The Elk advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Elk Co., Pa.) 186?-1868, 1866-03-03
ESQ by request, VIC again publish the
following article.
Expence of County Insti-
tutes.

..
county superintendent is not one of
finance simply, that being Of minor i'm.
porance History teaches that those
nations were the most prosperous and
powerful, where the masses were the
best educated. a glance at the nations
Of the present day will show the rapid
degeneracy, physical and moral, of
those in which education is neglected.
The uation does not make the citizen ;
the latter is the architect of the fabric
under which he shelters. The answer
to the q1estion, "what must we do to
preserve for ourselves and for pokterity,
the priceless boon which we now Dos
sesS :" is, we must instill into the minds
OF our youth the principles of sobriety,
morality and virtue and to accomplish
this, it is necessary for us to have class
ofpcrsous who will devote themselves to
this noble task never dcviating from
their path of duty, but with soul
carnestncss giving themselves up en-.
tirely TO theii work, thoroughly imbued
with the spirit of charity and of patience,
/ their minds imbued with a laudible
ambition, and pervaded with a proper
sense of the dignity of their calling.
Moreover. this class must also be thor
oughly competent, by their own educa
ton, to impart knowledge to those over
whom they are placed, and not the
specifically learned who unfortunately
are so prevalent. Teachers of the lat.
ter class are easily obtained, devoid of
those correct principles which true
elrning imparts. To them it is merely
IA question of money. They enter pro
tanely the sacred temple, and make it a
place of bargain. Those of the former
class are with difficulty obtained. They
are well aware that there is no royal
road to learning they know well that
there is no point on the way where they
can exclaim, 1--WE have finished our
journey ;" hut ever toll onward, availiug
themselves of every aid with which they
meet, to lead ye. further on, to bring
them nearer the brilliant prize which
awaits only the faithful and presevering
seeker. W
a most valuable aid in the thorough
preparation of the teacher, is the county
institute an assembly of the teachers
of the county wherein they labor, called
together by the superintendent, ana at
which :here is mutual exchange of
the principles of the art and profession
teaching, which the members may
have elaborated and defined. Prof.
Bates deputy Superintendent of Com
mon Schools of this Commonwealth
who has devoted much time to this sub.
ject, in his admirable work on "Teach
ers' Institutes" says: "THe institute
IS nat Me pI0cc TO g'Oe instruction in the
elements ofMc scipaccs." The partici.
pants have entered the vast arena, and
meet not to be drilled in the minor
tactics but rather as "A council of veter,
ans, wherein is to 6e decided the plan
of the greatest and noblcat of campaigns.
Here the quick tempered and hasty
meet the earnest and the patient
views are expressed as to the govern.
ment ofthe pupils, classifications, etc,
by the members, and the teacher here.
totore pursuing beaten path, looking
neither TO the right nor to the left. finds
there were many by ways, and easier
paths to orcach the hearts OF those, whose
future destiny, temporal, and perhaps
eternal he is to mould Classification of
studies is sdiscussed; and the over tasked
teacher sees mode by which to lessen
the mental strain, which perhaps he
has hitherto imposed on himself and up.
on his pupils. Truly it is not place
for elementary instruction the trained
mind alone can take mp the guntlct.
All are masters. Lectures on scientific,
moral, or mental themes are delivered
aud thus the good seed is sown destined
to produce THOUSAND fold. The pub
lie are attracted by the fame Of the lee
turers Interested, anG instructed by
what they hear aud what they see, they
become more earnest in their support of
the common school system, while those
who still have some lingering feelings
hostile to it, have them materially often. /
ed and ultimately removed Parents, too, !
learn to place a higher estimate upon the /
teacher and his office, aud are more dis
posed to appreciate his services, 70 as.
sisr in alleyiating his labors, and to take
a greater interest in the district school.
These institutes, however, are always
attended with mnre or less expense, such
as board for the teachers, rent Of suit
able room, fuel, light, etc. Should the
members Of the institute invite one or
more lectures to address them, another
expense would be added. Should they
not do 50, their rich repast would want
It's relish. 1t has been shown of how
exceedingly great Importance is the
thorough teacher, and how even he
must avail himself OF every aid, first
among which is the county i, stitute
but how is a teacher, with the meagre
salary he receives, and that only for
portion of the year, especially in the
rural districts, to avail limsclf uF these