Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1870-04-05

Germany, every one of whom Is a
graduate of normal school and a
man of culture nine-tenths of them
make teaching a calling for q life
time. A great many of our teachers
are young and inexperienced, chang
ing their places every term, and
they are thus tempted to make but
ordinary efforts. Besides that they
are wofully deficient in the art OF
teaching, regulating and classifying
school, and the idea that study has
for its object the awakening OF
thought as well as the requirement
of information, seldom arises in the
minds of teachers.
1t must be admitted that some i'm
provement has been made under the
present system of county superin-
tendents wherever the people had
the good sense to select the right
man for this important position.
But instead of visiting each school in
the county for an hour or so land
most of the superintendents cannot
do more than thaD there would be
really much more practical benefit
derived from well conducted town
teachers institutes, because our
teachers would thus acquire that
theoretical part of teaching that
they can get in no other way be-
sides that, such teachers conferences
would, if conducted in proper
spirit, create greater interest for
everything pertaining to education,
and thus elevate our schools as well
as our teachers
But until we employ teachers by
the year, instead Of by the month,
| giving them social position aud COM
pensation which will compare favor
ably with the wages paid TO educated
labor in other departments--thuss so
advancing the profession that men
will love IL and place all their hope
Ia lite upon it-so long will we have
so many inefficient teachers. who will
look upon the school room as q mere
make shift for the present. The
principles Of true education as sci
ence, and its methods as an art, is
terra lRc0gRit0 to that class of teach
ers. Here is great field for i'm
provement and of more importance
than the premature agitation in IA
vor of a compulsory school law"
The remainder of the report is de-
voted TO the subject of higher edu-
cation, and argues we'll that it is the
duty of the State to foster the higher
institutions learning, so that all may,
If they please, acquire the most
complete education. We quote tie
concluding paragraphs:
"Ihere is no way in which educa-
ton can be more effectually advanced
than by carrying our universities to
the highest degree of Perfection
These are as has been truly said, the
great lakes from whence the clouds
are formed which fall in fertilizing
showers; the paFeGts Of streams,
which meander far and wide the
fountains of rivers which flow
through mighty regions, bestowing
beauty and richness along their
banks, uniting the interests of dis
tant places.
There is no country in which ma
tional existence or character will SO
depend upon this higher cultivation
as in ours. Here are vast multitudes
collected from other nations, as we'll
as OF native growth, thrown togeth-
en- in breadth of territory whose
resources dazzle the imagination,
and, for the present. defy calculation.
And these multitudes constantly In
creasing, and with so wide field to
act in, and in state of freedom such
as no other people has ever before
possessed. We are in q state ap-
proximating to absolute self-govern-
ment. 1t is not the mere force OF
laws and the executive authority of
the officers of government which can
control and regulate such people
We ourselves make and alter our
constitution and laws; aud laws
when made become in effect null
and void, unless sustained by popu-
lar opinion.
1t is the noblest form of govern
ment when people are prepared
for it, and a form which implies that
they are prepared for it. 1t is
form which shows less of the out
ward force of government, because
1T supposes a people so enlightened
and moral that they do not require
it. Habitual thought, the principles
Of truth and virtue, and incorruptible
patriotism supersede police. stand
ing armies and courts of Justice. In
such State, it is at least demanded
that the enlightened and the good
shall predominant. And to this end
we require higher education of the
people than obtains in any other
country. And on the same princl-
pie, we ought to have more philoso-
piers, men of science, artists aud
| authors aud eminent statesmen-in
fine more great mcmillan any 9TH
CT people We want the highest
forms of culture, multiplied not
merely for establishment, but to
preserve our very existence as a na.
ton.
live ever fall to pieces it will be
through people ignorant and besot-
ted by material prosperity, and be-
cause cunning demagogues and
boastful sciolists shall abound more
than men of high intelligence and
worth"
aG~ General Buffers report of the
| SOldiarS' Homes sarr M d;sohloJ ool