The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1866-01-24
EDUCATIONAL.
Normal SehOOls-Their Necessity In Our
School System.

| tabIished for ;he instruction and professional |
! training of young men and women as leach
ers. To this end. Normal schools afford
students opportunities TO facilitate and per-
feet their preparation, superior 10 those ot
any other educational institutions, by con-
Meeting thorough and accurate knowledge
of English literature, and such other -slndies
ss il may be necessary 10 pursue, with an
extensive understanding OF the science Of
education and The an of teaching, fully de
veloped and permanently fixed in the mind
by the daily application of principles in the
model school. But, that they may actually
confer these peculiar and extraordinary ad1
vantages, it is strictly necessary thst they
should be not only in name, but in facs,
Normal schools. Their teachers should be
the best educated, versed in the application
of the science of education, and possessed
with more than ordinary ability to imparI
instruction, obtained through years CT faith
fuI study and diIigenl practice of The art of
teaching.
The Eecessity of Normal schools, prop
er!y conducted, and controlled by sufficient
ly qualified and discreet teachers, in our
school system, is so manifest that the at
teDtion of the most casual observer of pub
lie instruction can scarcely escape its con-
sideration. Every day occurrences in
life call the suhjec,to our minds. He who
follows the mos, ordinary occupation, where
we would suppose very line skill is neces-
sary, is required TO prepare himself, by
practising the labor from one to FIVE years
before he can command mure than nomina
compensation for his work; and when any
important or difficult mechanical work is 10
be constructed, special and most careful
preparation is requisite. he who purposes
the erection of steam ship, procures The
services oil work man OF known competency,
not only in the general principles of con-
sIructiag, bot in mechanical skill, under
standing every particular portion of his
work, and the necessary proportions of each
parI. Yet the ship, when completed, is bat
an inanimate object, and If not properly
constructed, being unseaworihy, The loss rs
a mere waste OF substa nee, to be calculated
W. 0Oiloio ohu COutS, duh Cdoli1 10 ptdEcu.-
While, then, this demand of ability rs so
rigidly exacled in all the trades and olher
occupations, in which the spoliation OF m ore
than some gross material is seldom involved
shall The teacher, who is inlrusied with The
duty oi disciphning the most important and
valuable work Of crealion-the human mind,
the destruction OF which is lasting injury
aud incurs loss of incalcuable magnitude
mot be required 10 make the least prepara-
iion, but permitted 10 work in schemes of
chance, and by experiments, upon thai
which, when maiured, remains the director
OF human being through time, and works
ont eternal felicity or ceasless misery Tor
the souI! We ihiuk such conduct would te
the most wicked aud unnatural of which
mankind conld be guilty, and would result
in unknown calamity to the human race
The teacher is not only expected 10 mould
The mind and manners of the youth imme.
diaieIy under airs instruction, but by insliTi-
ing Just aud nagnanimous US principles, he is
10 exalt the happiness of families and com
muniiies. By The same influence be is TO
perform an important part in peTpetuating
popular government. He cultivates the
slender stems which grow to form the pillars
OF literature, OF morality, of christianity
and of civil liberty. He is TO strengthen the
intelisci Of the young and tender, assist il TO
develop and produce honorable fruits, to
refine and exalt the moral nature, 10 pluck
the evil desires that Sc naturally lurk in
humanity-lhe germs that will ere long be-
come Ihorns aud choke down progress and
honor-and plant, instead thereof, pure
motives and honorable activity, producing
an unimpeacnable character, and forming
manhood which exhibits the benefchnl de.
sign Of the Creator. In undertaking task
so important, and working upon material
so ineypressibly valuable, he assumes a
responsibility from which a deliberate con-
sideration would cause man to shrink.
There is, therefore, but one conclusion
The preparation TO be made by the teacher
should be the most perfect possible. llshould
comprise a ready knowledge OF at least all
the ordinary branches of educ alton, with a
correct understanding of the science o:
teaching, thoroughly reduced TO practice -
Without these qualifications, no person is
prepared 10 enter any school and give in
slruetion in an Ineligible manner, noS
tending TO pour npon The pupils minds a
mass of undigesled ideas, that will entangle
and prevent The proper development of the
intellect. But where can this preparation be
acquired We answer, only in the Normal
school, il being the only educational insti-
tnlion in which teaching is perfectly sys-
iemaiized, and where the student is so sit
ualed that the knowledge he gains is con-
Inualy TO be put in use by him in the prac-
IF he ~ 81.