Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1859-06-01

dark cloud over the prospects Of our State we
cannot educate these people against their will and
considering that the chief difficulties in way are
the inevitable result of the very ignorance which we
wish to remove, every consideration of prudence OF
Justice and Of patriotism calls to be patient to
be tolerant Of honest mistakes to be digent, and to
be faithful to our great cause by making the most OF
circumstances.
Having said this much in true justification Of the
plan which have uniformly urged, of endeavorng
to elevate the standard Of teachers cautiously grad
ually, and fast wise regard for the real inter-
ests at stake would permit and no Easter, now pro-
ceed respectfully and earnestly to urge on your at
tention certain suggestions which, l believe, our
present circumstances fully warrant.
ITO Eernte the Standard of Teachers by Enlary-
ing the Course Of Studie&)
We are now in condition to elevate the standard
of teachers more rapidly than heretofore. The ex-
aiming committees have become fixed part ot the
common school machinery and teachers and people
seeing and feeling the proprcty and necessity OF this
feature of our system yield very general obedience
to the laws in regard to it. Almost all classes of the
people are pervaded with more correct ideas as to
what is necessary in a good teacher; and teachers
themselves as body have vastly improved, and
have also had ample opportunity and full warning to
prepare for q step in advance Of our present posi-
tioa-
(The time has therefore come, to require teachers
more generally to give instruction in all the essen
tai and elementary branches of an English educa-
ton anu among these essential branches are Gram
mar and Geography Few teachers can now give
any excuse for not having some knowledge OF these
branches-and such are the facilities for learning in
almost every neighborhood and often in families,
and such the cheapness and character OF text books
that no one can read and who has capacity and who
expects to devote him or herself to the business OF
teaching, can have any excuse but that Of lazness
for ignorance of these branches.
There is now scarcely any community in the State
where teacher desiring to learn these studies, can
not find some one able and willing to give such as
sistance is needed to promote his progress and,
in fact matured mind can easily acquire knowl-
edge of Geography without an INSTRUCTOR
No one can read or write correctly without
knowledge of Grammar; and if there were no insu-
perabe opposition the part of parents, 1t should
be introduced in some of its elementary forms, as
soon as the child is able to read and to understands
rule for the construction of sentence. The prnci-
pies of Grammar should be insensiby interviewer
with all our earliest instruction, after leaving the
spelling book and in this age of discovery Of terri
torial expansion on the part of our Government, of
rapid Commercial intercourse among all nations, and
of intimate and extended international connections
ndintcress in all parts of the world Geography is
an allimportant branch of study to every class OF
children
(The smallest farmer IN the interior of North Car
Olina has now direct and acknowledged interest in
the revolutions in China and the explorations in the
heart Of Africa; and it is impossible to read, salts
factorily and Understandings village newspaper
without geographical knowledge. Every mind that
wishes to be we'll and practically informed is now
turned to the map of the world; and the teacher
who feels no interest and no curiosity on this sub
ject cannot feel any interest in the affairs of the
world or the progress of things and is therefore,
unfit for the position Of instructor of his felowbe
inss9
| know well by experience and observation that
Geography, as general thing is the most interest
ing of all studies to children-they have natural
curiosity about the manners the people and the diff
ferent countries and they will learn to read sooner
in good Geography than in any other work. The
reading of geography is like traveling-there is a
perpetual and interesting change of and Incl
dents, and the mind is more easily impressed with
ideas than in any other way.
1t is, therefore, incxcusablc in teacher of matu-
red faculties not to know want to know the prin
ciples of Geography.
The mere ignorance of the science is not in itself
by any the worst sign Of his qualifications for
the important post of instructor of others it is the
fact that this ignorance generally indicates most
narrow range Of thought, and great want of that
an essential element Of usefulness that renders him
unfit for the position he seeks.
i2.-7o Elerate the Stondard OF Teachers By Rpqui
ring more 7horoughness in the Studies Taught.
1t is full time to require more thorough knowledge
in all the branches taught; and to make the exami
nation, each particular study, more full and search
ing than heretofore. There are now many teachers
who have passed number of examinations and
the fact that these have often obtained your sane
ton to teach so far from being reason for light
careless examination constitutes the strongest
gument for more stringent course on your part
They have had time and opportunity to improve
and most respectfully submit that it is your duty
to see that they have made progress commensurate
with their opportunities.
[And here permit me to call your special attention
to an evil which demands an immediate remedy.
tacher of respectable moral character, and very
anxious to get school, passes toera5le examina-
ton, and under the circumstances. he properly gets
certificate; and after year spent in teaching he
again presents himself to the examining committee.
The committee is in hurry, and as this applicant
has once passed an examination. they ask him but
few questions; and when he returns again his third
certificate is still more easily obtained than the sec
ond because he has been twice licensed before
! This principle of action is wholly wrong, and
will produce consequences exactly the opposite O.
|
teacher at each rene,cal Of his or her certificate
ought to be more critically examined on all tn
branches m achich he or she had formerly passed
and if this just and important rule is constantly pu
in practice the standard of qualifications will b.
surely elevated while its neglect will prevent mucl
Of the good intended to be produced by these annu
al renewals.
3.-7o Elerate the Standard Of Teachers By requir
ing them to arail themselves Of means wthin thei
reach for Improvement
1t is clearly the right Of the examining committe
to test the character and qualification of applicant
for license to teach by enquring into their dispo
tion to avail themselves Of all the proper mean
within their reach to prepare for the faithful dis
charge Of the duties of the vocation to which the
aspire.
(anumber of measures, designed to facilitate tn
Improvement of teachers, hare emanated from tn
office, and been sustained by public opinion; an
they have the recommendation of being within til
pecuniary means of all, and CT having been use
with eminent success in many other States.