The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1856-02-01
educational progress and Improvement.

educational progress and Improvement
The most marked improvement recently eff
iected n the system, has been in its corps Of
teachers. With almost unparalleled disiutpt-
! eStedness aud devotion 10 the noble cause III
which they are engaged, tie common school
teachers of the Slate, have in almost every
/ county been using all the means aud appliances
within their power, for self Improvement
These efforts, so cFednahle TO them, have been
/ highly beneficial in their results aud clearly
I prove the necessity, and point with unerfihg
certainty 10 the establishment of State Normal
schools. Teachers meetings for day have
4 gwen place TO institutes for wpek and these
again 10 numerous Normal meetings continuing
! from enc TO three months. Al every step in
this progression, it has become more apparent
that permanent institutions, with their proper
professors and appliances, which nothing bot
the pow er OF the State can provide, are denan-
Died by, and would meet the wants OF the syS-
tenn and the occasion.
Ia concrdng this boon TO our children, thro'
their teachers, We are encouraged by the exam
pie OF other counties, and the experience of the
past. 1t is remarkable fact, that no State
OF our Union, nor nation of the old world, has
perfected its system of public instruction,
without schools for the professional training OF
teachers, established and supported by the pub
lie authority and means; and it is no less remark
able. and still more +ncoul aging, that no such
institution has ever vet been abandoned. From
Prussia, whose experience in this regard, is that
OF century and a quarter, 10 that OF our young
sister Michigan, whose existence is as Of yeStet
day, the Normal school has been tried through
out Christendom with unvarying sncess.
This result is in full harmony with the laws
of mind and of human society. Teaching is a
high and honorable profession; aud'no profession
has more ardnouS and complex duties 10 perform
no one greater responsibilities TO mtet--and
no onr operates on, or with, such valuable and
interesting material. The most thorough pre-
paratlon is, therefore, requisite and as the du-
ties to br performed are not only responsible, but
delicate, and moral or religious feelings and
rights of the citizen no source is so safe, no au-
thority for their discharge SO free from suspicion
or bias. as the State. Teachers trained by the
State, and representing the vitality of lis repub
lcanism, will be The firm support and sure guar
antee OF lis republican equality.
II is time also that the teaching mind should
reseme lis true place in the schools. In the
communication of knowledge, 10 be effective,
mind, IN sympathetic contact, must act upon
mind, and with living, sptaking energy, leave
It's impress there. The Great Master himself
thus trained the school which was to reform a
world. But now the book has too much intrui-
I'd itself between the teacher and the Taught
The teacher has too much become the mere eX-
ponent of the printed page, and the mind Of the
learner the impressed copy Of the text. In thus
saying, the value and Importance OF books, as a
means of knowledge, are not intended TO be-
overlooked or decried but the uses OF agencies
have their limits; and when we find the book
nSurpng the place of the teacher, 10 the injury
OF the mind of our youth, we should restore
each 10 It's proper pos,on-require from each
the performance Of lis appropriate functions,
and thus confer upon both the full measure OF
heir usefuineSS.
As IN eSprdirnt to supply the place of reg
lar Normal schools tiI established, and as d
valuable auxiliary 10 them when in operation,
he Teachers Institute would be of unquesion-
able value. 1t would bring together the teach
srS of county under the best Influences, for
consultation and improvement, and exhibit
hem before their f-llow-citzens IN their pro-
per professional character. A portion Of the
means of the State or oi the respective counties,
applicable to educational improv emrnt, could
rot be more prohtably applied, than 10 the en-
of the meeting OF at least one such
institute. annually. in each county. An ex-
wriment of this kind recently made in the cour-
Y Of Chester, is said to have been eminFntiy
nccessiai and strongly indicative OF the Wis
iom OF the measure.
il, in addition 10 these, or similar measures,
he Legislature should teel warranted-and The
UeaSure has all the sanction to the annual State
to common schools, believe that
III "ill be done which the patriotism of the peo-
)le'S representatives can now effect and | do
lot hesitate to express the opionion that the
Ime has come for this prompt, full and decisive
ction Let the integrity of the system, in ITS
,reat purposes and objects, be maintained; and
changed, changed only 10 render 1t more el-
lcient. and to increase lis power for greater
Whatever else may distinguish
our present session, il IS hazardng little to pre-
let, that more honor and bntft will result
rom the perfection of the common school system
i education, than from any other exercise of
ou. legislative powers.
The post morfem examination off the body of
Mss Ida Morgan, who died at the office of DR..
Emery, Broomfrld street, resulted in finding
hat she died from the inhalation of cholrolorm,
hough in good state Of bodily health before TAX
ng il. The chloroiorm had changed her blood
D water. She had inhaled IT at previous
me, and had telt bad effects from it. The chic
otorm in the present instance was pure, and the
Snal quantity was given on sponge. One APP
lcation did not produce insensibility, and at the
atient's request the sponge was again placedto
er nose. After thlrd application she attemp-
I'd 10 get up, but failed, aud her head rolled to
be sidt' OF the chair. She was then placed
pom lounge, breathing heavily, but soon her