The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1863-04-24
BEDFORD, Pa, FRIDAY MORNING. APRIL "a, 1863

branches snjoned by law, together with such Others
az the Directors may have required, are taught. 4.
To see that this is done by competent teach ers OF
otherwise 10 report the fact to the School Depart
ment 6. foenable hmssif from personal inspec-
tion aud observation of the teacher st work in the
school, to ascertain his exact standing in the art or
practice Of teaching, 30 ~ to give him bis due
number 10 the certificate. 8. 10 enable him to
state to the proper Directors, the condition OF tho
school and the Of the success or failure of
the teacher, that tbs l0od teacher may be sppre
cisted and sust Sined end tbs bad schoo Improved.
Tie mere statement ofthsss objects Is sufficient
proof. of their importance and the utility of the
work. The obtaining VI the statistics il of itself
ample justification for those brief visits that are paid
In the large counties. where the school term is
very short. They ere reqnned forthe Superiptend-
ent's own annual report, and are ss necessary in
formation tor ths people aud the legislature, as in
dsspensabk 70 ~ enlightened administration OF the
school system q the statistics vi the wealth, pop
uation, condition, progress and wants OF country
are TO the statesman, ensble him TO remedy what
has been inp0litic 10 state affairs during the past
and TO what policy the wants OF the country will
reqsire In the future.
Again no one else has 90 simple means for OBJ
taiiag the best methods Of instruction and impsft-
lug them again in tbs school bs visits In bis round
OF visitstion through the County he hads teachers
of dlaerept grades, from tue beat TO tbs most in
feroi He meets With different methods Of instruc-
ton; be discerns which are successful and which
are net being himself practical teacher, he can
discrhAinAts between them and decide which should
be generally adopted, aud which shosd be discard
cd. He enters fav schools, peshsps, in which he
docs not netice some features in the mode Of pro-
ceeding, which meet bis approval while at the same
tlIpe there may bs other features quite objectons
Bile. He incites the teacher TO persevers 10 the
foraer, aud takes note OF them ~ instruction which
may 10 applied to the want OF pUikhboTiDs school,
a. A.E sln
adoption Of such other modes, as hs by the help OF
his expsrieace in teschinY aud observation in vs-
iting may deem expedient. II has however in some
extfeme causes been necessary for County Super
,intendeuts 10 do more than to merely suggest. -
They have sometimes fsl 1t their duty to take the
school of very incompetent teacher in charge for
q sh0tt period, initiating him in the rudiments Of
teaching aud school Government. Directors and
even parents very frequently leave tbe duty Of Wis
iting scheols entirely unpsrformsd. Whom this is
the fact the Educational Interests OF the district
would be almost wholly neglected. were it NOT for
the visits of the. Superintendent, to draw The
attention Of the people 70 the subject and to i'm
press its importance upon the minds of teachers,
pupils and parents.
fsithful and regular visitation, and reporting OF
the actpal condition. of the schools, are the means
that will lrav eOptinually such Official and public
attention 10 their abort c0mipes and failures, as
must speedily produce reforM. These officers
III zaprosemsnt. tney oct IN living missionaries to
briag up the public sentiment to she required stand
point. The results of visitation thus far may be
noticed, First In ths increase in uniformity OF text
books aud Improvement In classification. The
method Of learning the pupils separately With near
ly many different kinds of books IS there pn-
pills in the school has been set aside, and instead of
we have classified schools and more systematic
methods Of instruction. Second, In Improvement
iR school houses aud furniture. This has been so
rapid and extensive during the past lew years, that
to he admitted II need Only Le mentioned, the cal
most total neglect OF proper sttcntion TO telpers-
ture, light, ventilation furniture, apparatus and
surroundings Of the school room," which formerly
prevailed in many districts, indicated a condition
OF schools that were but melancholy burlesque
upon the cause OF popular educltiou The greater
degree Of comfort and facilities for instruction,
which pupils and teachers nov enjoy, is OF itself
sufficient justification for the official inspection Of
he schools. Third, Expectations OF these visits
stimulate the puplsto dilligeuc, aud obedience, and
very frequently restrain them from i'll conduct in
school. Fourth, They conclude the examination
Of the teacher by sscertainDg his exact standing in
the practice Of teaching which g indeed, the most
important part Of his qualifications, as 1t is we'll
known that many good scholars fail In the practical
operations of the school room. laudable amb-
tiou Is thus excited among the teachers who know
that they will bs graded according to their merits,
by who, being ga man of scientific aid literary
attaHmepts, and of experience In the art of teach-
Ing" is supposed TO he able to discover any faila-
ces of superficial instruction; and hence, that to
make their methods appear successful to him they
must make them sufficiently thorough to merit sue
cess. One Of the most serious evils against which
the friends of education must contend is supeifci-
atty II Is in many respects more to be shunred
than ignorance ITSELF Yet how frequently is the at
tempt aadc in our schools to pass 1t for thorough
training. Hence the necessity that they be visited
hx <t, Ilp tad. Iats md
pose this evil wherever it is found. His visits
very often necessarily short 1t is true, and his time
for observations limited but the practiced officer
soon becomes sn expert in the matter of inspec-
ton, aud very few minutes disclose very much
of the methods and fitness of the teacher, and the
order and condition of the school.
8. Holding Irstitute "Institutes are conventions
of teachers for the purpose of mutual imp ovcment
in the science and art Of teaching, and are among
the most simple, inexpensive and efficient means OF
improving the condition OF our common schools"
That they of immense advantages is SO evil
dent that all admit it, and may thus be briefly no.
ticed /. Teachers by assembling together, are led
to judge of their own requirements, by the light Of
true standard. They "compare notes." and each
one finds wherein he is yet wanting They discuss
the laws of mental progress, the greatness OF their
work. and thus they are led to see the responsible
ity of their office, and to put forth the necessary
mcanc to become teachers indeed. 2. They discuss
different methods Of instruction so that those
which conform most nearly with the laws OF men,
tai progress can be sought out and adopted. 3.
Each one can gather Iich feast of Invaluable G
knowledge from the stock OF experience which all
unite in bringing together. This is especially inn
portant to tie young tor in the pursuA of such
knowledge by experimenting in the scnsbl, many
hundreds have blundered and failed. a. They can
instruct each other in the srancbes they teach and
furnish aid in particular of doubt or difficulty
s.But If the inHnence ceased here. the argument In
theI favor would be much of its real force Such,
however, is not the fact nor is IL possible that 1t
should be. The relation ofthe school to the teach
is truly that OF the stream to the fountan hence
to say that the former must share In all the advan-
tages secured by the latter to state but self-ev-
ident truth. ftF -. M9di 4
tsSeverl yesrs ago the idea of holding teachers
meetings Was lot thought of, mad such proceeding
on the part OF the tcschers wuoli have qeen re-
corded sheer nonsense. But a new era has dawned
ed Upon the educational world New aud better l.
deas bsve gained the ascendtncy. The County SUI
periutenpency has wrought radical change. Va
rious was the means Thought which sthese officers