Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1855-07-21
From tho Ohio Farmer.
THE SCHOOL TEACHERS CONVENTION IN
CLEVELAND.

A Convention Of the Association Of Common
School Teachers of the State of Ohio commenced
its session on Thursday A. NJ, July 5th and ad-
Iiourned Friday p. NJ. July 9th, after five meetings.
We have rarely seen u more intelligent body of
men and women convened in any plpce. 1t is q
great promise for popular education when such an
assembly can be gathered and held together for
two days. The results are not seen principally in
the formal action of the Association, or in what
may he said in its speeches, but in the natural in
6uence of several hundred good minds upon each
other Coming up from the limitations of pro-
fession necessarily isolated, mJnot0nous, and
tending to generate the alternate evils of selfre-
proach and sef-concet in its members, thes G
teachers are aroused to ncw life break the chains
Of routine, and are at once encouraged and correc-
ted in the pecuaritieS Of their professional char
acter. The contact of a professional body with Il
fresh community, which such a gathering implies,
is also great advantage on both sides; for a con
venton of teachers Will silence many n grumbler
against the teacher of his children, and the
hospitality of a community is pleasant compen-
saton for the Indifference of individuals to this
great work Of public instruction Altogether, this
convention has been public benefit to the State
no less than to those composing it, apart from thi
measure of public utility it las inaugurated.
In every large convention we ever attended, tn
has Antof valuable action and speech, compare
to the Indifferent, has been in the ratio of graii
of wheat so bushel of chaif. The grains o
wheat in this assembly which be trusted t
bear lasting fruit, were first, the action on til
establishment of Normal School; and secondly
the address of the Rev. Mr. Thome, and portions
of the remaining addresses.
If nothing had been done but the action on the
establishment of Normal School for teacheas the
convention would have vindicated its right to Il
session of month. We believe nobody can over
estimate the importance of this step in it's effects
on the common schools of Ohio 1t NAV not be
1l,-E l1t MpN pfI
son county, Ohio, has generously offered dona-
ton of grounds and buildings, well adapted for
University purposes, valued at $4,000, to the
Teachers Associations on condition that this body
contributes $4,000 within q reasonable time, and
approprates the situation and funds forever to the
object of Normal school instruction. The Associ-
alton chose committee of eleven to consider Mr.
McNeeley's proposition, and unless others more
favorable are made, accept it and take measures
for securing legal possession of the property
Thus there IS a reasonable prospect that another
year will witness the establishment Of the first
Normal School in Ohio.
That the 100000 children of the third State in
the Union demand teachers in the Common School
more cultivated, both in Science and the art Of in
structon, is proposition too simple to require de
fense. We must have cultivated men and women
to mould the intellectual habits Of this mass Of
human beings. All the more do we need the high
est skill in the Western schoOl-room, from the he
terogenious character of the population W can
not prevent the State Of Ohio, snd every ether
Western State from becoming a mixture of al
peoples. This policy of fomenting disorder among
these dissimar clements Of population by polti
cal or theological crusades against any class, il
but the momentary madness of community in
famed by party demagogues and sectarian bgots
We must be one people, and we are now many qeo
pies; and the common school-room, as the intelli
gent agent Of the Wisconsin Teachers Association
remarked in Convention, is the great platform
where this fusion is to be commenced. The teach
ers who can at onco understand and harmonic,
the materials that meet in u Western school, mus
be especially trained in Science, and that knowl
edge of the springs Of human influence which il
the art of ruling hundred pupils. That teachers
can acquire this art without practical instruction
is as absurd a supposition, that any profession
can safely cut loose from its school Of preparatory
culture. The Normal school can be made first
what the profession demands; and we predict that
the establishment Of the one now contemplated
will be an era in the school history Of Ohio. Let
there be no failure on the part Of the community
to respond to this generous proposal, by furnish
ing the funds for the foundation Of such valua-
bic institution.