Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1858-05-05
THg RAF TsMAnss JOURNAL.
For the Raftsman's Journal,

Education. / am surprised that your columns
are net dotted here and there, with arguments
to arouse and interest the public mind, on this
too much neglected subject. In the absence
of better, give place to the following, tho
from one in the humble walks of life ; but with
a soul full of love and zeal for the cause.
l was happy TO see in Your paper notice of
a Normal School. to commence the fourth of
May next, in the Borough of Curwensville.
am strongly impressed with the fact, that
all should be Interested and feel ourselves un-
der obligation to be active to increase the in
terest' of the school, as it is held especially TO
benefit Teachers. If our County Superinten-
dent is willing to spend eight tceefs, giving in
structions, Teachers should avail themselves
of the opportunity so kindly proffered them,
and reap all the benefit from the instructions
possible. Are not all the Teachers aware of the
fact, that the higher the grade of the certiti-
cate, the more wages they receive? 1t should
| he the aim of every Teacher, to obtain a Ger
tfcate of the first class. 1t is fact to be Ia
meuted, that some Teachers in the more Rural
Districts (having been employed for want OF
competent ones) are not capable of properly
explaining the first principles of Arithmatic
and Grammar, or even of pronunciation; and
the best teachers have ample room for improve
| ment. Let us pause and consider for one mo-
ment, the disadvantages these children labor
under with such teacher.
Impressions on the mind of child are last
IaISe Impressions are tiS
rect ones; the power of memory in retaining
! past impressions, and its susceptibility of i'm
! provement, are vastly greater than is generally
| imagined. II is reported of Seneca, that he
could repeat two thousand verses at once: in
| their order, and then begin at the end and re-
| hearse them backwards, without missing sim
| gle syllable. Cyrus is said to have been able
to cali every individual of his numerous army
by his own name. Cyreneas, who sent by
! Pyrrhus to the Senate at Rome, on an expedi
ton, the very next day after his arrival both
! knew and also saluted by their names all the
Senate, and the whole order of the gentlemen
| in Rome. Thus it appears that children
not only possessed of ardent desire after
| knowledge, but are endued with the most
penetrating and capacious powers of intellect,
| both for acquiring and treasuring it up in their
minds-powers which appear susceptible of in
| definite improvement in this world and the
| inference, that may be drawn from this, is,
| that they will continue to be cxerted with un-
| interrupted activity, throughout an unceasing
| duration. Ignorance goes hand in hand with
| vice and folly. With these truths before us
shall VIC allow our children to have their minds
clouded with half doubtful and incorrect teach
! ings or shall we urge upon teachers the i'm
portance, the necessity ofquallfying themselves
for this very responsible calling think the
response will be let us have our teachers Eda-
cafed. 1t would afford me pleasure if l could
| find language to impress upon the mind of eV-
| cry parent, the Importance of having teachers
tceU qualified for intelligently discharging the
duties of the school room. in this connection,
a word to Directors you expect your Super
intendent to take upOn himself the extra Ia
Dor of teaching Normal School a number of
| weeks every year. This labor is not imposed
| upon any other Superintendent in the State,
(that know off, True, Institutes and schools
have been held of three and four days, and
some have continued one two weeks and
4 l,,t fI,oC
dent is not required to bear the expenses or
perform the labor of teaching these are borne
| by the teachers and friends of Education.
| Teachers are usually employed from distance
| to perform the labor of teaching, and the duty
| of the Superintendent, is to be present and
superintcnd all. These Institutes and schools
have been attended with enthusiasm, and a.
wakened great interest in favor of Education.
While the Superintendent of Clearfield Coun-
ty does not receive as high salary as many,
and believe most of the Superintcndents in
the State, and has probably as rough territory
to pass over, in his travels through the Coun-
ty, in his visits to the districts in the County,
he gives his time and labor eight weeks to
teach ourN ormal School. l just mention this,
that Directors may know, and see, and appre-
ciate.
We had not enjoyed these advantages until
last year, and the advantages of the Normal
School last year have been seen and believe
that was worth treasuring up, and especially
the instructions in the art of teaching were
reduced to practice and worked WE'LL
have been thinking, and talking, about the
impropriety ofDirectors keeping their schools,
in their districts, during the Normal School.
Last year 4 large number of schools were kept
during the Normal School. This is wrong.
Those teachers are employed, that most need
the Instructions of the Normal School. Direc-
tors in thus employing teachers are acting in
consistent, for why do they wish or impose
upon the Superintendent the extra labor OF
teaching, and then employ their teachers TO
keep them away?
| said we should all be Interested and throw
off our Indifference; the interest of the Com
mon school system demands our attention.
| Other counties are advancing their sons and
their daughters are having advantages, which
will enable them to stand on equal with
their fellows.
In attending these institutes, it is enough
to move the coolest and most insensible, to
witness the eagernesS with which teachers a.
vail themselves of the privileges afforded, and
their anxiety to profit by the instruction thus
brought home to them. The Normal School
L believe to be an important auxiliary, in ad-
| vancing the school system, and our interest in
it should be such as to make it the stepping
stone to the establishing, in our County a
State Normal School. Lancaster County has
| taken the lead in this-Cuml erland County af-
| fords an example worthy of imitation in the
united effort of the County Superintendent
and directors, in conjunction with teachers and
the public.
1 am making this communication too long.
| invite the attention of those better posted
up in these matters. Are there not those who
have the ability and interest to set forth the
steps to be taken, and the character of its
works, and the arguments in favor of having
the State Normal School in Clearfield County /?
| FRnN FpJFNn or THE