The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1867-09-03
The Advantages Of Teachers lnsti-
tUtes.

tubtss
Editors Journal:
Having attended part of the exer-
cises of the Teachers Institute o.
this county, just closed, under the
efficient superintendent of Professor
Knight, and the very able instruction
of Professors Harvey, Hough, Cow,
and Misses Brown and Locke, | am
induced to pen few thoughts con-
corning the advantages to be derived
from the Teachers Institute y that
is Justly becoming so popular.
Within my recollection the calling
of teacher was considered as only
fit for those persons who were fit for
nothing else, and it was quite common
when one had failed in everything
else to betake himself to school
teaching; but fortunate is it for our
country and our children that that
time is rapidly passing away, and the
teachers calling is being gradually
dignifed and lifted up into
the sphere of the sciences where
it properly and justly belongs, and
nothing is contributing to this end
more than these same Teachers In.
stitutes." If we would have we'll
educated children we must haze
thorough and scientific teachers, and it
is not only in the High Schools and
Colleges that good teachers are want
ed, but prominently in the Primary,
Intermediate and Grammar Schools,
especially the lo,oer grades where the
foundation is laid. An eminent edu-
Gator said to me some weeks since,
1--WE are often compelled to tear
away a very fair superstructure of
book learning from the minds of
many of our young students, in order
to remove a rotten, worthless and
shaky foundation that has been la d
In our common schools" My own
opinion is that (were it practi-
cable) no one should be allowed
to teach in our common schools, ex-
cept those who could present certifi-
cate of graduation from some thor
ough Normal School" I say Nor
NAL School because it is not every
we'll or even thoroughly educated per-
son that can teach properly, for one
may be well educated man and at
the same time not well educated
teacher. The art of educating G.. e.
drawing out and leading the mind of
the pupi) and teaching e.. e.-impart-
ing instruction to the pupiD is possess
ed even by few well educated persons,
and can only be acquired by hard
study, thorough discipline and expert
ence, hence the necessity for Normal
and training schools. But our Nor
NAL Schools are yet in their infancy,
and the supply of teachers from
that source is altogether INADEQUATE.
The question arises, WHATS the next
best source of instruction-not for
the child, but the teacher? Unques-
tionably the Teachers Institute, and
what is Teachers Institute, simply
and truly a school of instruction,
training and discipline. 1t is where
the teacher is taught, and it needs
only to be present at one of those in
stitutes to be convinced of the fact
that the Teacher Taught is quite as
importantas the Teacher Teaching"
AS / remarked in the beginning, it
was my pleasure and profit to be pres
ent at several of the very able and
highly interesting lectures delivered
at the Institute, Gust closed, by Pro
fessors Harvey, Hough, Cow, and
Misses Locke and J. Brown, and
am confident, from what | saw and
heard, and from the declarations OF
many of the teachers themselves.
that they there learned more Of the
first principles of the science of edu-
cation than by all their previous per
sonal investigation and study; and
not only so, but they there also re-
ceived many valuable hints and sug-
gestions concerning the various modes
of teaching or imparting knowledge.
which is by no means the least Of the
two benefits. Beside that, these in
stitutes are the means of creating and
developing an enthusiastic Lore for the
calling, without which no one can rise
to eminence in any calling, much less
that of teaching, unquestionably the
most arduous and responsible of all
professions. By all means, let us
have not only thorough but enthusi-
astic teachers; but these we cannot
have until our teachers are made to
love their work; and this love can
only be developed by themselves
drinking from the bottom of the well
of knowledge which always creates a
thirst for more. These Institutes are
the buckets by which these waters
may be drawn knowledge has been
compared to gold, and the pursuit of
1T Is as fascinating. These Institutes
plow up the surface and wash out the
deep gu!ches. and expose the glitter
ing grains and solid nugget of hither.
to undiscovered truth to the eager
gaze and within the easy reach of the
teacher. Let the Teachers Insti-
tute become q permanent aux;Iioru "a