The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1865-07-29

TINS annual convention Of New York teachers |
oss juS, bsen held At Einra, aud by the published
proceedings We hnd that some very commondatlc |
mseestons were adopted The importance Of a
more thorough and systematic moth ID Of qualify
ng teachers for their responsible duties seems to
oavs been fully appreciated by tho Convention,
and We are pleased 70 see that preliminary H1eps
asve been taken to establish q higher standard Of
suAlhca,ioa. The sus has long urged tue no.
sessity d n rcformatory movement Of lhis charAc.
Yer, and the instances Of gross incompeency aud
misconduct on the part Of teachers that have with
n the last few months appeared Ia Ills journa, are
efficient evidence thu. = chang for tho better is
mperstvsly needed. A. tho present time, ability
and fitness are too often made subordinate 10 TO-
itcsl or personal influence. A word OF recon.
nondshon from ward politician Is apt to
- more potent han the qualifications tia,
are really requisite in wscler. II
idditon to this evil, examiners Who am
o do their duty honestly aud ell.
;iently are frequently induced 10 pas, all applI.
isnt solely on the ground Of his mental acquire
nsnis. II Is true tina, every candidate for the
position Of . teacher should 10 measured by
:loss standard o. education, but moro than this IL
essential In order 10 determine lis cap .ci,y TO
each. Every instructor in our public schools
should be required 10 pass through a thorough
course Of training in order to learn the method Of
lmpsrting knowledge 10 his pupils A person may
attain very high degree OF scholarship, aud yes
DO incompetent for the position Of . teacher.
What 70 teach 10 ono thing and hop to lesch ~
smother. This feature has heretofore been regard.
I'd too lightly aud the effect 10 seen In the scores
u teachers who, having enough intellectual sbiity
ARE inefhcisn, In the school.room, because Of their
ignorance OF the art OF teaching Another subject
which received the approval of the Teachers
Convention, and which ought to have been .c.ed
upon years ago is that o; physical education
The committee that was appointed 10 report
upon This subject prefix their resolutions with
'his admirable uuism. The end Of all right edu.
cation 10 happiness which cannot be attain u In
'his world without harmonious development, Of the
body with the mind" There 10 perhaps no ref. rln
connected with ,he subject OF educ alton stat has
Deem % ''renuously aud pSrss,ently opposed a.
hs' oil physcal training. lhis opposition is found.
sd on no ten.bs theory for there Is none ON which IA
can rest but very largo cAss Of pareu,. are inn
oucd with the idea that physical edurAuon i. 9th, r
en- Absurdliy OF positively injurious 30 youth. and
thersfore they de.ormlnelly iroru il down A
spe,ious Argument Is sdddcsd By acme p,r,ona Ia
ths elect that children have an abundance, M ever.
ess, and that tie very habits o. you'd. pr,,l,,l,
Size necessity Of = caisthonic system. I.Ubv
u that our boys and girls grow up marrow, eb,s,.
ed. wosk-limbed, pale and delicate, 1, ii.
very stale but = very truthful adase h,,
"Jusi - tho tuig 10 bent tho tree,
Inclined" Physical education is 10 N,
yor!hful body just what the careful training O., IN
pomologist is to the young tree. II tho lttle spro,
IL allowed TO grow up without attention il become.
Acrooked and deformed tree and in like mapne
sehid will never attain that perfection Of develop
mont without physical training, that IL o.herv.,
might scquirs. The close sympathy between III
mind and The body is also proof that to se,ur
the highest development Of tho former the latte
must not be nesectod-thst in tho language lef p
quoted from the repor. 81 the teachers commute :
there must DO harmonious devrlu pmeu, of iii,
body with tho mind" These subjects are OF lin
highest importance to all who are Interested in th
cause Of sducstion, and are pleased 10 sec Il.
the teachers fully appreciate them. We e.rnos,l,
hope that measures will DO speedily adopted 4,
render these propositions practical, and thus Gle
vAta the educssonal system OF the State TO lnl,cl
e'shs' standard Than IL NOW occupies.