American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1865-11-01
COMMUNICATIONS.
For the AMERICAN CIfIxsSi
To the Teachers of Butler co.

A call has been made, convening a
Teachers Institute at Prospect, on
the Tth. Sth, and 9th of November
This will be hailed with joy, by every
teacher alive to the wants of the common
scool as a move in the right direction
| beg leave to call the attention of teach
ers, and other friends of education, to the
Importance OF encouraging, and sustain.
ing County Teachers Institute in our
county The object Of an Institute is to
qualify teachers to discharge their duties
better in the school room The object is
certainly a good one and the want GER
tainly exists. Then the question arises !:
Do Institutes qualify teachers to discharge
their duties better in the shool-room p
Teachers that are SO lacking in profess
sional spirit as not to make some sacrifice
of time and ease to attend an Institute
and remain away for fear Of new idea
OF teaching, cracking their eraniums $50
fully clammed already; it is very doubt
I'll whether such are capable of being
better prepared for their work. But to
the wide-awake, the earnest, the true
teacher, the Institute is of vital import
ance OF the former class | hope we
have but few, of the latter class l hope
the attendance in the Institute will prove
that we have many. That teachers re-
quire better qualifications than they now
possess, is fact that cannot be denied
There is a constant drain of the best
qualified teachers to other, and more re-
munerative pursuits. Their places must
be supplied by others. Hence, there ex-
lists pressing necessity for the influence
of good Institute The Teachers In
stitute proyokes inquiry, 1t has taken
methods of instruction, and examined
them by the light Of philosophy, and
rejecting the worthless has shown the
practical value of the good. Every true
teacher feels that there is want of unity
OF action in the teaeining force Of our
county. We need the vitalizipg influence
of an organization. Many of the teach
ers of our schools are inexperienced to
such the Institute furnishes fund Of in
formation which they can obtain in no
other way 50 essiIy. Then let all that
feel an interest in the cause of education,
tuse their influence to secure full attend
ance of teachers at the Institute, and in
the words of the call, give "new i'm
petus to the cause of education' Let
boards of Directors urge the teachers
employed by them to attend The well
fare Of the common schools demand of
teachers that they improve every oppor-
tunity thus offered. A bright future is
dawning for the teachers profession; there
never was such demand upon the teach
ers of our country as at present. Tho
war that has just closed so gloriously,
has demonstrated that the education of
the masses is the safeguard, and the only
one, for the perpetuity of our political
institutions. If a tithe of the treasure
spent in the war had been spent in edu-
l eating tho masses of the South, there
| would have been no reb ellion The true
interest and highest success of any pro-
fession is best promoted by an active and
leading interest on the part of its own
members. The true teacher will hold
himself ready for every word and work
which tends to bring his chosen profes-
sion into esteem, and place limits proper
light before the word.
| A TE4 CHER.