The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1864-12-21
state Normal school.

w hen the Senool system oi our state
becomes more fully understood, it will be
better ppr.ciated.
If scholar goes through the course
prescribed in common or District schools
and then through the course pursued in
our Normal schools he is fitted for nearly
any station in life, and if he desires to
follow any profession he is amply prepared
for the partic ular course OF study required
We have now in our State three State
Normal Schools. These institutions,
where such buildings have been made
by the citizens as have been pronounced
by the Examining Committee, suitable,
as required by The law on the subject,
and to each of winch, the Legislature has
appropriated $4,000.
One is at Milersville, Lancaster county,
under the care of Professor Wichersham
as Principal; one is at Edinboro', Erie
county, of which J. A. Cooper is Princl-
pal aud the third and youngest is at
Mansfield, Tioga county, and has been
for Que term and is now on the second,
Is in charge of Professor Fordyce A.
Allen, assisted by Professor Strait, late
Of the EdInboro School, and others
Doubtless allare supplied with able as
! si>tants.
Ard what is a Normal School, and
what are its prospects
/ The leading idea of the Normal School
is to prepare teachers for the common
schools. Any unc desiring to be a good
teacher should place himself under an
instructor that really knoms Aoc to teach,
one who has had long experience, and
thus learn more in one or two :erms of
the art of teaching, than might be learned
in years OF personal experience without
first receiving thorough practcaFtralniug.
1t is often said The beginner is the
best, he will try harder" Would you
say the same if you wanted young and
valuable colt trained? Would you not
rather give him in charge of the most
experienced manager of horses you could
find If you wanted to learn the art of
horse tamiug and training, would you 20
to Rarey himself, or to one Of his imitat-
orS who had just commenced its practice
Now would you be less wise in refer.
ence to the educators of your children ?
! Would you not rather trust your child
to the care of one who had been perfectly
drilled in the art Of teaching, than to one
who was just about to commence the
business uHhOut such traiaing, and rely
iog entirely upon experiment?
Again, when Que has learned to control
mind, has learned to study and know
human nature, he is prepared to occupy
position of influence in society, and is
capabo Of usefulness either in business
pursuits or in the professions. Sc that
whether one is intending to teach or not,
thorough Normal course is extremely
desirable.
With regard to common school teach.
ers. so great is my confidence in the
benefits of such training to them in their
profession that | would pay 25 to 50 pei
cent more wages (yes, more than that),
other things being eqUaI, to the one who
! had taken thorough course IN one of
our Normal Schools, than to one who had
not. l believe great effort should be
made-inducements should be held out
by an offer of higher wages, to induce
teachers to attend those schools.
am not sure that it would not be
economy for District to educate one or
two promising teachers at its own expense
upon condition that their services should
belong to the District for several years,
Does any one ask which school to at
tend | answer: Attend the one most
convenient. Neither of these schools i:
in our Normal School District, and the
choice is iu favor of the one most con
verient of access, and of best teachers
and managem 2nt.
al Bird committed an error some
months since in stating that Mansfield
was in our Normal District.
In another article will give 4 sketch
of visit to the Mansfield school.
The same friend of youth and educa
tion. n. D.