Daily national Republican., 1863-12-05
LOCAL AFFAIRS.

OUR PUBLIC sCH0oLs.--Y esterday Afternoon,
after our report OF the meeting Of the Teachers
Institute was closed, Professor Barnard, of Con-
nectieut, addressed the Institute. Mr.. Barnard
has been engaged In the improvsme' of public
schools in this country for the last quarter of a
ccntury, and no IN understands the subject better
than he.
The following is an abstract OF his remarks,
Mr.. Barnard conmenced by expressing his graft
6cston with the indication he had this day MOTTO
ed, that this great and important city was at last
entering the field Of public school Improvement
with vigor and In directions, which must at once
elevate the character Of the schools and place this
great interest on the high position II had attained
In the other large cities of t'e West and North.
The school-house is an unerring index Of the pub.
lie appreciation Of educ alton, and the spacious at
trsetive, and convenient eiidcs, for one OF your
public schools, which visited this morning aad
which 10 now going up, IL iong step In the right
direction. And It will be followed In other dis
triets. Parents and teachers will not bs satisfied
with hired rooms and scnool-houses, repulsiyo
without and within, when ths advantages OF .
good Neutrality-suspicious., dry and ssolossd-of =
building having clAsa-rooms enongh for Q thorough
gradson Of the scholars according to attsinmsnts,
and devery room properly lighted. warmed, Senti-
lated, and fusaishsd, are seen and felt tGeod sx-
amplss are contagious - well ~ bad. 'sEEg
but tuIb iubtttute-thNb BbtueiNuB VI IL tuV
teachers Of all the public schools for Systematic
review and discussion of ell the subjects connected
with the organizs Instruction and discipline
of schools as part OF The teachers duty to him.
SELF his school, the trustees and the professon 10
. still more sncoursHng indicAtion of progress.
No agency OF professional improvement, not ex.
ceptlnG the Normal school, has done 30 much to
enlist the cooperation Of teachers in the work Of
introducing improved methods OF school manage
ment AMI teaching ~ what is now generally known
IS the Teaehers' Institute. ...is r-,.r
In the form, in which the trustees have decided
to insugurats 1t here, by making attendance obli.
gAtory once In two weeks for space OF three hours
on all the teachers, and allowing them to close
their schools for this purpose and thus requiring
no sacrifice OF their own time-the only objection
which teachers can, a. I should suppose, possibly
make, Is obviated. or one thing, am sure, II the
teachers, and especially the older and more expe-
RE need will enter heartily into the work; will,
when called on share apoftlon OF the labor Of
Quoting the exercises, will promptly enter on the
discussions, will give brief hut clear expositions
tioa, will answer all questions, and, perform all
operations as cheeriully and respectfully - they
expect their own pupils to do-then the institute
meetings will not only be grea y profitable to each
teacher, but wl at once be felt In every
s:hool-room 10 the city.
And the week which you will thus pend together
In these semi-monthly sessions, under the general
superint endenee of an experienced and successful
teacher, (hr. Richards,) will be Of incaleulAble
value TO all the scholars OF all the schools. know
OF no other way hall so sieetual this of improv
log the Views and methods Of teAehers-and of all
the schools, as by acting on all the teachers al
once. Almost unconsciously TO teachers and pu
pills, process Of modification OF old and defective
methods and the substitution Of resher and betteI
ways will be going on throughout the city Te
make the Institute realize all Its purposes, these
afternoon sessions should be extended into thu
evening, and occasionally into the following Sat
urday, with appropriate exercises to interest pa
rents and the public generally, aud thus bring tn,
home into cooperation with the school, an dmak,
education ono Of the great and frequent topies o
public discussion.