Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-12-10
For the Nashville Patriot.
A Plea for the Normal School.
BrL. vIncIxIATRExoH.


happens to express any other than an unqualified
belief in the superiority of all the elements, and
philosophy Of American life. | regard America as
the Genius of Enterprise. II some caustie Eng
lish author should represent the genius of America
as delving, wadiDg, scraping in the attitude OF
that spirit 'the least erect of all" in Millions HE'LL
among the rfted guches Of the EIdorado Of the
West, how ready wond we be to ezclaim against
its injustice; we would infer that he was a cynic,
misanthrope or at least that bis digestion was de-
fective, and consequently he was "cross." But
would il not be little too true picture to please
our sensitiveness,-- csricature probably but one
which strikingly sets forth the 'strong points" of
the original? is self-evident proposition" that
that possess our full share of national vanity,
and it is gratifying to that principle, as well
as perhaps more amiable to accept the syren song
OF the atterer than to solnd the depths of our
cial system only to bring into view its barren rocks
and deceptive quicksands But if it be true that
''no man fiatters the woman he truly lovss." may
We not be tempted to question that love of coun-
try which is founded more upon what the ear
has caught, than what the brain has thought
and which is characterized more by partially,
than by an earnest regard for, and bold &C.
knowledgement of truth? If self-criticsm be in
cumbent upon any people, surely it must be upon
as Of the South for that we have our deficiencies,
and that we possess ample means of Improvement,
nay, of even wholly removing those deficiencies,
is equally certain. We are a monotonousy ener
getic, and snowy mass. We have but few noun
tainrlike minds towering above the general level,
minds living for great idea like those OF De Soto,
or Columbus, or Washington. We forget that
there are other veins to be worked than those of
gold; other worlds yet to be discovered; other
realms yet to be redeemed. Absorbed in the show
of things we forget their essence and vitality.
Mrs. Jamison has remarked that all American faces
have an outward look. In fact we are an ''out-
ward" people, if not nation of Considers" We
look too much TO the superfcies All our philoso.
ply of life sttests this As somebody says, we
live on the surface, we live not to enjoy life but
to astonish the "Brownsl" We have faith" too in
our philosophy, our system, or institutions, which
is in many cases but blind confidence. For ex-
ample, is not the unquestoning faith which we
generally repose in our system of Education calcu>
ated to delude U.S. We have too great conf,
dence in this as one of our established 'institu-
tions too little in our individual right to question
its nallibilty;-we bow too servilely to superficial
public opinion, and often think too little TO have
any of our own. We are accustomed to take up.
on credit the ideas OF Others the se-styed leaders
Of this system, and should we even dare at times
to advance contrary opinion, too few of US are
able to give reason for that intuitve 'faith which
is in u.s." Surely to become convinced of the de-
plorable deficiencies of our educational system, we
have but to look around US upon the 'insttutions"
where said system is practised, and upon the re-
cipients after they are, as it is termed, finished
off" II we could be prevailed upon to look upon
these, and think, we could not but be aware that
our necessities call loudly for a reform in such
system. But how many Of US eau take time" to
think? Even when our attention is called to the
fact and startled into some thinglik thought
upon the subject when we are compelled to consid-
or the abuses which every day go on in triumph
around us, how often do we quiet our consciences
by the whisper-"not now, not now, another time
and will think Of this-I will examine,-I will in
vestigate; and so the dread engine of false and
baeful education rolls on, trampling thousands of
pure young minds, crushing thousands OF warm
young hearts in its terrible and pitiless course
If the people of Tennessee could but for mo.
ment realize the Effects of the system which now OBJ.
Iains among them, they would need no tocsin to
sound the alarm to their hearts and consciences
They would stand up before the world like the
worthy Mrs. Mebitable Haskell at the "Woman's
who when she was called upon to |
'that she did not know what are woman's rights, |
but she knew well enough what were woman's |
wrongs, for during fifty years she had felt theml"
Dur people might not know exactly what would |
right" our system; but they would know its
wrongs" for they would feel them. To attain
his sense of wrong, without which we will rot
eek to be righted, the subject must be considered
md discussed. In the sober spirit of inquiry then,
ct the people Of our noble State set about find
ng in it whatever there is of true or false, remark
ng upon every deficiency, unworthiness, or evil,
md giving it credit for any merit, adaptation, or
boOh AbhNCuNC "hiSh ~ may pVecNh1s ~ ~ u SUD
ect which cOmmends itself not only to every con.
iderate parent and rght-minded teacher, but to
very citizen to every patriot, TO every friend of
rue progress.
This method, or want Of method, can scarcely
determine which, will then be tested. In point of
act we are without any real system. We have no
entire, DO organization worthy Of the name. We
ave no HOLLAND House" in education, to refine,
o elevate, 10 enlighten, and to interest all who
ONE within its charmed portals. Our restitution
Normal Schools, and Of institutions for the train
lg Of Teachers has left this large class of proGes
Onal men and women to the adoption OF such.
nance methods of instruction, as either the exam
lie OF their former masters, their own caprice or
idvdual experience could furnish, In too many
Uses, as Is evident upon examination, TO no me-
iods at all. Our commonwealth of education is
erefore all anarchy and confusion. We want
and experience guides. When, and
ow are we to obtain them' If we go to work ear
,sty we shall soon fnd out 'Where there is will,
ere is also way"
Thousands Of men before the time Of Sir Isaac
ewtOn must have sat under apple~trees; many Of
EN- probably may have bad apples to drop upon
cir heads, while not e few perhaps may have
ordered within themselves why the apple should
! IN perpendicular, and not accommodate them
flying Of at a tangent or describing graceful
rive Many one Of them might have guessed
G secret Of the law Of graVi,ation,-yet none Of
EN- ever did IL. whyf Not for want Of intel.
ct We mus, suppose. For want Of thought per-
Ips. Or may be the time was not yet come when
G grand discovery was to be made. We sit year
ter year under our educational apple-trse, the
ID fraisage drops and giving the outside OF our
anams q lolerablY respectable rap. falls 20 The