Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1869-12-17

Normal Schools are gradually supplying
US with a better qualified class of teachers
and through them introducing into oul
schools the best and most approved meth
DDS of instruction. Over twenty-five stu
dents from the Platteyille school have been
licensed to teach in this county within the
past year. Should those schools continue
as popular and successful as they have
been during the short time they have been
in operation, they will soon be source
from which a large majority Of our teach
ers must come. / regard the special train
ing of teachers in Normal Schools as the
most efficient means of preparing them for
the work of thorough and systematic in
struction in the common schools of the
State.
Our annual Teachers Institute was held
at Mineral Point, commencing October 4th
and continuing four days. State Snpt. A.
j. Craig, Chas. ii. Allen and 5. d. Gay
ord were present, and each assisted in
conducting the exercises; making our In
stitute lively, pleasant and profitable.
The importance and benefit to be derived
from well conducted Institute, are be-
ginning to be understood among our
Teachers. There is scarcely any other
means in use which gives such immediate
and practical results. They may be con-
sdered as temporary Normal Schools by
which some Of the benefits Of a Normal
training may be made Immediately avail
able. They should De regarded as one of
the necessities of our educational system,
and be established upon permanent ba-
-. Il I
inexperienced, but earnest and willing, and
in order to give them a clear understand
ing Of the duties required Of them, need
just such training as Institutes are de-
signed to give.
While our lest and most successful
teachers, an' those who desire to become
such, higt.y prize these opportunities,
many others, and those who most need
this instruction provided for their special
benefit. through timidity or for other rea-
sons, fail to attend which will eventually
result in their being pushed out of the
ranks and their places occupied by more
energetic class. OF course I do not intend
to include in this class, those who are pre-
vented by good reasons from attending,
but those who are voluntarily absent
At the last two Institutes held, | adopted
the plan of giving certificates of attend
ance to those who participated in the In
stitute exercises. Hereafter propose to
insert the fact of membership and atten-
dance in their certificates of qualifications,
and recommend district officers in en-
ploying teachers to give the preference to
those holding such certificates.
NJ Tocb,,o Hnpcoop, r;tx C,,nt &c
Mineral Point, was chiefly instrumental in
providing for the comfort Of teachers pres
cnt on that occasion, and through him
desire to thank the citizens of Mineral
Point for their generous hospitality extend.
ed to teachers from all parts OF the county
during the session Of our Institute.
From the reports of District Clerks, it
appears that there are only SO volumes in
the School District Libraries of the coun-
ty, except in Mineral Point. The impor-
lance of cultivating a taste for reading in
the young, should not be overlooked. Al
though the primary object Of system of
School Libraries should be for the benefit
of the young, it also opens the fountains of
knowledge to all. Old and young, rich
and poor may alike become partakers of
its benefits. The law of 1868, in rela-
ton to Township Libraries, provides that
each town may raise by tax, not more than
$50 in any one year for this purpose, to
be expended under the supervision Of the
Town Board of Supervisors. This amount
might easily be doubled by private sub
scriptions and donations of books, and
could be increased from time to time, as
the citizens of the town should think
proper. The District Library system has
proved almost total failure, from the fact
that the funds that could reasonably be
expected 20 be raised for library purposes,
must necessarily be separated into SO
many minute divisions, as to entirely fail
Of accomplishing the object desired. But
the Township Library system is practical
and better adapted to our present condi-
ton. 1t is a question worthy of earnest
consideration, and commend it to the at
tention Of the people of Iowa county, hop
ing that at the next Annual Town Meet
ings, the amount authorized by law may
be voted in each town for this purpose.
From a thorough trial Ct the plan OF
Teachers Monthly Reports, am satisfied
that it has proved beneficial to the schools
1t not only furnishes much information in
relation to the conduct and management OF
the schools, but it also makes Teachers
more systematic and thorough. The oues.
tons proposed in the blanks provided are
intended to be suggestive, and frequently
| furnishes hints to teachers in relation tc
records and general management which
might otherwise be overlooked, and the
| fact that the names of the three best
scholars n each school in regard to attend
ance, progress in their studies, and gen
eral department, are to be returned in
these reports at the close of each term Of
school, has salutary effect upon the dis.
cipline of the school.
From these reports [ discover that the
number of cases of corporal punishment in
school is continually diminishing which,
to my mind suggests a more enlightened
state Of public sentiment and morals, as
we'll as better qualified and more skillful
teachers. And | trust, the time is not far
distant when there will be but little neces.
sity for resorting to this mode of punish
mcnt, in order to maintain proper degree
of subordination in our public schools
do not suppose that a law abolishing OF
entirely prohibiting corporal punishment
would at the present time be desirable OF
judicious, but by careful and prudent
management Oh the part of teachers sus.
tanned by a correct public sentiment, am
satisfied it might be almost entirely
avoided
By The Teachers Monthly Reports it is
shown that the aveaage attendance on
Saturdays in those Districts which con-
tinue the practice of Saturday school, is