Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Iowa) 1861-1864, 1861-09-26

to slur over or pretend to explain what
he knows he does not understand.
And then, too, the same answer that
satisfied his mind, may have removed
the difficulties from a score of other
minds, and thus the teaching in half
the schools Of a county is improved
by hatsingle solution at the Institute.
Ignorance, and false IDEAS of the
nature, ends and means of school gov
crnment, are sources Of great perplex-
ity, and the proximatc causes of dis
astcr to many young teacher. The
great Importance of this department
OF the teachers duty can hardly be
over.estimated. How many children
are seriously injured, If not hopeless
ruined, by the Ignorance or indiscre-
ton of teachers i'm matters Of disci-
plinc. No other one subject receives
larger share of attention than the
subject of school government. All
the different systems are compared
tho various methods, motives and ex-
pcdicnts adopted by the several MEM
bers of the Association, in their diff
fcrcnt fields of labor, arc brought to
view, and the bearings and results of
eachrigidly scrutinizcd, and it's claims
to favor admitted or rejected accord
ing to its character and fruits. Par
ticular, examples Of special difficulty
are cited, and tho mode of treatment
pursucd, with it's effects, minutely mar
rated. Now, into what a school of
Improvement is the young teacher
here introduced, what wealth of sug-
gestion is here presented to him, what
variety of experience, what aflluence
Of hints and cxpcdicncc lie acquires
in single week, knowledge Of ines
Unable value, for which he might 9TH
erwise have waited for years, and for
want Of which he might have gropcd
and blundered and failed. aa''a 81
The professional spirit, the esprit
do eorps," is quickencd by these Assoc
Citations. Teachers are made to feel
that they belong to an organized and
honorable profession; to attain front
rank in which, they are stimulated, by
a laudable ambition, to put forth re-
newed efforts. ..s s. rr
The utility Of Teachers Institutes
eliminates in the good results flowing
from them to the community at large,
and to the general interests Of educa-
ton. All the exercises and discussions
are open, not only to teachers, but to
school officers, parents, and the friends
OF common schools, without distinc-
tion. The meetings are always attend
ed by large numbers of persons, who
are not teachers, but who are deeply
Interested in the success of our sys-
tenn Of public instruction. sa
The benefits that will rebound to
the community from this improved ca
pacity Of school officers and the pco-
pie, to estimate the wants of schools,
and the conditions of success are in
calculable. A new order of things
will ensuc. Higher ideas will prevail.
With the knowledge of the vast dis
tance between good schools and bad
ones, the latter will rapidly cease to
be tolerated. Pompous mediocrity
and clustering assurance will give
place to sound scholarship and mod
est worth. Masters in the art of
teaching viii be employed, and well
paid, while sciolists and smattercrs
will not be allowed at any price.
To accomplish the bcnefccnt pur-
pose of their organization to justify
the needful expenditure of time aud
money, however small that may be
to realize the expectations of the
friends of education, the Institute must
be guided by the counsels of wisdom
and prudcncc-tbe exercises must be
conducted by able, experienced and
scientific teachers. If the blind lead
tho blind" the ditch" will be the
inevitable destination of both. The
necessity of bringing to the work the
highest ability and talent at our COM
mand, must be evident from the nature
of the work ITSELF
1t would be easy to extend this line
Of remark, and adducc other equally
weiShty considerations in favor of
sustaining and multiplying these SIM
pie agencies for the development of
our system. of public instruction.
Enough has been said, it is confident
.ly believed, to arrest the notice, and
secure the candid examination and
approval Of the people and friends of
education.