Charles City intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Floyd County, Iowa) 1864-1866, 1864-08-11
Communications.
Correspondence Of the Charles City Intcligencer
Letter from the Go. Superintendent.


Letter from the Go. Superintendent.
Mr.. EDITOR Il proposed to you,
sometime since, to discuss, through
your Intelligencer, tho subject of
Teachers lnstitutes-to inquire after
the best method of conducting the
same.
AS portion of the funds of the
State is appropriated to defray the ex-
penses of these Institutes, the public
have a right to see, and to know, that
the greatest possible amount of good
is derived from the appropriation.
There are two systems in vogue for
conducting the Institutes. One is,
the Lecture system the other the
Drill system. According to the for
mer, they are not regarded as schools,
but simply an attendance on lectures.
According to the latter. they are re-
garded as model schools, and each men,
ber as pupil. In the Eastern States,
the drill system, | think, entirely pre-
walls in the Western, we find the
lecture system. We know that stu
dents in medicine, in many of the
States, are compelled TO attend
course of lectures before they can ob-
tain their diplomas or certificates of
qualification but these lectures are
always the finishing up of their pro.
fessional studies. As far as my kowl-
edge extends, our teachers here, in
the west, have not yet arrived at that
point in their studies when a course
of lectures would flush up their peda-
gogical knowledge. They need drill
ing. They need teaching. By the
lecture system, the members are mere
ly told hoac the thing should be done,
without either seeing it done or being
compelled to do it.
The Theory" of teaching, which
any one can read at leisure, is often
made the subject of the lecture for
nearly the whole session of the Inst-
tute. The practical part, always the
most difficult, is almost entirely neg
lected.
BY this system, you cannot better
judge of the qualifications of its men,
bers at the close of the Institute, than
at its commencement. Some few leading
members, perhaps. as an illustration,
may be called out and something
about their qualifications ascertaiued ;
but the retired ones, those less ad.
vanced, those who need most to be in.
structed are entirely overlooked.
The only objection to the drill sys
tenn seems to be, lcant Of time. What
can you do with q school in six days,
is the taunting phrase against it. Ac-
cording to my judgment and experi
ence, much can be done in six days
Whole regiments and divisions Of an
army are reviewed and made to &c
through the manual Of arms in singt,
day. The officers give the word and
each soldier is made to go through
with the maneuver. Not one is ex
cused. The review 10 for the express
purpose Of ascertaining whether eacl
man and officer understands military
tactics. Sir, in these Institutes, ;
thorough review of all the common
school branches should be had. /
: the members of the Institute wer,
organized into school, and the whole
! time Of the week economically hus
banded, the whole course Of studio.
demanded in our common schools
might be reviewed. Principles nigh
: be explained, knotty questions divest
J ed of their intricacy, and no membe
: could fail Of being greatly benefited
: thereby. Those teachers who teacl
only in the winter season. get some
what rusty, as the phrase is. and b.
5 attending one Of these drills in tn
y Fall, would be completely Lrightene,
!. up for the business before him
+ Again. if six days are not enough
9 better take six more than to lose tn
J, whole. In the State of New York, In
!, stitutes are always held two weeks
J. aud no State aid is given. The men
!. bers pay their own board, aud Ia
!. themselves to pay their lecturers an
q teachers. They have teachers for tn
2 days and lecturers for the evenings
9 | bring this matter before the publ
i for their investigation. Upon whic
!. system will you have your Institute
d conducted? II. WILBUR.
County Superintendent.