Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1858-03-26
Communicated.
A Plea ron NORMAL. SCHOOLS, ON.
Few Words In thcir Favor.



may ask. In the first place, therefore, So
that may not bo misunderstood nor be
rnisintorpreted l will state that Normal
schools arc schools especially for the educa-
ton and preparation of teachers for their
great work Of teaching.
"What,' says n reader "and must teach
ers in addition to the exorbitnnt wages they
now receive have special schools for their
cducationp In the first place in answer to
that say that teachers wages are not ex-
orbitant, nay, on the contrary, when we
take into consideration their high calling, SC
high, that in some circumstances it goes be-
yond even that of the minister of the gos-
pei; and the amount of talent that is OF
should be called into rcquisition, say that
teachers are paid less than the followers ol
any other profession.
Secondly; why not have schools ospeci-
ally for the teachers as well as for the law
yer, the merchant the physician or the fol
lowers Of any other professionl Why not
have set of persons educated and prepar-
ed for "teaching tho young ideas how to
shoot" who, also shall make this the great
business of their life9 What and shall
we support schools to educate persons for
all other professions, and no one be permit
ted to enters ono of those professions without
a special education and preparation for the
duties he may be called upon to perform in
that profession, which is all right as every
one should endeavor to be prepared to per-
form his duties, whilc the teacher who Ia
bors in field and whose occupation is sec
ond to but one, and even excelling that, as
| have before remarked, in some instances
circumstances, as regards highness of call
ing and effect upon the world both at pres
ent and in the future, must enter upon his
avocation without any special preparation
70 the duties Of his high callin, yea, often
totally ignorant of the great responsibilities
of his station9 Is this right? Should not
he, who next to the parent has the greatest
power for moulding the minds of the future
generations in his hands; repeat, shoull
not he have special preparation for his
work and dutics7 Undoubtedly he should.
And where shall he find this training but in
schools established for that purpose2 In
what way will he obtain this training in so
high degree and so near perfection, as in
n school and under the instruction of sue
cessful teacher, whose object shall be to
teach him the best ways Of traing the young
minds that may DO committed into his
charge! think | nm safe in saying such
training can be obtained in no other place
or manner. And now let us take look at
some Of the advantages, that would arise
from having some well conducted Normal
schools in our midst and have it required of
teachers, that they should receive from the
instructor a certificate of good moral char
acter and other requisite qualifications after
attending the school at least three months
each two years In tho first place those
persons, who teach just for tho money, in
tending to engage in some other occupation
as soon as they can. who do not put heart
and soul in the work, but enter and 90
through the daily performances in the school
room as though they were tending an imam
innate machine and not striving for the i'm
provement Of immortal minds, as an irk-
some task and and not pleasing duties,
would not engage in teaching, or rather
/ they would not have that chance for engag-
ing they now have. OF that sort of teach.
ers [ think there are great numbers, and as
many as there are of those employed just
so many, who would endcavor to teach as
they should and would strive to perform the
duties they owe to God and man in the
school room, are kept from employment.
Again having many teachers taught by
the same person or persons, there would be
more uniformity in their method of teach
ing, and thus much of that evil, which aris
es from the changing of teachers IAN evil al
most unavoidable) would be avoided, as cacl
teacher would teach somewhat as his pre-
decessor did, so that the scholar would not
have to unlean much they had learned
which process of unlearning every teacAe,
knows requires more labor, both on his part
and the part of the pupils than the learning
of twice as much of something new.
"But," says one, "may not the method o
one be better than that of another?" Yes
undoubtedly it may but who is to be tn,
=, Judge to decide as to tho best method
: who will enter in and say "this way is righ
and that, stark aaught" Who l ask vii
take this responsibility upon himsclf3 Anc
again what teacher is going to take anoth
er's "ipSe dirir in this matterG Still agail
how is the best method of giving instruc
tion to be found outl In what way will
3 be more apt to be found out than for com
pany of men to make the finding of it an,
: teaching of it to Others the main object @
: their lives9 / think all will agree with m
u in covincr that thic ie tho koei MAS, WI n