New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-08-21
NATIONAL TEACHERS CONVENTION
AT HARRISBURG.
discussion of the state Establishment
Of Normal schoois-Professor Ed
vnrds,s E.ecfurc-Visit of the tonven-
,ion 10 Gcfiysburg-The scbooii-rasser
Following the soidier-A Bureu" OF
National Educntion.
0rom Our Special Correspondence
HARRISBURG, Pa


OF all the papers thus far read before inc
,-onvepton OF Teachers-a of which arc quite UP TO
the proses siona sanGard-that Of Professor Eu"a'us
Al Illinois is allowedly the most searching ana impress
.jve His argument that normal Schools WIN
,her distinguishing characteristics should DC est"o
ibo1 and maintained in each State at the public ex-
oense Professor Edwards is the principal OF one Oh
~ largest schools of this kind in rae United States
.bs aourshng University at Bloomington, III ILLINOIS,
His conclusions are therefore, tie fruit OF extended ex
perience and study.
A, the outset Prof. Edwards deprecated the idea
chat to perfect his happiness the individual needs only
letting alone, whether the object be his teaching by
sebool or otherwise. We do not ask tho Government
"a make US healthy or wealthy ,or wisei all VIC require
of il is protection while we are making ourselves so
ahe extreme jealousy of delegated authority in repub'
sjc ia good sentiment, but does not so much concern
~ when we are to use that authority to benefit our-
aeyes The State that educates all its children snip
,las the arms with which thew moy successfully
aefend themselves against its Illegal assumptions edu.
cation Mathematical comes TO more than 1t costs end
implrts more freedom than 1t can t.Ao away; Inc
whole matter said Prof Edwards. belongs - the de-
parment OF educational sta'esnanShlp-a department
which after having been neglected for centuries, Is
COW only beginning 30 receive attention.
Whatever improves the teacher improves The Schools
and the arguments free schools supported ny the
people are equally strong for Normal Schools sup
ported by the State by all means let our Normal
Schools be maintained by the state and thus the state
may encourage ana Influence education as II can N 10
other way. Is 1t democratic TO compel TIE people 10
Sax themselves freely fr the l!ing Ga 'e1cheIs
wages aud is il untemOclGtic 10 take measures Tor
making the article they can get liz exchange worth their
money Even the Constitution Of the United States SO
famous for bestOwiug only restricted powers seems 10
recognize the principle Tor which We are conendngOy
an express declaration that the National Legislature
sha possess all power necessary for carrying INTO exc
:ution the specially granted ones.
Private enterprise ana beneyoence are inadequate
and are overtasked sustain such institutions as the
Normal School. They always involve extra labor ana
unpaid enthusiasm The supply of Normal Schools has
not met and cannot meet the demand which Is 80 far
greater than the supply and Oyershadows the law OF
supply and demand If society alone Is TO be depended
upon. Taking a'general survey OF the states what 90
find Certainly no adequate provision Tor framing
ceachers Where the College Seminary devoted 10
CHS purpose. and sufficiently endowed
Especially should National policy of education be
pursued at the present time when by the results Of the
war; vast OF territory and multiudes OF human
beings at once thrown upon orr hands. \ demand
has been made upon the teaching power OF the Nation
vastly exceeding what has heret fore been met Think
forOne moment Of the millions OF minds enveoped IN
skns of all hucs that must be lifted up into the night Of
American ideas before have any true democracy
in the South What Oilsome, heightened labor II Is
60 be for somebody TO fire the southern heart with
the love of intellectual life The question is 20 be pIac
ideally solved whether aSsimlate all the crude
material that in the event of our failure will be 10
sassimilate US. There was time when the Ma
much needed the best highest
and so much Of IL as does to-day Our victory IN the
for the Union must be double victory, or II will
BE- barren. There must be conquest OF ideas as well
battalions The schOomaster must finish what the
soldier has begun Culture must be extended far as
che right OF suffrage and that Is absolutely universal
except as it shall be limited by Intelligence.
The rest OF Prof. Edwards address was given, in
great part to the explanation of the character interior
working and aims Of the Normal School One Of It's
eminent values IS the creation Of an esprit de corps 1t
IS impossible now to give so much synopsis Of Prof
JlWardS's perhaps
sstic address Its language nervous and strong,
and its arguments fbrons. 1t was well received
The essay of Mr.. BlIrnger OF Troy. on the "Obects
Of Teaching" went some OF the ground occupied
ty Prot. Edwards. but, as generalization was re-
narkablc for its good scnso: The necessity OF more
practical education hinted, but the definition Of
sach education regards the character OF studies
was not given. As vet the Convention gives no OK
preston that il is willing de-casscize and de- Latin
lie education somewhat make room for tie every day
sciences OF utility ana bread and butter.
On the question Of nationaizing the system as wei
rs the cause of education theie very few dissenting
voices Mr. Burroughs, late Superintendent Of Penn
syiyania Schools remarked that the friends OF The Nor
NAL School in that state had fond II best TO forward
the Normal School system by local meas. accepting
from the States such volunteer privileges aud endow.
ments il frequently gave to public Institutions OF the
kind. After fall discussion, II was almost unani-
rOusy resolved that the Government be petoned for
grants OF lands toeach State IN behalf of Normal Schools
especially
che Schools held in the Capitol today Mr.. Il. q.
Nofthrop of Massachusetts chosen Chairman. and
the Rev. DIR. L. Van Bokkelen Of Brooklyn Secretary.
Here ii was also resolved 10 memorialze Congress III
behalf of the schools and for Bureau of EGucatlon
aud Educational Statistics The Rev. DR.. Van Bokke
len the Hon. c. c. Coburn OF Pennsylvania. and the
Hon. T.. T. White OF Ohio were appointed committee
% prepare the memorial and To concert with other edu
eaona bodies. Thus three different national societies
OF public instructors have united upon the object OF
obtaining from the General Government a department
of Education with such grants to the several as
may be possible, and of making education which is
sectional and local. in some respects, national and
universal
Last evening Prof Hardness of Brown University
Tesd very essay upon the teaching Of the elias
sics making entertaining use Of theme that TO the
majority Of hearers trlte and traditional II not
hackneyed. The Convention, though u embraces no
ANAL delegation OF versatile and classical scholars has
undoubted leaning. however 10 the unitarian SIDE
OF schooling. The progress Of things is to MAKE the
useful arts classic vel primary Physical educa-
tioR we hope TO hear broached
If the Audience Of the session has suffered moment
IN the prOtracted hearing Tie monotone Of many
<hcses upon education. certainly. the lecture OF PIOi
JAS d. Butler OF the Wisconsin University. must have
been a relaxation and feeaemcni. =" The Common
place Book" apparently tTiing theme, became
complex and pIOfoun Ia the cunning metadorph0ses 10
which the opigIammatic and eyer.yatyng humor
OF the Wisconsin professor subducd 1t. His fer
Eiy of illustration and anecdotes seemed one Of the
18ppiest tests OF the uncommon yare " the much
lected common place boDk-a book into which greet
ep have often gathered greatness and picked il Olt
little by little. The lecture was merely literary but
for that reason all the more enjoyable
The conventiOsts spent to-day upon the Gettysburg
battlefield accompanied by Their guest, Major Gen.
John w. Gcary Of the heroes OF that hardfoucht
contest The programme was social and patriotic. and
the excursonss received the coutescs Of the railroads
and hotel and tbe genial hospitality OF the Professors
ofthe Getty sburg College. Good feeling and pleasure
and harmony remarkable in meetings OF 80 large a
character have marked the session OF the Convention
, A Pleasant Excursion-Geftysburg Visited
Hospitality Of Citizens-Friday's Pro-
ceedings-New Members Eiecfed-Reso-