Delaware weekly Republican. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1841-188?, 1857-03-12
EN ADDRESS

Nv pREjT j. M RhMbA-'s "
COLLEGE,.
Delivered before the Lesislaigre q Ds'a''"re'
Feb. l7h, 1871
Gentlemen Of the Senate and House q repre- IP
saatatires The Board OF trustees Vi ~ n
~ ,rs CHlleqe. and other friends of popular cd
ucation. have submitted to your iaNoftDle con-
aidoration. a memorial in which they sohcit tne
.'nnnai annronriation of $1,000, for the estao-
lshment and support of the Normal SCHOOL, IN
connection with Delaware college. ~
AS the President Of this insiltatlon aau t,.o
representative Of the board, holding an import
ami and official relation TO the educational m
terests of the State, gladly agail myself TINS
nnnnrtttnity to m Ire such observations on Tue
nature and objects Of the plan proposal, US IT'S
impo r.ance seems to demand
After several years residence IN ifslilia' |
have returned to ms native State, to assume
tho RESPONSIBILITIES OF an institution created ny
larslatiye enactment, more than twenty years
ago. and as a DelaWarian, would speak 70
tho Delawarians--t0 my iailow-c'tlZehs OF
Kent. Sussex and New Castle-oh qucstlShs
which are vital to the best interests o. ali cur
population. -,
vigionaassscheme for the good of u tdr-Oh peo-
pls butto Illustrate the practical workingS Of
4 lsysfeut - lch is for the benent % !oul eAll-
rren. and my children ofthe chlidfeh OF your
constituents, friends and mel - ~ 10, Lor tiie
lseislators, in State and Natioh councils
otr uhvsiciaAs, lawyers, Judges, herchahts,
maehanics. clergymen and farmers; and on
l7ghbn. after a brief period, will deyolVe tue
CTS and responsibility of every pubuc trust
and honor in the State. ..,,,u
most cheerfully assume, that IL ms hou i.t
able Legislature is convinced, that the estao
nshment of a Normal School, Will really ano
Affiaiently promote the cause OF edheatloh II
our State, that it will receiye their cofniai ap
proval. That il the adoption OF SUCH measure
can effect the beniacent results winch IL alhis
40 secure, no vote Of any member Oh t"'' "ou'
will be recorded against It,
The issue which is presented to your consul
GRAFTON il simple unembarrassed with ONE
questions on education, winch nave ehclttu
conflict Of opinion. 1t stands upon an lhde
pendent basis, and merits your support MhA'
ever may be your views, as 10 pefMWltht taA
alton. rediStricting the State, or Il 9cherai ~
nerintendency for common schools. 1ou haV
district schools and will continue to have them
Iftnis be so, the only inquiry We propose i
should these schools hare competent or idconlp
tent teachers? Should The chtIdre: Dc ies
taught or imperfectLy iastTGctea! ShouiI
large portion OF the money aud time rxpende
for educational purposes bu virtually throw
away, when it might secure a hundred iol
more OF goodi
Ii should be fully understood, that the adYC
Gates Of Normal School are in no inlnnor ~
nponsiblo for the facts and statistics "hieh !
painfully represent the deficiencies in our con
mon school system; and the Imperative nece
tity for an efficient corpse Of wcll-uSlheQ trac
,.rs We take the statements given i'll Il
census made by requisition OF government, al
the reports OF those whose work II u 10 outu
acSurlte information. We all understand WI
are She rrlI wants aud necessities of orr Stal
as Il regards popular educatoni and il is
The bis.s oI existing facts, that we appeal
those who can supply these wants.
In other States, thg t-achersi III actual serEi
have bocn most earnest in urging the est
lishment Of Normal Schools, and hope til
will manifest u like spirit here. In this mo'
ment they arc recognized as most useiui a
important class Of our fellow citizens; and
Normal school, will give dignity and value
their procession. That many of those now
The field are doing all in their power for the
struCtion and culture Of their pupils IS
questioned. But there is great principle
Yolvei principle which recognizes teaehi
as nm. art and science; aud until this is pT0pt
Is understood and appreciated, all labor
popular education will be mtsdirecteu a
comparatively trnitless.
The philosophy Of the question Is siml
This as physicians are trained Tor their p
tession in schools Of medicine, aud civilians
schools Of law, and cergymen IN schools
theology, and mechanics IN the various bran
es of mechanical employment, SO should teL
ars be in the art vi teaching. That as
ROudlnnt risk the leather WIN the man Mh5
never made u pair OF shoes, or broalcloth v
one who had never used the needle, OF bu
inn materials with the mechanic WHO had
skill in the use of tools, or your property '
the lawyer who had no knowledge of law
your life with tho physician who had
ucuuaiutlnco with medicine so you she
not intrust the immortal minds OF y
children, when most impreSsible -the Ii
of infinitely more valHe than shoe-lea
or broadclOth, or property 10 those, vino /
neither the knowledge, to impart, nor tho
TO tuachit. 1t is tho design oil ormal Scho
10 dispel that deusion, as fatal as II is uni
sal; that whilst there should be an apprent
shin to all other occupations, even to the
king OF a pin, that no training is hcceSsar.
cali into vigorous action the mental power
discipline the mind-to educate the man
elicit thought, thought which governs
world. That the proper culture OF an ini
tai nature, the only work at whose re9pt
bilities an angel might tremble, should be
40 the nisdirected efforts OF any who nigh
n .slime it,
Normal Schools are elementary institute
-in which the best methods Of instruction
discipline are practieed, and whittier those
1urpose to teach resort; that they may
For more extended information, in r.
4nce to the origin aud history Of =, o
khools, ride Banvlrd's Education in EuT
tho School Reports in those States
exist am uEder obligations Tor
hensed sketch, to the Report of Proit
bps, presented TO the Legislature OF
ssy, 1856.