Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1866-09-28
For the Standard
Normal School.

Normal School.
Messrs Editors 1T seems to be |
generally expected that the subject OF
normal schools will be, in some form
brought before our next legislature.
Meantime it may be wall for US, the
people, to be thinking the matter over.
We wish to know what q school OF
this kind is, and then we can make up
our minds whether they are needed in
the State Of Vermont. And if they
are needed, it is desirable to know
what the legislature has to do to pro
vide them in kind and number to meet
the wants Of the State. What then
are these schools? They are de-
signed to be places Of training for
teachers Of our common schools. On
the supposition that he who would
teach successfully needs to have some
special preparation for the work, these
training schools are Desirable, But
does the teacher need such special
preparation Other occupations de-
mand instruction in the one VINO would
make them proftabie; why should
not this? 1t cannot be that the work
I to be done by the teacher is less i'm
portant than that done IN most other
OCCUPATIONS. Habits Of study, pa
tience, ana seltoontr0l, are very much
to be formed in the common school.
And what these habits shall be, de-
ponds very muct! upon The knowledge
of The teacher, aud his ability to I'M
part that knowledge i will be OBJ
iec.ed here. that some are natural
scholars, and viii find out a way 10
study and patiently investigate any
subject. All they want Of & teacher
is to help them over now and then q
difficulty. This may be truo Of no"
and then a child, but the majority are
not so. The habits OF thought anC
nenetration that most men have, they
must acquire. and the genius OF ou
government requires that iAert sh@i
be the largest amount Of Intelligence
. possible among the masses OF the PEG
pie. That few should do all The
reading and thinking for the rest, Il
no more republican than it Is for TIT
! few to hold all the wealth or power
= and the many have no chance even t
5 share IL. The purpoae Of our school
is to so educate the masses that al
shall be able to inform thcmselyc
- suitably to have opinions that are vel
$ founded on the questions Of publ
: interests. This will prevent the me
5 nopoly of power in the hands Of few
Il Now that all the people shall be thu
II educated, or even the majority .
o brought to this stage OF acqqiremen
Y it needs that the larger portion be Ell
: couraged and assisted to gain a low
. for knowledge. To do this skillfl
10 hands must be employed.
9f # it is necessary for physician
+ possess both natural skill, and acquire
d ability, in order that he may c9ntr(
-, disease properly and restore bealt
no less does it need both native an
u acquired skill to treat successfully tt
m mind so as to Danish ignorance, an
m cultivate intelligence. For the min
E. is certainly as intricate as the bod
g. and the diversities of mind are nearl
as great as the forms of disease in ii
- body. And further, it can by L
We means be said that the Importance
IN, healthy and well formed mind
less important than healthy bod
~ And as no parent would trust i
,r- child when sick, with any other thu
ot an educated and competent physical
neither should he trust his child
a' be educated, to any but a competel
re teacher. And how are teachers to |
10, made competent? 1t is replied, pc
Io. hapS that the examination by a tow
no superintendent should prevent al
=, but cOmpetenF ones going into Il
i' schools, But The superintendent ca
'lr not qualify teachers, if he finds the
IN, unfit; nor can he import from abros
IN. a supply for the schools ola town. [
al can only adopt a standard of qualif(
= tons as high as the average of {
-. quirements in the neighborhcod W
he allow. and the best he can do, is
me insist that those who teach the SChOO
orr shall come up to that Standard
Nv Further than this, he cannot go in
-. fusing certificates for if he does
- will simply shut up the school hous
St. for want OF teachers. The estims
mr. of ability necessary for Q teach
lty which prevails in locality, must g
ent ern the superintendent, and he Ill
'ho decide merely upon the relatire, /
s the absolute fitness of a person to tea
mt school. Now that this is the CT
- with more than one intelligent scht
cir superintendent in Vermont, cam
red be doubted. How can it be 9th
wise,under the present order ofthing
the Our teachers generally have
80 special training for their intrici
OF work. But this is not the worst
ON it; they do not practice teaching 10
en- enough to gain any special knowled
on of the business. Probably three ter
en- would be a full average Of time Il
est the teachers in Orleans county foil