Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-12-10
Teacher, save Gle who taught as never man

~S'' "Se W ouppOseu IbdJ Wnen L urge JnlS
plea for the establishment of the Normal School
among ms, an institution where Teachers are to be
taught the art of teaching, that would have its
benefits confined to the stronger sex alone No;
let an equal number Of both sexes be there prepar-
ed for the good work. Woman needs education,
not smattering of sciences; she needs true thor.
ough cultivation, not few snowy accomplishments
she Is to be the mother, she is to trace the first
characters upon the pure page of childhood; she is
TO Inst the first lessons she ia to scatter the first
tiny seeds of knowledge, and sit is the seed first
sown which sinks into the deepest burrows" Let
woman he well educated if broad and sure fouu
daton Is to be laid for future honor prosperity
and renown. Her mind is formed for improve
ment, aud her duty it is to seek that Improvement
according TO her opportunity and her capacity. II
the sexes are equal in the point of mental capacity
and what thinking man or woman doubts it at this
day!-iet their advantages be equal or if as some
yet assert, woman is intellectually the "weaker
vessel," then in simple justice allow her educa-
tional advantages to the same degree in which her
mental capacity is deficient In support of my
opinion of the intellectual equality Of the sexes
might quote much good authority. Two instances
shall suffice. Prof. Larribee asserts, "That for
twenty years he has presided over large seminal
ries, frequented by young men and maidens indis-
criminatey: that during that time some three or
four thousand individuals of both sexes must have
passed under his personal instruction; that he has
had female students, who, with only equal oppor>
tunites, outstripped their male classmates in every
department of science; that the best linguists and
mathematicians he ever knew were young ladies',
and these not remarkable exceptions, only the bet
ter among the good" The Rev. Mr.. Winslow tes-
tfes on this wise: Having been engaged for
years in teaching, and having had charge of the
education of females well males, in every
stage of progress have uniformly found that their
iDtellects were active, vigorous, comprehensive,
quick to learn and slow to forget; as competent to
grasp and master the highest studies of mathemat-
les and philosophy; to acquire a knowledge of
Logic Rhetoric and Composition, or to surmount
the difficulties of the dead languages, those of
the other sex, and often, so, owing prob.
ably to a more digent application"
But, it may be objected, should Normal School
be established, you surely would not educate can
equal number of both sexes" together? Assured
ly, yes-probably that would be the better arrange
ment in all institutions of learning. / am aware
of the prejudice, the "holy horror" which most
persons entertain against the 'mixed school"-of
course they not responsible for my opinions
1t is perhaps impossible to elevate girls as high in
tellectually without the companionshp of boys as
with them, and il is certainly impossible TO raise
boys as high morally, without the association of
girls. Nor does this idea at all conflict with an
above expressed opinion of the equality of the sex
es, for their capacities may be equal but they res
qure similar advantages for development GEL
ebrated Teacher in Glasgow, Scotland uses the fol-
lowing language in reference to this s1bject
"The youth of both sexes of our Scottish peas
antrY have been educated together, and as a whole
the Scots are the most moral people the face of
the globe. Education, in England, is given scpa-
ratey, and we have never heard from practical
men that any benefit has arisen from this arrange
ment. Some influential individuals there mourn
over the popular prejudices on this point. IT, Dub
lin, larger number of girls turn out badly, who
have been educated alone ill they attain the age
Of maturity, than of those who have been other
wise brought up-the separation of the sexes
has been found to be positively Injurious. In
France, the separation of the sexes has been
found to be very injurious 1t is stated on the best
authority that of those girls educated in the schools
Of conveHs apart from boys, the great majority go
wrong within month after being let loose on so.
ciety, and meeting the other sex. They cannot, it
is said. resist the slightest compliment or hatery
The separation is intended to keep them strictly
moral but this unnatural seclusion actually gener.
ates the principle desired to be avoided"
IT
Tennessee, would appeal, is there not necessity
for the establishment of Normal School among usp
| say that appeal to woman, for though she cans
net, and / would not have her, rule by stump
speaking, convention, ballot box she ought, and
must, and does rule by the great though quiet soul
power, which silent as the blood coursing through
the arteries of life throbs on forever, and ceases
but with the existence of the body which it WHITES.
She may rouse man to the struggle, though she
may not rush into the bloody swell of battle shout
ing his war cry, and exulting over his fallen foe
Side by side she may stand with him in an effort
like this, however, but let her keep her eye clear
of the binding dust Of his chariot wheels that she
may guide by the dictates of her unstained and |
untrammeed soul when his eye is dimmed and his |
spirit fettered in the Strife by petty interest or |
personal ambition.
Who, then, will be the pioneer of the South in |
this great enterprise? Shall not Tennessee be the
"banner State" leading on to 'deeds of high en-
prise!" Shall not her good right arm level the hills
and I'll up the valleys and point the way into the |
Frightening fields of general and thorough cultiva.
ton? viii she not take hold of this subject thought
fully but fearessly, will not her citizens bring to.
gether their experience, their zeal, their knowl-
edge, and in one great common effort combine TO
give our State an institution which She as well as
the entire South, so greatly needst To the shame
Of Southern people the question Of Education was
ignored both at the Memphis and
Charleston Convent.ons-what will be done at Sa~
vannah remains yet to be seen. But ''ths people
must rise in their strength. Combined and efficient
action on their part, may If continued at length,
arouse the dormant energies of hitherto supinev,
not TO say stupidity culpable Legislature and set in
motion those grand forces which shall sweep the !
armies and defenders Of besotted Ignorance from
every border of our land. To accomplish this il
we're better TO form new Legislature, the old has
been doing nothing 20 long that its energies are
partially parayzed and not to be relied on. Elect
who viii study and for your vital interests
rather than a company of idlers who can only de-
fle your beautiful Capitol with the fumes of brandy
ara tobacco. Allow the noble few Who At the last
session fought and worked for this institution so
bravely and WE'LL be cheered at last by full and
hnal success. Will you act upon this matterl If
you would bot think there is no twill you?" in the
ease; you must &c, if you would not have upon
POUR hearts aud consciences the "inuoceut blood OF
souls"
FoREsT HoNE, 1856.
COngresS--YcSIerday.
The session was brief one ia both Houses.
Ia the SENATE the ceath Of the Hon. JoHN u.
rIAYrnN of Delaware MAs annnnnca1 hr LII.