Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1857-02-23
From the Guardian.
fiOtn tDc Nuot oiaE'
State Eornal school.


An editor, not long since, in an article intro
ducing a letter from father whose little
daughter, for some slight misdemeanOr, had
been seriously frightened by teacher in one
of the Northern cities, expresses the regret
that mothers too much neglect the home edu-
cation of their young children; and charges
much of the evil consequences upon the teach
ers to whose care the little Ones are entrusted
An evil here presents itself to the consider
alton of thinking parents. and demands rein
edy. 1t IN great evil which o5servant men
and women haze long regarded with anxiety,
that, among the many engaged in the profes-
sion of teaching in our State, so lew are fuly
qualified for the responsible duties deVoiVlhs
upon them Some have endeavOred TO rene
dy II, and Fave succeeded so far as regards the
education of their own children. Bot there
is aoother evil which is in measure the cause
Of,the former, and goes hand in hand with II.
IL is the failure of the Legislative Department
to adopt measures commensurate with the
incr easing demand. All regard education as
one of the strongest supports OF republican
government, and as such, entitled to its foster
ing care. But how sadly has our State failed
in its duty to the causpl How far short of the
desired result are the measures adopted! Pol
iticans have 'harped' upon this, often making
it hobby upon which to ride into office.
Legislators have handled it very slightly.
Both evils yet remain and debar the mass
of the children from the benefits of that which
tends most to make good and intelligent citl
Zens.
A remedy for one of these evils was pro-
posed at the last session of the Legislature by
yonng member who deserves all praise for
his efforts; but it was rejected. Mrs. L. FIR-
Gil IA FRENCH, in an able article in a late nuns
Der of the Nashville Patriot, presents the same
remedy with strong recommendations and ur
yes its adoption. That Remedy is the estab
lishment of State Normal School. Let the
Legislature establish such school, and we can
then obtain teachers possessing, not only the
literary qualifications but that which is OF equal
Importance, the capacity OF impsrtirg to youth
those seeds of knowledge which will germi-
nate and grow up into that perfect structure
admired and loved by all. Let our Legisla-
tors adopt measures to increase the School
Fund, that conpetant teachers may not be
driven for want of support to other pursuits;
but have some inducement to continue in the
profession. Let schools be sustained, not for
two or three months in the year, but for eight
or even ten months. Then we will be in
situation to rise from that position which the
last census proves we occupy.
LANDoR says, cit is not by cOncealing what
is wrong, that anything right can be accom-
plished" Let it not be concealed then that our
present Common School system is wrong. Ex-
perience has proved ii To be so. The wrong
must be- brought to light and the right pur~u.
ed. If in our headlong rush in pursuit OF the
almighty dollar" we have left behind that
which is the support OF our institutions, we
mnst stop and correct the error. Mothers must
cease awhile their devOtions at the shrine OF
Fashions and turn their attention more 10 the
interests of the tender ones of the family. Fa-
theirs must lose little more time from then
counting rooms and fields, and look TO the re-
moval or this evil. Then will come again those
days of old, so pleasant to the recoll ectiOn OF
many fathers and mothers. Joyous children
will compose each family circle, eager to catch
the words OF instruction from the lips of a fond
father or mother. The toll Of the day should
not be so hard as TO destroy the pleasure of
meeting around the evening lamp the young
and inqusitve minds of the family. Let pa
rents labor to obtain food for the bodies of the
little ones bat freely give, if it be only crumbs,
food for the mind. Both mind and body shoald
grow up under gentle and regular exercise;
and much can be effected toward such a con-
summation if teachers apd parents will work
IN concert. concert OF ACTON between teachers
and parents will accomplish everything desra-
bic in the education OF youth; and without il,
little can be done.
Ii it is the education of the mass of chill
dren, that will accomplish the desired end; a
State Normal School will properly fit teachers
for the work. The establishments of great
Schools here and there cannot accomplish this.
Therefore such School is needed. Much can
be said in favor of the establishment of such a
school, and it is hoped that editors throughout
the State will present the subject to their rea-
ders, and press upon Representatives tue ne
cessity of action in favor of it.
A FRIEND OF EDUCATION.