Delaware Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1843-1874, 1866-04-23
For the Delaware Republican.
TEACHERS INSTITUTE.

/ Mr.. VERNON With your permission will
| again call the attention Of your readers, and
! especially teachers and other friends of edu
cation, to "The Teachers Institute of New
Castle County" recently organized III Will
mington. The objects OF the Institute were
briefly stated in the preamble accompanying
series OF resolutions adopted at a meeting
held on the Sd ult., the proceedings OF which
were published 10 your paper. From that il
may be learned that it seeks TO accomplish II
sound ana vigorous reform in gchool econ omy
and the laws pertaining thereto and to bring
about Il uniformity in text books and methods
| oil instruction throughout the country. Also
that 1t proposes the establishment OF n bureau
through which schools may be supplied with
competent teachers and teachers desiring sit
uations represented; and aims TO elevate the
| position of the teacher to recognized pro-
J iessioniby demanding proper remuneration for
| service rendered.
Having in view the objects named, the In
| stitute should certainly receive the attention
| OF ull who are interested in the cause OF edu
cation, and desire TO see our State take more
advanced position in this respect, than that
which 1t now occupies.
That tho school laws OF this Stale are not
what they ought 20 be any one will Rcknowl-
edge who will take the trouble to examine and
compare them with those of some other States,
II VIII be found that tbey present worry little,
II anything ut ALL which has tendency to u.
huence teachers to taithfulness in their duties
or 10 excite among pupils desire TO excel -
The government OF each district is placed
exclusively in the hands of Ills local cSmmit-
tee, without any supervisory power whatever.
Where there is an intelligent committee who
will cooperate with their teacher and fur
nlsh him with the means and appliances ne
cessary for the successful prosecution OF his
work, good school may be established. But
where the committee are less Interested, or
so much occupied with personal matters that
they cannot give the school the attention it
should receive, the want OF supervisory pow
or is ielt, and i'll ils absence, such schools Ian
guish. That speedy reform in the school
laws may be effected by the Efforts of the In
Sti' ute lie not certain, but that il will even
tually be brought about cannot be doubted, if
the necessary effort is put forth.
But the Institute aims to bring about uni
formity in tex books and methods OF nstruc.
tion. This is OF great importance. Sueh is
the diversity uf text books employed, that do
not suppose the same series could be found in
any Two schools in the County, in country dis
tricts. This being the case some schools will
of course have good books while others will
have those which are not so good. II this
whole matter were under the supervision OF "a
board composed of men competent 10 discrim-
mate among the many text books provided ior
schools, the best extuBt would probably be
brought into general use. Scarcely less var
iGd are the methods OF instruction adopted by
teachers. Ia the meetings OF the Institute,
these different methods Will be discussed, aud
an interchange of views will doubtless lead
mNuy to adopt that system which will be the
most thorough in it's method and effective ia
its results.
Another object conte Llt plated 10y the Institute
is the establishing n bureau OF education. This
wCuld meet II want which very often exists. Ii
frequently happens that committees scarcely
know where 10 look for teachers Tor their
schools Not SO much from scarcity of ap-
plca1is, as from the lack of knowledge cou-
cerning their qualifications. If there were a
bureau, such as 10 contemplated, applicants
for schools could have their claims fairly set
forth, snd committee would have the ibeans
OF ss SCREAMING the qualifications Of those who
desired 10 be employed by them
Tho Institute seeks also TO elevate the posi- |
ton OF the teacher TO Il recognized profession,
That the Importance of the teachers position
is not generally acknowledged is certain
We're it go, their services would receive bet
ter remuneration than they do in many cases,
1t is mistake to suppose that II knowledge OF
elementary principles is all that is required in
the teacher of public school. To perform
his work properly he must be thoroughly in
structed in everything pertaining to general
education. Nor should his education be OF IA
general cnarscter only, but sheuld be conduc
ted with reference to his calling, just as much
rs that of the physician is. But men who are
thoroughly prepared for this work, are to be
retained In the schoes only by remuneratng
them IN a manner approximating to the value
of the service rendered. Many are constantly |
leaving the profession because they are better |
rewarded in other pursuits That teachers
may 40 much for themselves in this respect is |
the opinion OF many. Wheu they put forth |
The effort necessary to elevate their calling, |
and let it be known that they are in earnest IN
their work an iutelliT gent commanity will appre-
ciate their efforts.
The next meeting OF the Institute will be
held on Saturday, the 2Sth lnst ut IL O'Clock,
A. NJ, in Good Templar's Hall, Third Street,
between Market and King, Wilmington. 1t is
hGped that nil who have attended ils meetings
before will be present, and that may others
will meet with them. The teachers OF the |
County and all others interested are cordially |
invited 10 be present, and help forward the |
good cause. A. J. CRozlER, Rec. Sec.
BrandywIne, April l7th, 1866.