Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1858-07-20
For tho Megs County Telegraph.
TEe Origin object, Necessity aIAd
EsesMIts OF ,HemcIhcrs' Institutes.

| man who has done much To improve and
elevate tho character of teachers, and give
reputation to the New England School
! System. The results of this first lnst-
tuke were such, that others were soon after
held i'll several other States, and Teachers
Institutes are now permanent institutions, |
wherever they have been once properly
organized, and in every State which enjoys
the priceless blessing of II well conducted
system of public Schools It's now about
ten years since they were first introduced
into Ohio, and last year there were twenty
one Institutes held in as many counties oi
! the State.
In some of the New England States,
liberal provision has been mado by the
legislatures for the support of Institutes.
Massachusetts last year appropriated three
hundred dollars for each institute held i'll
the State, and this, Notwithstanding her
appropriation TO sustain Normal Schools,
designed expressly for the education Of
teachers.
Institutes in Ohio have been principally
sustained by the liberalily Of the teachers
themselves, yet the time may come, when
our legislature may deem such approprla-
tions worthy of their considerations, and
bcnificent in their effects.
The object or design of Teachers lnsti-
tutes is the elevation and improvement oil
the teachers of Common Schools, the pre-
duction of uniformity and excellence III
the modes Of governing Schools, conduc-
ting the exercises in the same, SO that
children shall be attracted to the Schools
instead of being driven there i'll short, to
awaken a deeper interest in tho subject OF
education, not only among teachers and
pupils, but among parents, and diifuse
correct notions upon the subject OF teach
ing, rs well as upon the duries and re-
sponsbilities both of teachers aud parents.
The necessity of some such institution,
will, in the absence of Normal Schools,
readily suggest itself to amy rejecting
mind. Before individuals engage in any
mechanical occupation, or learned pro-
fession, they must serve an apprentice
ship, often for number of years, before
they dare claim public patronage. Not
so however with regard to the profession
of teaching, the most difficult OF all
How often young men and women without
any other preparation and qualification
than that acquired by six weeks or two
months attendance, and that very irregu-
larly, at some country School, tor few
winters, think themselves qualified Tor the
most responsible position III community,
that of training the youthful mind ior Its
conflict with the stern realities OF lie. II
all who may hereaftc: teach, could be edu-
Gated in schools of high rank and ot equal
excellence, there would be no necessity for
Teachers Institutes. Such however will
not be the case, and we must avail our
selves of whatever instrumentality' we
find that promises to accomplish anything
in this direction.
oc
themselves have been taught, without ever
inquiring whether there are any other
modes of imparting instruction. Classi-
flying their pupils, and awakening and
keeping up an interest i'll their several
studies, than those pursued years ago.
| Hence, many teachers fail to teach good
Schools; not from ignorance Of the sci
ence, but because their experience is limi-
ted, and they have taken no pains to inform
themselves, with regard to their improve
ments, So essential to success in their Vo-
cation. Many of our teachers are too
young, rs well as deficient in mental cul-
ture they have never boen schoolcd in
self discipline, and of course cannot con-
| troll others. Hence some of our Common
| Schools are little bedlams, and worse than
useless. These things need not be so, II
teachers can be made To feel the Importance
and responsibility of their vocation, to see
the necessity of self-improvement,a and to
feel, that above and beyond dollars and
! cents, they nave deep and abiding inter
est in the welfare of those committed to
their charge.
In Teachers Institutes, teachers are
brought together from all parts of the
county, for mutual instruction. Thus each
becomes possessed of the experience
of all the rest a community of interest
and feeling is secured and promoted,
a strong desire for improvement is
excited, and facility in imparting instruc-
ton acquired. Teachers thus trained soon
learn to look upon their profession in a
different light than heretofore, as one in
which there are degrees of excellence to
which they may attain, and to feel that
their efforts will be appreciated, and ap-
propriately rewarded.
Their effects soon become obvious in
our Schools. The teachers have received
new light, and are imparting instruction
with a zeal never before felt, TO their pu-
pills. Children love order and earncstness
in their teachers. and from sympathy soon
become deeply interested in their studies
and in the prosperity of the school.
! In sucha School, how pleasant to teach !!
No need now for felules, hickory twigs,
leather goggles, nor Ounce blocks-they
have given place to the blessed influence
of kindness and sympathy. Wherever
then Institutes are held, an interest in the
subject of education is awakened and just
ideas of it's importance are formed and
cherished in the community, by the direct
attention called to it. j. M. EVANS.
---S-S-"----
A FLEA UNDER MIcRoscoPE.-Wh hen
n flea is made to appear as large as an
elephant, we can see all the wonderful