Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1859-08-17

I
of the world around him This eonsti-
tuted the secret of DIR. Dwight's success;
he made scholars because he was scholar
A true teacher growing mentally rich by
active industry, is one of natures noble
man. That office, which confers the power
of moulding the minds and morals of the
men and women Of the next generation, is
as honorable as it is responsible; and COM
mon Schools are assuming an increased i'm
portancc in the opinion of the public, by
whom they have been too much neglected,
and undeTvalued, and their interests COM
mitted to unskilful hands.
The assertion is sometimes made that
''any one is competent to teach common
school, and especially one of small chill
dren." Ignorant persons, unable otherwise
to earn living, are pronounced fit and
qualified to gather around them the freshest,
youngest spirits, and to inscribe the most
impossible page of human existence. 1t
(. is sometimes urged that as particular
branches will not be taught in certain dis
tricts, that these should be omitted in the
examination The law designates what
branches are required Of every candidate,
and to omit any one of these branches in
an examination, is direct violation of the
law. A person, to be qualified to take
charge of the intellectual culture Of youth,
although backward and young the children
may be, ought to have the intellectual dis
eipline acquired by the mastering Of these
elementary branches upon which the law
requires an examination \ person not
qualified to teach all of the required
branches, IS not qualified to teach any
grade of school No person should be.
intrusted with any common school, however
small in number, or obscure. in locality,
who is not qualified to instruct in these
branches required by law. These humble
attainments are the substratum Of all cor
rect education, and they are too much.neg-
lected. The pupils of every school ought
to have teacher thoroughly competent to
impart these elementary studies, and one
who in the intervals of leisure will Be ac-
tive in acquiring higher branches of knswl-
edge; thus be a sett.eclacdti,ng teacler, and
be a living example to his pupils, of the
unrcsting progression which is required of
ambitious pupils. May the number of
Selt;educdting teachers of Trumbull County
increase, and receive as their Just reward
the favor and increased material patronage
of the public, to whom their faithful labOrs
are so invaluable. This year as heretofore,
some candidates presented themselves, whose
youthfulncss unfit them to govern well and
manage school, whatever may be their
educational requirements.
Many of the applicants have shown
themselves well qualified for the responsible
business of teaching, and others are thor
oughly incompetent, but a reform is gradu-
ally moving forward, which is sitting the /.
wheat from the chaff. The public are I
being aroused to more thorough and sys-
tematic course of instruction for the youth /
of our country. Every year the Teachers
of Trlmbull County are steadily advancing /.
in qualifications for their profession.-l
Among the teachers of Trumbull County.
We have many thorough scholars and live
teachers, and others not so well qualified
and disciplined, whose ambition We are en-
deavoring TO incite by elevating the stand
ard of qualifications; others are sadly
deficient in the elementary studies, and
general intelligence, who, when refused,
are disposed to question the policy of re-
quiring any examination of applicants!
We might here give some ludicrous speci-
mems of the ignorance of occasional apph-
cants. but We forbear, as it might seem
invidiOus, and also serve no good purpose
But We believe that the teachers of Trum-
bull County will sustain favorable COM
parison with those of any other county in
the state, as regards scholastic requirements !.
and general success as teachers. The sys-
tcm of popular education is progressive
good teachers are progressive, and VIC shall
.ndeavOr to subject each applicant to a ,
nore rigid and complete examination from .
rear to year. The great mstrumentality,
0 the prosperity of ths Common School
ystem, is the employment of well qualified .
md earnest teachers: and the perfection of :,
popular education demands the establish '
nent each year of higher and more rig
rous standard in the education and exam
nation Of teachers.
Whereas, a larger number Of advanced
upils attend the winter schools, therefore
he fall examinations will require of can :,
idates more thorough preparation, than :,
he examinations of spring Certificates
qualifications to teach cannot be renewed -
xcept as the result of a new examination. ;;
4 Teachers Institute will be held this
IL, for the benefit of young gentlemen and
dies of Trumbull County who propose to 70
,ach. 1t will afford to teachers the means \;
most improved methods of teaching :
he Institute will be under the superin-
ndance of successful teachers and devo- 10
es in the progress of the system of popular th
lucation Those dcsirOus of sc!f.imProre- b,
ent in the science of education and art OF
n o,b;r, viii faIa a1vantacra Of the omar