The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1858-05-01
Teaehera, Institution.

page, that che Secretary OF tho vermont
Beard Of Education, J, s, Adams, Esq, pro
poses % hold the third Teachers Institute,
for Caledonia County, ut Peacham, commenc-
ing Friday, May 2lst and continuing two
days The time may 10 some scem ill'ehos-
en-, inlsmuch as most Of the summer schools
will have commenced, and must necessarily
be interrupted for two or three days near the
beginning Of the term, II their teachers at
tend the Institute. But we are disposed 10
think that this Inconvenience will be eompen-
sltod by one important result not so likely to
be secured at another time,
II Is not the object Of the Institute, as eve
rs one ought to know, 10 qualify teachers for
their employment, by giving them minute
o d thorough training in any of the branches
which they arc expected TO teach in the COM
mon school, Two days, or ten days will not
suffice for this That part, Of the teachers
preparation for his or her work, must be pro-
cured by patient and continued study, and
thorough and proractcd drilling IN the school
room, Thyre can be no substitute for this,
Some, we suppose, are liable to mistake on
thi, pointi and imagine that by few days
attendance upon one Of these Institutes they
can procure a recipe for teaching school, that
viii invest them, al once, with all the quail
GclionB requisite for successful service In
one Of the mos, important and difficult Of all
occupations The purpose of the Institute
that which IL almost exclusively sccks-is first
OF all, 10 create in the minds Of those who
ave, or anticipate being employed in It, just
estimate OF the Importance, responsibility and
dignity Of the teachers calling and in the
second place, to furnish them with such sug.
gesiions aud illustrations upon the various
and approved modes Of teaching the several
branches studied in the common school, with
the various means Of influence and discipline
that may be employed in the government Of
of the same as the extended observation and
maiurcd experience Of older teachers may
be able to impart'to them.
Now, II we mistake not, there is no time
when young or inexperienced teachers are so
likely 10 feel the need Of and profit by in
struction and suggestions OF this description,
so much, as when-from thcirl.tt two or three
weeks experience in their schoolrooms, they
hegia to realize the difficulties Of the work
they have undertaken and, having exhaust
ed, perhaps, their own resources in unsuc-
ccs,ful efforts to make their schools wha, they
intended and expected to make them in the
beginning, are anSiously seeking for counsel
ag4 instruction, On hi, account. therefore.
the time FOR holding the Institute seems to be
well chosea.
But will the teachers OF the County; and
especially those who shall have commenced
their summer schools, be there viii man,
of those outside Of the town Of PeaeAaa. -
UNFAIRLY incur the expense OF attending, aud.
OF the same time, compensate the districts Tor
/ their absence by adding two or three DAYS 70
the length of the temp This, considering
tho compensation they receive for teaching.
ought not to be expected Of them. They
cannot afford to rcmuncrate the districts for
lost time, aud incur other expense for the
sole purpose Of making their services more
valuable to the schools for the rest Of the
term and this leads us to repeat what We
have heretofore suggested, in regard to the
duty ol Prudential Committees, and others
having influence upon matters pertaining to
the Improvement Of our schools
If the teachers Institute is to constitute a
pant Of the permanent machinery to be- en-
! ploycd by the State for elevatng the char
actcr and improving the qualifications Of the
teachers OF our common schools, some pro-
vision should be made to facilitate and in
crease very largely their attendance upon the
exercises of the same. There are in Colcdo-
u a County more than hundred teachers m.
7 Pi0yCd during The summer and winter trrrnv.
At neither of the Institutes held in the Coun.
/ " last year, were there moro than twenty in
dividuals in attendance, who were engaged in
teaching either summer or winter term. There
was. tits true, good attendance on the part
| of other individuals, and the exc c',es OF the
Institutes were not without profit to them,
! yet their specific objcct-ihe improvement of
ltcachcrs-was net secured to the extent il
might and should have been There is no
| good reason, that we can see, why, at least,
half the teachers employed in the County
may not be in attendance whenever the Sec
rotary holds an Institute for their instruc-
ton.
But how shall a more general attendance
| Of teachers be secured We answer first and
chiefly, 10y a jealous cooperation with the eff
forts Of the Secretary, on the part of town
Superintcndents, District Committees and pa
rentsrwho constitute the parties most rcspon-
sible for the improvement Of tic Common
School. II is in their power to direct the at
-teEtioR of te=eh,.t--t institutes MS an
important regency for securing their improve
mcnt, and, At the same time, to facilitate their
attendance. Let School Committees sec, as
they ought, that their teachers are released
/ from the service of the district, while the
County Institute is in session; and in the
case of female teachers, that they have CON