis;rinct in
the state with copy. This great work is
the Acknowledged standard wherever the
English tongue IS heard, and is the only die
tonary adapted to the present State vi sci
cnce and literature. II is equally indspen'
sable that each pupil should have copy ot
a school abridgment Of the same work.
The primary school, the high school, th(
academy and the university editions from .
complete series OF standard dictionaries, hav'
iag the same general merits that the larg,
work contains For the purpose Of securing
uniformity in the use Of language as well a,
in orthography and pronunciation, | would
therefore recommend Websters' School DIG
,ionares for class books in all our common
schools and that sufficient sum be set apar'
for the purchase by the state ola copy of tho
unabridged dictionary for each Of the schoo
districts of the state.
Thus have set forth to your exceency
the result Of my official labors, thus far
Trusting that it may be acceptable to you
excelIency and to the legislature Of TIT
state
have the honor to be your cxccllency'!
most Obcdient servant,
NlNIAS W. EpwARps,
State Superintendent cf Public Instruction