Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1858-01-01
raj operation of the system during the past


Department, by the act ofthe last session, was
just tribute to the importance and value of ouI
Common School system. The great educa-
tional interests of the State, the care and
guardianship of the intellectual, social and
moral Improvement Of the youth Of the Com
| monwealth, should occupy prominent and
independent position among the Departments
of the Government. If the care of the trea-
sure Of the Commonwealth, the develope-
ment of her material wealth, and the advance
ment of her politico-cconOmical interests,
have received from the Government the
marked and distinctive recognition of their
importance how much more should the mind
of her yOuth-with its wondrous activities
| its constantly unfolding energies, and its in
| finite superiority TO the material and physical,
claim a still higher consideration, and receive
from the Representatives of the people, a
more honored recognition.
| As an Independent Department, greater
efficiency will be given TO the system-a more
direct and immediate supervision will be Sc
cured-the details OF its operation more care
| fully observed-its deficiencies discovered
its errors corrected-the accomplishment of
its noble purposes and objects rendered more
certain, and the system itself saved from the
dangerous and debasing influence OF political
excitement, and paItizan prejudice.
The County Superintendency, tested by
experience, has realized the just expectations
of the friends of the measure, and may now
be regarded permanent and indispensable
part of the system. When committed TO
competent men, it has accomplished a noble
work in promoting the success and useful
ness of our Common Schools; and wherever
the duties fthe office have been faithfully per
formed, the character of the schools has been
elevated their number and the number OF schO-
ars increased, and the confidence and encour-
agement Ofthe public secured. lnt the hands Of
incompetent men. these results have not been
obtained but on the contrary, opposition has
been provoked. and the cause of Common
Schoo, education retarded. This office should
not bc committed to any but men thoroughly
qualIflcd by education ....1 sEporiancn for th,.
performance of its arduous and responsible
duties; and if the School Directors OF any
county, in disregard of their obligations, from
opposition either to the system or the office,
select an incompetent person FOR the place,
the odium of the act, and of failure 10 secure
the benefits resulting from proper and in
telligent administration of TIE office, should
rest upon them. and not upon the law author
izing the appointment. The defects Of the
system when clearly established, should be
promptly corrected: but change is not always
reform and innovation, induced by selfish
ness or prejudice, may endanger its perma-
nency and destroy its efficiency.
The Act of the Goth day of May, 1857,
providing for the due training of teachers for
the Common Schools of the State, by encour-
aging the establishment Of Normal Schools
received tne cOruIdi appreciation OF all inter-
ested in the success OF our Common Schools.
The passage of that act inaugurated new
tf,,l li Cnr school sITf
tion in Pennsylvania. 1t is a movement in
the right direction full of encouragement
and hope for the greater perfection and use
fulness of the system. Large and enthusias-
tic meetings of the friends of education have
been held, in many of the districts, TO pro
mote the establishment of Normal Schools,
as contemplated by the act and liberal sums
of money have been subscribed to secure this
desirable object. A noble work has been
commenced; and sustained by individual en-
terprise and liherality-encouraged by the
State, and vindcated by its own intrinsic
merit, it must go on until State Normal
Schools, in number and efficiency, equal 10.
the supply of well trained teachers, Shall be-
come the Just pride and boast of Pennsylvania.
The organic structure of our system is as
perfect. perhaps, as human legislation can
make it; but it needs the competent and
vitality and efficiency, and secure the full
accomplishment of the purposes OF its crea-
tiOn. The teacher, the properly educated,
the well trained, the scientific teacher, is the
great want of the system. We need the
'erchRg mind, not the automaton movements of
mere physical organization or antiquated rou-
tine, TO direct and control the intellectual
energies of the youth of the Commonwealth.
We require mind, educated mind, in our
schools, that knowledge may be cOmmunica-
ted, not only effectively and practically, but
that in training the young, they may he taught
to think-and how to think-to investigate,
and know for themselves; and thus be fitted
ana rrapared for the high and responsible du-
ties OF the uan and the citizen.
This deficiency can om, 10 supplied by
State Normal Schools for the euuta,iop Of
teachers. To them We must look. The
future is full of hope. Much has already
been done to provide for their establishment
and support. In connection with honorable
individual effort, more legislative encourage
ment may be required. 1t should be given
checrfully and promptly. No subject of
greater interest can claim your attention; no
| one appeals with more reason and truth, to
duty and patriotism.
| Teachers Institutes. as auxiliary to Nor
NAL Schools, should be aided by the State.
Through their agency, sustained by the noble
and self-denying efforts of the teachers them
selves, much good has been accomplished in
educating and training teachers, and in dgni-
fying a profession too long undervalued by
those most deeply interested in their useful
labors.
In the great work of popular education
there should be no retrograde movement in
Pennsylvania; no yielding TO the impotent
clamor of ignorance, sefshness or prejudice,
in their attempts to stay its progress. These,