Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1861-06-07
Theory and PraetIce Of TeaehIng.


Art 264. County Superintendents are hereby in
strneted to grant no certificates, after the hrst
Monday ia june 1861, without examination IN
the theory well as the practice of Teaching ana
to mark tn proficiency in both, in the certIleate
according to the same scale from to 81 with the
other branches. The standing of the candidate 10
the Theory is to be written into the certificate when
that document is issued, and is to be based-on the
pernsal Of standard works, or a knowledge derived
from Normal lectures, on the science. But stand
ing in the practice is not TO be marked in the cavti
cate sn after careful visitation OF the Candidates
school by the County Superintendent
This division of the sub
iect and special examination on the principles of
Teaching viii cause candidates for the h0nors and
responsibilities Of the profession. to study the
science than is done at present, result most
desirable,-and to be promoted by every available
means.--Ofciat Department, Pena'a School Journal.
As viii be seen from the above, it is required,
that the County Superintendents shall hereafter
examine each applicant for schoolin the sTheory'
of Teaching. Considering the negligence of many
sswould be' teachers to qualify themselves in this
respect, we believe the above requirement to be Of
the utmost importance, and only wonder that this
course has not been previously adopted. A theo-
retical knowledge consists in an understanding of
the principles underlying every department of the
teachers work and any deficient in this respect
cannot be entirely successful in the Practice of the
profession, for the simple reason that, if you do
not know ho,O the work should be performed, you
viii not probably be fortunate enough to stumble
upon the proper method of performing it. This
Theory is to the teacher, what a knowledge of any
mechanical or mercantile business is to The ex-
perienced journeyman or merchant, and he should
not expect nor presume to enter upon the respon-
sible duties of his profession, without informing
himself thoroughly in the principles of the science.
The failure Of so many young teachers may be at
tribnted in a great measure to deficiency in this
respect. They enter the school room with the very
general but erroneous idea, that the teacher has
nothing to do butto listen to the recitations and
correct the scholar, when he fails TO give deai-
ton as it is laid dorn in The book. They have per-
haps visited, or even attended good schools, that
were conducted upon scientific principles ana it
has appeared 70 require effort the part of the
teacher to govern or instruct, but they do not
comprehend the regular and systematic arrange
nent of bis lator, and the strict adherence this
arrangement, which alene insnres success. They
must study and know for themselves the principles
involved in their work. and then the requirements of
their schools viii suggest the necessary plans which
they should edopt. We are informed by our Su-
perintendent that more than one half of the teach
ers of the County have never even read any stan
daTd educational work, and that much less than
half receive the School Journal. This is a de-
plorable state of affairs, and hope that the
present requirement of the State Superintendent,
may have beneficial effect, among those who have
not and would not take the trouble to Inform
themselves nor afford the slight expense. Directors
should look to this matter in their respective town
| ships and should give no persons employment as
teachers, until they have qualified themselves in
this particular The degree Of proficiency in this
branch should and viii be considered more partieu-
arly than in any other, in grading salaries, for
whatever may be the scholastic qualifications.
without this Theory tradeno person is capable
| of teaching. We would recommend to teachers
the study of such works, as ssThe Science of Edu-
cation and Art of Teaching" by Ogden, ssPage's
Theory and Practice of Teaching and the careful
perusal Of such as ..Mayhew on Universal Educa-
tion, A"Northen nd's Teacher and Parent,'' Mans-
| field on American Education,'' "Bates' Institute
Lectures, )" s'Holbrook's Normal Methods of Teach
| ing,' aud any other standard works that may be
accessible. These may be procured at any book
store, or from the publishers by mall