New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1866-02-05

the old conception of Education, whns = :.
il consist essentially in scholastic attainmth.
still almost Omnipotent. 1t Is said we haFe
already abundant provision OF higher lns'!u.
tons of learning; they are far from full, and
the assumption that We need Others Of diier'
ent character is an implied impeachment OF
those we already have
But it is too late to object to the better pre-
parationiof teachers, on any ground. II You
say, such preparation is worthless; this gilt
cannot be impaired; we must rely on "natural
ATTITUDES" we reply, not whit more than III
matchmaking, surgery or navigation. Genus
is an excellent thing and helps one in all dlrec'
tons; but it cannot supersede acquisition, and
must be itself educated to accomplish its highest
work. In all other departments Of activity, 1t
is admitted that man must understand his
business'-must know the properties, pecullarl-
ties. laws and limits, OF the objects with which
he deals. The Joiner is TO know the properties
Of woods. the smith of metals, the farmer OF
soils and manures. On what ground shali we
make the teacher an exception to this necessity
He NAV know many things; may have mastered
mathematics, languages, history; and his college
may have labeled him as learned when be went
forth from her halls; but what of all this We
will not accepta knowledge Of heraldry as inc
preparation OF an eIgineer, nor oil huiniSnlaIlc'
as the qualification of a lawyer. We demand
that each shall know thoroughly the things that
pertain to his chosen calling. Accordingly, we
establish laboratories for the education oil the
chemist. and medical colleges for the education
of the physician; and we require that these IN
stitutions shall ransack the knowledge OF the
world for every fact and principle which afects
their theory and practice-shall make ther
teachings faithfully represent the present condl'
ton of knowledge.
And so it must be with the method and art
of instruction itself We have already Normal
Schools but they are recent ana rudimental IN
organization, and tend constantly to asslmllate
to the great classical institutions-to aim at
scholastic results; and thus lose sight Of the
grand purpose for which they were founded.
These tendencies need to be decisiyely rectliled,
and new institutions formed which shall make
a knowledge Of the scientific principles and art
processes Of education, knowledge oil human
nature physiological and psychological the
laws Of its impressibility and improyablllty,
their grand and exclusive object. The true
Normal Training College, resting upon the ex-
detrimental basis Of the model Primary School,
bringing all theories and projects to the mme-
diate and memorable test Of living practice. will
bring under contribution the acquisitions of the
age to perfect its methods and accomplish its
work.
Such an institution, modelled after no other,
but organized out Of the necessities aud posi-
bilities Of the case. bold and original in its pan
as accords with the genius Of the country,
should be established in this city, in connection
with the great Public School organization. A.
the Medical College has its museum OF morbid
anatomy. a well-endowed Normal College
should have its museum and cabinets OF the ap-
paratus and devices for teaching. IL should
command the services OF the ablest men to
illustrate by lectures and practical experiments
all points and principles connected with the
philosophy of instruction and schOol.nanage-
ment. Such an institution would not only be
an honor and priceless advantage to the city,
but carried out as it might and Shout be, it
would became Che pride of the country and a
blessing to the age.
But with body OF teachers in our Primary
Schools incompetent, to the last degree, TO the
true work of education what is our provision
for improving theml Let Ncw-Norker blush
at the facts. While there is paltry arrange
mcnt by which those OF the teachers who choose
! meet for short time once week for purposes
nom.nally connected with Improvement IN the
processes of instruction, to a solitary gentleman
| Is assigned the whole task of treating this sub
iect in q three or four hours talk TO such irac-
ton OF the collected teachers rs may choose to
hear him. And while this is all that Ncw-lorll
| is doing for the elevation of It's schools in the
only efficient direction in which il can be done.
she has sci up higher institution, under the
title of the " Free Academy" which IS running
the classical and scholastic race with the, Uni
yersity and Columbia College. aud sro,coO Is
asked to PM it in operation thin year; while,
according to late Developments, our city IS en-
tering into competition with the medical insiitu-
tions ofrourtccnth and Twcuty-third-sts. by the
establishment of new medical college
But. while We are thus dominated by er-
roneous conceptions OF the scope and true
objects of public education, the West is more