Thibodaux minerva. [volume] (Thibodaux, La.) 18??-1858, 1856-05-10
EDUCATIONAL DEPARTMENT.
j. BRYsoN BURROWS. EDITOR.
Normal Schools.

scnOOs Vi the State are accomplishing iesS Soo'
than they ought. Thousands and thousands O
dollars have been expended. Scheolhouses hav'
been multiplied in every parish, and pains taken t.
secure to every child within our borders the bless
ings of an education. And yet We seem to have
scarcely made commencement in the good work
We have the mechanical part of school legislation
but lack life and spirit to put it into motion. t.
make it answer the purpose for which it was created
The existence Of this state Of things is general,
attributed to the deficiency of our school laws, ant
it is often wondered that our Legislature does no
proceed at once to draft new system. This woult
be no triAing task; it would require months o
comprehensive and ineligible, which would be
adapted to our condition and the varied wants O
the people in the different sections Of the State
We cannot agree with many of our friends who
advocate an entire change Of the present system
Sudden and arbitrary changes in education, as GER
tainly in politics, would prove of dangerous ten
dency and doubtful ISSUE and perhaps revert in the
end to the unhappy station from which they set
out. Our present school structure is by no means
perfect-but it may be improved The end and
aim of legislation should be to perfect its work, and
the first most important step towards improving
what has already been done, we conceive to be the
preparation Of men to conduct our common schools
Without competent teachers, men educated to
majority of teachers at present in the State are
from abroad, and teacS only as a means to some
other employment. 70 be useful and successful
teacher man must make teaching his profession,
he must study its wants. must make himself &C.
quainted with its theory and practice, must labor
efficiently and tremendously for its good, must un-
derstand the branches he is called upon to teach,
have the faculty of imparting what he knows his
principles of life his personal habits his individual
objects his tastes and amusements, his whole being
and demeanor, must be properly trained so that he
may be enabled to form the minds and shape the
destinies of those he instructs.
We have plenty of mind at home which, by a
few years preparation, can be fitted to fill every
school in the State equally as well, perhaps better
than those who come from other States, and who
are accustomed to our climate, acquainted with
the manners and customs of the people and familiar
with their wants. To prepare these minds We must
have normal schools where they will learn their
duty and how to perform it.
These schools have been established in many of
cur sister States, and are doing wonders. In Mas
sachusetts they have fve all of which are realizing
the fondest hopes of their founders. There is one
in Connecticut which has been founded several
years. Also noble ones in New York and New
Jersey. Ohio and Pennsylvania are making ample
provisions for number of these schools, and even
Michigan, but few years in the Union, win soon
have institutions of this kind, literally endowed and
in successful operation. A normal school bill was
presented to last Legislature, and reported upon
favorably by the committee to which it was referred
From its illibera and contracted spirit we sincerely
hope it may never become law. We have not
the time to review it at present, but will present
few of its Objectionable provisions 1t first selects
two pupils from each congressional district and two
from the State at large which would be ten teachers
to educate SO, 900 children of the State II gives
to the State Superintendent the power Of selecting
these pupils, which is dangerous power and should
not be given to him Or any other man. Itconnects
the school with private institution, thereby Grip
ping its energies and making the private school
pet of the State. 1t takes FIVE thousand dollars Of
the common school fund and appropriatesit for the
education Of the ten pupils selected.
We will present few leading points of the nor
NAL schools of New jersey and New York by way
Of comparison. Each township in New Jersey is
entitled to pupil, to be selected by the Board Of
Education or school committee. Candidates must
be at least sixteen years of age, must possess an
unexceptionable moral character, and be in sound
bodily health. They must be able to sustain good
examination in reading. spelling, geography, arith
metic and grammar, and must sign declaration
Of intention to teach public schools in the State for
At least two years. We believe the tuition Of the
pupils is partly paid by The townships sending
The New York normal school employs nine teach
ers, Of whom those not edneated at the school are
denominated professors f.he pupils are double in
number to the members + the Legisature-two
hundred and ifty-six in Annual State appro-
priation, $4,000. Each pupil duly appointed re-
ceives mileage. Pupils are appointed BY town
school boards. M r H4
& We shah refer to this subject At some future
period and will call attention to the following brief
private letter from scientific and classical gentle
man Of New Orleans. 1t contains many valuable
suggestions on this important subject which we |
hope viii be valid excuse for its publication:
NEW ORLEAxs, April ae, 1856.
J. B. RURRows, Esq.-Dear SIR: To any one |
who has paid attention to the imparting Of educa.
ton, one thing must have been observed-the diff. |
6culty Of getting teacher who knows how to
teach not that we have not among our teachers
many estmable men, well learned, but Is teacher
i is useless = man knowing if he does not know
how TO make others know ~ ss
In foreign universities / have sometimes been
quite disappointed on going into lecture-room Of
professor whom have known well by his wri-
tings. and hearing not the lucid explanations
expected from his works. but perhaps dry lecture
read over, without any action or attempt at elocu
aon but let the same professor carefully correct /
the very same lecture and put it in print, and you
would read it over with pleasure. Il Is the want
Of this knowledge, or tact II YOU 50 choose to cali
i that has called for the Normal Schoolsn a I
normal school is therefore, school not for scholars