Thibodaux minerva. [volume] (Thibodaux, La.) 18??-1858, 1856-01-26
Teachers Association.

Teachers Association, of which notice will b
found in another column, promises to be one
unusual interest and profit The addresses, til
reports and discussions will give sufficient variet
to the exercises and it is confidently expected tina
large attendance will be secured. From the frs
moment this question was agitated by our inte
gent townsnan, Mr.. Burrows, we were forcibl
impressed Of the usefulness of such an organization
and the benefits which would spring from it, Tn
question is often asked: What ought to be don
for the improvement of our common schoolss ]
is admitted by all that they are accomplishing ia
less than they ought-that the great mass of thos
employed as teachers are not fully Or properl,
qualified for the employment-that school officer
do not discharge their duties efficently-that thu
great majority of school houses are not suitable TO
the purpose--that scholars do not attend schoo
with sufficient regularity to form the habit Of study
or to derive any substantial benefit from the in
struction given-and hence, that large share o
money expended for schools, is actually thrown
away. The existence of this state of things i.
generally attributed to the deficiencies in the
School Laws; and it is the opinion of most who
system ought to be re-modeled, and the wonder is
often expressed that the Legislature has not before
now proceeded to draft new one.
While we are aware of the many defects of the
present School Law, We would yet respectfully
suggest that it is not so much in the defects of the
law, as in the incompetency of teachers, that the
great evil rests. A teacher, whether in a public
or private, in high or low school, to exert sal
utaHy influence on children, must be man OF
knowledge must have creative energy, to mold
their minds; to teach them to think and reason,
to choose and purpose. And how can this be
more beneicially done, than by such an organza-
zation? Here mind is improved in proportion as
it comes in contact with mind" The knowledge
possessed by each is cast into common store,
from which each draws at pleasure Here the
teacher lays aside, for the time being, his dignity
as an instructor, and assumes the attitude Of
learner. He gathers information from all, both as
to the science taught, and the manner of teaching
it. His mind comes in contact with minds of diff.
ferent characters, and derives improvement from
all; thus qualifying him, when he returns to his
school, to discharge more faithfully his duties as
teacher.
Nor are the benefits of this organization confined
alone to the profession Of teaching 1t teaches the
school officer his duty, points out to him new
field of labor, and new responsibilities. 1t presents
to the active friend of education systematic ar
rangement of educational topics-the one morally
bearing upon the other; and by mutual inter-
change of thought, brings order out of confusion,
and spreads blessings broadcast over the land. We
are sorry to learn that there is disposition on the
part OF some persons, to misrepresent the Assoca-
ion and affiliate it with politics. We beg leave to
assure all that this opinion is entirely unfounded.
Every member of the Executive Committee is per-
nanenty located as a school officer or teacher and
he same is true of the President and many of the
,ther officers; and we hazard nothing in saying
hat the only object any active member of the As
ISOLATION has in view is the promotion by the most
Efficient means, of the cause of popular education.
The LAFouRcHE UNION. - This journal has
ecenty changed hands, the stock-company having |
old out to Messrs. ROMAN, V1eNEAUD & KENNEDY.
t purports to be the accredited organ Of Wings
Anti-Know Nothings, Democrats, Catholics, and
LIBERAL Professionals; and has for its chief aim the
Fefense of CIVIL religious and political liberty, and
o unite in the democratic fold the scattered REM
ants of the old conservative national Wing party
What Union! What an undertaking! But |
s the task is selfimposed, we doubt not that with
Roman at the head, it will be able to surmount |
very difficulty, and prove to an incredulous world
hat some things can be done as we'll as others.
he "leader" in tie present issue informs us that
1 the three editors found the four elements of
ur population, viz: Whiggery, Democracy, Amer
,anism, and Creoleism. We should like the
ditorial trio Of the Union to point out the differ
nee between Americanism and Creoleism! What
institutes the one, and what the other? We have
ways been simple enough to believe that there
xisted no difference whatever between the ma
YES Of the same country-no matter from what
uropean race they sprung. May be, the trio
'asons that mare may be horse, but horse
an never be a mare. If such is the case, the
lquiry arises-which is the one, and which the
ther? Echo answers, which?
Again, if there exists four political elements in
ewspaper having but three editors, how is it pos
BILE that they can represent four different political
pinions, unless one of the said editors possesses
lore attributes than generally falls to the lot of man.
necessarily follows that he that acts the double
art, must have been reared on house top and
punished with weather-cocks.
BALL AT THE BANK.-The present winter, not
the extreme cold, and otherwise in
ement state Of the weather, has been one of more
an usual gaiety. Balls and parties have been the
ecial order Of the day-we should say night &
ace the commencement of the holidays In truth, I
If pleasure-loving citizens have been in dancing z
tendance before the throne of Terpsichore for h
ar two months, and the end is not yet. il
The entertainment given by Capt. R. G. Darden I
d lady, to the Lafourche Dragons, on the night !
the 18th inst, may justly be styled the ball of il
Q season; for, in number of participants, as well
in other respects it by far exceeded All others Il