Bedford inquirer and chronicle. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1854-1857, 1857-04-24

over oineF paFtS OF tue cOutiHout. ounce
thar lime they have been steadily increasing
/ Ia uun,bers and effciehey.
In 1889, Massachusetts, had established
three Normal Schools ConDestieat cue;
New York one, besides special appropria-
! tious to her numerous acada,nies for the
purpose Of adding thereto facilities fer the
instruction Of teachers, New Brunswick
aud g'yfbsf Canada fave eaeh orc of these
schools, both of whicn are most Literally
supported: and Lower Canada has recently
established three.
! Shall the Sta,e Of Penasy syivania, then,
! with her teening population, her widely
extended territory, SO rich in AL elements
of prosperity, destined by nature to be the
crowning glory in the wide arch of our
Onion, fall behind her sisters in this great
work of progress?
Your committee do not think further
statements or arguments necessary to prove
that the time has arrived 10 inaugurate a
system of Normal institutions which will
be worthy of Pennsylvania and of her cdn-
caional interests.
How shall it be most certainly AMI wise
" effeeted7 Your committee arc Of opin-
ion that the bill now in their hanls has
been framed to supply the wants of our
Common School system, and is less oljec-
tionabls than any scheme which has here
toforc been proposed. They consider that
it possesses the great merit of harmonizing
and adapiiog Itself to that system, without
which no plan Of Normal Instruction can
succeed.
1t is quite possible that a system Of pnh-
lie education might be constructed which,
at first sight, would appear more simple,
| more symmetrical and more efficient than
that Of Pennsy lvania, but ex perience would
probably show that the Improvement was
more apparent than real. Whatever its
faults or merits The system is orr own.-
After years Of struggle it is faally essab-
lisErcts, IL fotln tho affecticns, it least ID the
knowledge of the people; and any project
Involving organic change or material depar-
ture from its method Of operation would only
if adopted, result in confusion aud evil
But it will be admitted that To reach the
point of excellence which is its destiny, new
parts must le added, although in the adj
dition of such parts, the important truth
mast be remembered, that to secure their
efficiency and success, they mast conform 70
lis wants as indicated by its owa workings
aud by pub.ie opinion. Que of these parts
is the Normal school. Theory woald affirm
that the G.st reqaisiiion of good system of
education, is the preparation OF the teacher,
aud that the fss; duty of State, in the
creation of such system, is the establish
ment of suitable schools tor bis training
In Pennsylvania, always cautions il the work
Of progress, practice has settled different
policy. For twenty years she has steadily
set her face against such schools as State
Institutions, preferring to devote her ea-
ergies and means to establish and foster the
Common School. Bu:now lhat the Common
School has fought lis way, rot only 10 re-
cognition but TO favor. the reliable, social
legislation of public opibion opens the way
for the Normal school as It's necessary ally
aud support. The bill now before your
committee proposes to give Legislative
sanction and expression to that public opin-
ion BY establishing Normal schools in such
number and withsuch efficiency as to extend
their benefits to the whole Commonwealth,
without imposing upon the people any adj
ditlonal taxation.
The bill groups the counties of the State
into twelve Districts, convenient iu form, in
each Of which Normal School may be es-
tablished by private enterprise, under the
sanction of legislative enactment. Il is
neither Supposed, nor is it perhaps desira-
BILE, that under this bill shonld it become
law. twelve Normal Schools will at once, or
even in the next 6ve years, spring into ex-
istence. Their establishment will be slow.
The Lancaster district, we are informed,
will come fully up to the provisions Of the
bill, by the end Of the summer of 1857, or
or at furthest by January, 1858, if pass
this session. During the year 1858 the Al
legheny and the Chester Districts w;ll prob
ably do the same, and it may be that three
others will report soon after. In all prob
ability one of these three will be received
in 1858 or carly in 1859, thus enabling the
plan to start. But the chief good effect OF
the law will bo found in the fact, that it
will settle the policy of the State on this
question, and thus relieve those who are de-
sircus Of investing in this direction, from
the risk Of composition, or rather rain, BY
the establishment of institutions supported
ey the State Treasury. Again, these
schools will at once, even before recogni-