The West Virginia journal. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1864-1877, 1866-03-07
Schools for TcaclicrS.

The New York Tribune has lengthy
article in commendation of Gov. Fen.
tons recommendation to the New York
Legislature for an increase in the mum.
Der and efficiency Of normal schools
for training teachers:
The question of the improvement OF
our Common and Public Schools is thus
imminent and vital; but how is this to
be accomplished? Undoubtedly, by o
more thorough aud efficient preparation
Of teachers for their work. That the
school takes its character mainly from
that of the teacher is obvious and that
the standard is now lamcntably low is
also undeniable. There are many execp.
,ions; but the humiliatius fact mover.
thcless remains, that the qualifications OF
the great body Of instructors are shame
fully limited. The thing needed. there
fore, before all others, to give efficiency
and the highest value to our popular
educational system, is to demand OF
teachers a more thorough preparation,
and thus raise the standard, character
and influence Of their profession. But
here, as elsewhere, supply must equal
demand. If the State insist upon q
lofticr grade of attainments, it must pro-
vide the institutions where they can be
acquired; it must create establishments S
for the special and adequate preparation
Of teachers.
No doubt, there are numerous diff.
culties in the way Of any such policy.
The public is indifferent, and perhaps
prciuiiced. Teachers arc Indifferent,
and perhaps more prejudiccd, and they
will oppose any attempt at Improvement
in the exact ratio Of their disqualification
for the vocation they have assumed.
Still. there are multitudes Of teachers
who know and dsplore their Deficiencies,
and arc glad to do what they can to
!. remedy them t. + :. :: x
But it is too late to object to the bet.
ter preparation oftcachers on any ground
If you say such preparation is worthless
this gift cannot be impaired; we must
rely on natural aptitudcs !" We reply,
not n whit more than in watch making,
surgery or navigation. Genius is an ex'
ce!Ient thing, and helps Que in all diroc'
tons; but it cannot supersedc acquisi.
tion, and must be itself educated to'ac.
complish its highest work. In all other
departments Of activity, it is admitted
that man must d" understand his bus
in css'-must know the properties, pecu
liaritics, laws and limits Of the object
with which he deuls. The joiner is tt
know the properties Of woods, the smitl
of metals, the farmer Of soils and ma
nares. On what ground shall we make
tho teacher an exception to this ncccssl'
ty? lie may know many things may
have mastered mathematics, language,
history and his college may have la.
belled him as learned when be went
forth from her halls; but what Of all
this? We will not accept q knowledge
Of heraldry as the preparation OF an en-.
gineer, nor Of numismatics as the quail.
cation of lawyer. We demand that
each shall know thoroughly the things
that pertain to his chosen calling. Ac'
cordingly VIC establish laboratories for
the education Of tho chemist, and medi.
cal colleges for the education of the
physician; and ne require that these
institutions shnll ransnck the knowledge
Of the world for every fact and principle
which affects their theory and practice
shall make their teachings faithfully
represent the present condition ofknowl'
edge.
And 50 it must be with the method
and art Of instruction itself.