The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1868-07-16

the night following the Convention. A |
big time is promised the people.
u-=~zz~-m
Evansville Teachers Training School.
We notice by circular issued by
Prof. Cow, the Superintendent of our
Public Schools, that it is in contem-
plation to open in the new High
School building a Teachers Train
ing School," a department OF the
High School for preparing young men
and women of our city and vicinity
for the responsible work of teaching
The Board of Trustees, following the
example of indianapolis, Fort Wayne
and other places, have chosen this
method of furnishing teachers for our
Citv Schools, rather than sending
abroad for them. There are now en-
Moved in the Public Schools of this
city between fifty and sixty teachers,
and the vacancies which are occur
ring from year to year make it diff
cult to meet the demand for good
teachers, except by obtaining them
from abroad. The Training School
is designed, in great measure, to OBJ
viate this, after it is fairly in opera
ton.
How shall we secure the best teach
ers for our children, and where shall
we 60 to obtain the persons best fit
ted for such responsibility. are ques-
tions that force themselves upon the
minds of many parent and School
Board, and are easier asked than
answered. There is no difficulty at
all In obtaining persons, who, for a
consideration, will take command of
the school. Nothing is easier; but
to obtain persons of culture, who, in
mind, manners and morals, are fitted
for such command, is another and
more difficult task. The difference
between one who may keep school, y
and teacher is as great, comparing
great things with small, as the differ
ence between mule driver and Prof.
RAREY. One is an educator, train
er, a philosophic thinker, who un-
derstands what he wishes to do, and
and takes the best method Of
doing it; while the other is intel
lectually but few degrees above the
brute he drives. There is an impress
sion very generally prevailing that
{, mere knowledge, derived from books
l is all that is necessary to constitute a
teacher, and that a person having
such knowledge is entitled to employ.
Z ment, from that fact alone. A mar
q or woman may be very learned, anG
yet for many reasons be totally unfit
ted mentally, morally, and physically
for the office of instructor. Every
y body will concede that thorough col
L leeA training does not fit the lawyer
8 the doctor, or the minister for the
: practice of his profession. That sucf
d training is of immence benefit, no one
o will deny, but its special use is only
u to lay foundation upon which the
Q professional knowledge must be
E built. Professional knowledge re-
: quires professional study, and
:. such study is secured only in school;
e devoted to professional preparation.
a The lawyer, the doctor and the min.
e lister have special schools established
e for their training, and such special
G training has always been recognized
Y as necessary. 1t has been of COM
) paratively recent date that correct
4 ideas on the subject of the profess
f siOnal or special training of secular
1 school teachers, have so obtained that
d schools have been organized for the
9 purpose. But now almost all the
4 Northern and several of the Southern
f States have organized State Normal
Schools for the training of teachers,
+. so that great demand has arisen for
teachers who have, in addition to an
6 academic or collegiate course of
study, pursued a course of normal
; training. Even in many of our cities
it has been found desirable and nee
essary TO give such special instruc-
ton to teachers as shall enable
them to work in harmony with
others, thereby securing to the pupils
uniformity In government, discipline
and instruction. As an evidence of
E the appreciation by the public of
teachers, who have devoted time and
{ labor to proper preparation, it is only
necessary to refer to the Oswego
I Training School. The graduates of
5 that school are in such great demand
: that the school is not able to supply
I 1t, although they experience no diff
! Guilty In getting from $3.50 to 81 900
: year for their services. 1t is not
. unusual for young ladies, trained in
the Normal Schools, to get even more
than $1,000 a year. One recently was
called from the Normal School of
Illinois to St. Louis to take charge Of
: the instruction of teachers in Primarv
Schools at a salary of 81, 100 per an.
mum.
1t is a good thing for our city that
department of our High School
will soon be organized to train our
own teachers. 1t is hoped that those
who contemplate teaching will appre-
ciate the necessity of high profess
sional culture in order to meet the
increased demand for excellence, and
, spare no pains in fitting themselves