The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1860-12-22
For tie Western Democrat
PROFESSIONAL TRAINING FOX
TEACHERS,

4hAAAsA@'~
TEACHERS.
It,sa truth which becomes palmer and palmer
to every one who reflects the subject, that there
is an urgent necessity for improving the quallfca-
tiops of teachers for our Common Schools. Inc
GRADE and character of the teachers will determine
the grade and character of the schools. Where
the teacher poorly qualified for his post the ad
yancement of the pupils must necessarily be poor,
Our Young people have not sufficient opportunities
for properly qualifying themselves for the business
of teaching. 1t is a remarkable fact, and one
much to be regretted, that whilst the other pro-
LESSONS, as of law, medicine, and the Christian
ministry have their schools semnares for the
specia professional training of the candidates. and
whilst the mechanic secures a similar benefit by
serving an apprenticeship to his trade, the candi-
date for the business Of school teaching has no
corresponding opportunity for qualifying himself
for his special duties although these duties at
least as important as those of the other protes-
sions The other professions have, by their pro-
fessional schools and seminaries, elevated their
standing and acquired certain degree of respect
and honor in society," and at the same time have
left the business of teaching behind and in CON-
paratiVe disrepute, SO that it is avoided and not
sought after as permanent employment. Those
professions also increasing the numbers of their
professional schools, and raising their standards
ference between themselves and the business of
teaching, and rendering the prospects of that bust
ness darker and more discouraging Shall this
process of injury to the dearest and most i'm
portant interests of our people and State be suf-
fered to continue? Learning, intelligence morality,
virtue, aud religion itself-the most important
interests of society-shall these be suffered
to languish and decline, merely through neglect
on the part of the public to furnish the necessary
opportunities for the qualification of teachers?
Our Common School teachers have no profess
sonal training for their business. Each one has
to undertake and manage his important and diff
cult duties, depending on his own unaided genius.
How can he be expected, when unframed, to adopt
the best methods Of controlling the pupils, of i'm
parting instruction, of inspiring with zeal for i'm
provement and love of knowledge, Of cultivating
the Manners of treating the various dispositions of
calling out the mental powers, training and
strengthening them, and of training Alright the
moral sentiments and inclining the pupils 10 an
upright and virtuous course Of life? Our school
teachers have not had an opportunity for qualify
ing themselves for these various and difficult
duties
The students of our High Schools and the grad
yates Of our Colleges are generally aiming at the
other professions: ana even if they were aiming
to teach in the schools they arc not at all
the dispositions of children and the means of
managing them; they know not the best methods
of government and discipline for children nor the
modes of nstructing according to age and advance
ment they not likely to have love for the
business, to be skiful in drawing out the
mental powers, or in cultivating the moral senti-
ments. Our teachers, then, need special training
for their business: and, with properly qualified
teachers for our common schools, the pupils might
and would probably he advanced more in one
year and to better purpose than they now are in
three The $4,000 annually spent on an inferior
and to some extent Improbable kind of schools
the children, and all immense addition to the pub
lie good.
Our system of examination of teachers is be-
lieved to have some effect in improving them; but
it is not at all likely to raise them to the necessary
standard How, then, to obtain properly
qualified teachers? We must educate them; OF,
at least afford them the means and opportunity of
preparing themselves, as is done with regard to the
other professions. This plan, under the title of
Normal Schools has now for some time been prac-
ticed in all the enlightened nations of Europe
and been found remarkably successful. 1t has
also been tried in the United States; and its
merits are such that it has been adopted in not
less than twenty of our sister States Its popu-
larlty is rapidly increasing, and where it is most
thoroughly tried, it is the most admired Ii is
very gratifying to its friends both in regard to the
preparation of the teachers, and in the practical
results to the schools in both learning and morals
1t is believed by Educational Association that
Normal Schools should at once be attempted in N
Carolina A committee appointed at the late
meeting to request the Legislature to divide the
State into five districts, with a view to having a
Normal School in each for the special training of
teachers. This done in the hope that the
Legislature would agree for the teachers of the
Normal Schools to be paid out of the Common
School Fund and that some town in each district
would gratutously furnish the necessary build
lngs. Cannot the people of. Mecklenburg and
Charlotte be melted to undertake the location of
Normal School at Charlotte?
FRIEND TO EDUCATION
Charlotte, Dec. 18th, 1860.