The Goodhue volunteer., 1863-02-25
GaaFatipunl 9tpArtmeat.
EDITED BY
PROF. JABEZ BROOKS.
Tt.;Ch, + Institute,
EDITED BY

Among the agencies that may be- put in
operation FOR the education of teachers, none
will competr with Teachers Institutes in
deficiency and economy. 1t an agency pc
caliarly adapted to new State
1t must be obvious at glance that Teach
crs' Departments in Colleges or Academies,
and State Normal School united, are en-
tlre'y inadequate to the service required of
them. (l about 5000 teachers in the State,
not one in ten can be furnished from both
sources combined. Very few Of the teach.
crs in the schools of the State ere normal
graduates, probably not one in zoo; aad
doubtless one half of the teachers now ell
gagged in teaching are upon their first term.
Whence shall new recruits be supplied :?
The main, if not the sole, reliance must be
on Teachers' Institutes.
These organizations are, it is true, ofshort
duration, but when properly conducted they
awaken an intense professional! interest.
instruction IN the sciences is properly
regarded as Of secondary importance yet
from The principles of Classification and hab
its of study incuIcated. even this becomes
valuable. The great difficulty in the way
OF improving tic profession: has been in the
ISOLATION OF the individuals making up that
profes>'on But in these gatherings, teach.
ers fr",n different arts Of the same county
or even OF different counties NEE, and ex
ch'"Sc heir views, thus opcni", large
field OF 'omparison and stimulating 10 far
more extensive and successful clrD,ts for i'm
proveueEt.
lhe uhtr's spirit is here awakcncd-
There is a certain sentiment, almost indie
Sc'ibab!r, that should crva,,e the breast Of
every teacher love for his oc:upa,ion
and lively zeal in its prosecution, are ~
dc>pensable t" Su cc,>lul obstruction. With
this sentiment teachers Will generally sue
ceed ever With limited scientific a'tainmcn,s,
for this same spirit will cause them to pre-
pare themselves by close study and though,
to meet any difficulties which they may en-
counter.
j, therefore tho pre- sent Lcyi>.atur should
deem it inexpcdicnt to make an app: opria
ton to the State Norn,al Sc.p,., we w5ril
respectfully suggest IL; It make an appro
l''a:ion for the purpose orhold ~ Teachers
Institu.c,. Let this appsopr;2:: "a Jc place..
in the hands Of he State Superintendent,
who shall have power to employ compvtent
instructors, and TO uc>:,;;,l:y the coun,jc, in
which Institutes shall be held. In order to
secure the Attendance vf teachers upon these
lns ltutcS. leta certificate be given TO each
teacher that attends, and let them be en-.
p'oycd. all other thinSs being equal, prc!cra-
bly, to Others
The henrG s Of Suc' Institutes wou,l BE-
at once demon'lrYtcd. Those who attend
.heac Institutes would apply their acqrir
ents immediately to their >chDY,S. Thcv
attend Tor the express purpose Of doing so
Their minds are awakened to the inS,ruc
ton given because The necessity and time
OF ITS application are pressing The great
est improvement: p,>S.blc in short ti,.e i
thus male, and we ear c>tly believe ,ha,
this il the cheapest mode Of practical in
Struc''"n IN tive art Of ,eac.in, tina, can be
encouraged by he State