Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1867-08-22

TIE NECESSITY of A CONVENTION OF DEIA-
WARE TEACHERS AND EDUCATORS.
Navarro DIi August a. 1867

TIE NECESSITY of CONVENTION OF Della |
WARE TEACHERS AND EDUCATORS.
NEWARK, Dbl. August A. 1867.
MEssi,s. Eprrons Tile very sensible and
timely editorial in last evenings COMMERCIAL,
was worthy of careful thought and mature delib-
Grafton. Ii has been question iii the writer's
mind, why no Teachers State Conventions are
held In tins State; There seems to be, for some
unaccountablc reason, II general apathy ut large
among the teachers of our Common Schools;
they seem to have no other desire than 10 "put
in timc," and draw their miserable pttance at
| the expiration o. their quarter; and thus they
pursue the ''even tenor of their way"
| There has been attempt after attempt made to
revive the causc Of popular education in this
State, but without material success. The teach
ers themselves taking little or no interest in the
movement, it Is not to be expected that the peo-
Pile will move in this matter until they find teach
ers are more heartily engaged in the work which
they have to do.
| WI. badly need u convention OF educators to
work up aud fully prepare the minds Of the peo-
pie for " that which is to come" In educational
matters. We need n thorough reformation in
methods Of instruction, particularly geography
| anu "iiN "iitteu.
il high time that teachers should learn that brains
will generally command corresponding value
| and hence we need energetic action on the par
| of our teachers to make themselves more worth.
of public favor. Yet it is argued, and with muc
force, that they do more work Tor less pay thai
any profession in existence, and that they do no
/ receive MS much, in many cases, MS the manuf
laborer All this Ia true, but it lies in the powe
: of the tcacler,by combined effort, to remove TIL
evil from among them, and place themselves |
: not M umcny,llc light. This i not speculatin
!, t0u high; ii can b. done; and, ~ the opinion
Il the writer State Conventions will he the key
C the perfect s,luiiun OF this lamentlble state
: affairs.
We nec, uniformity in text books. This, pc
tnl,s is ,,ir ii the most important points
wliicl, our attention should now be turned. MOI
l. know so well the importance of this ms the teac
l. crs. Many schools have the same number
| Glasses, in one branch, and three or four t.
I, huoks of different kinds, for use IN each elias
a. and when This IL the case, it may well be su
pusct, That THESE books are not OF the lat
III editions ar nf the most improved kinds.
r. We need reform in our law that will entire
nf overcome the few evils OF whien ! nave me
ct crs such a reform will sink the present seht
In law So us never To know resurrection. 1t Is
~ burning shame upon our statute DOCKS, ana
ed the intelligence of Deawareans.
o. The law has no system, because everything
in confusion, and each district is indepcnde
IS. ind conducted upon totally different principl
In it there IL no unity, becaiise school hou
rr and furniture are not such as are needed by {
de schools. Text books are not alike. Some cl
ID dren 90 to school without books for some tir
M and when they procure books they are of
atc wrong kind. Teachers are not compelled to
Md tend teachers institutes once month. III
led know nothing beyond the limits Of their g Ii
..a kingdoms.'
ARE Teachers nre not examined either In q
,r- iflcations affecting their moral or educatio
, to standing; and hence very many men of &
~ standing rs teachers and gentlemen are ct
on- PEELED 10 undergo the shame and odium which
ess- generally thrust upon the profession, by hay
individuals ms teachers who are complete III
and nunbskulls in the profession, who can
7 Of trace the principles that underlie the card
np rules.
thn We need reform. reform, REFORM. We
WV men that can be enlisted in the cause of popi
ver- education, who are able to do mnch good; M
,pe- convention of teachers throughout the State
,iti- do much that will tend to lead us into an
mate reform.
'nie Weiiced help from the press, the pulpit,
i as the bar. We far behind the age. and It Is
.ana duty 10 come up to the work, and If 1t Is don
proper manner, we can yet redeem our
OF from the stigma which now rests upon it.
OBSERVED