The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-05-28

! are bad; improving where we. nav, ana In
| troducing reforms where they are, needed.
Let us begin at the bottom and build up
We are not disposed now, nor did ne in. In
tend In our former article, to enter into the
merits OF the school system of New ork or
any other State. We are not, therefore. dis
posed to question "AltoRsD,. statement
with reference to the growth of the rose OF
| New YORK upon our soil, nor are we In
cined to grow poetical over the manner in
which it would distil its fragrance upon the
morning air. We are of the opinion, how
ever, that the free school system is fir from
being a rose to ''Alton," but rather thorn
In the flesh, not easily extracted.
| "Alton's" idea Of good teaehers-tTiose
willing, to fall in with her Virginia old
ideas under the new order"-is decidedly
| goods "a consummation most devoutly
TO oe WISHED" by many, but one never to
be witnessed. "Old things are passed
away" and we have a new order. which. 10
far as educational matters are concerned. is
not in harmony with the old. -
| AS to employing "men who have not
spent 800 on their education" the idea Of
which seemingly horrifies " Atom we
| will say that many fine saddle cruces a
worthless nag; and maIIy O. fond parent has
expended hundreds-yes, Thousands
dollars in attempting to educate block
head, while others have invested large
| amounts of money in the heads of SONS and
daughters only to see them outstripped in
| the scholastic race by some poor child Of
labor, who gained what knowledge he or
she possessed by the freside or in the free
school. -' ~4
An academic or university course does
not always make thorough scholar, and
1ISn ltx.sI e, III,
does not follow that-he is capable of teach
ing. Proficiency in examining and an apti-
tude for teaching are different things en-
tirely. l. t r., 81 a..
a graduate Of university may have the
highest classical education and yet not have
the faculty of explaining the moods and
lenses of English Grammar to class of be-
Sinners in an Ineligible manner. lie may
be able to demonstrate the most difficult
problems i'll algebra, or solve the most iu-
| trlcate question in philosophy, and yet be
unable to explain to q pupil why it is that
twice two are four.
We have not claimed hitherto, and donot
! now claim, to be the only one familiar with
| the free-school system, but we have seen its
workings in different States where it has
been in operation for years; we have also
studied it rs conducted especially in this
| country, have seen its scholars and teachers,
| and have had some little experience in
teaching ourselves, and we are satisfied
| that by adopting the course suggested in
our communication referred to competent
| teachers may be secured who will not be
| cOrruptors of our youth in any way what
ever.
1t is not necessary to employ university
graduates to teach the A, b, C's of learning,
| but important that persons be engaged as
fnp In1t yI,o
| have good knowledge of the elementary
| branches OF IN English education, and who
arc able to impart to others the knowledge
| they possess.
We advocated the hiring Of lady teachers
during the summer sessions of country
schools, and in schools attended only by
small children for the winter sessions also,
believing aS we did that when educationally
qualified they are as Il general thing more
successful in the management and instruc-
| ton of the young of both sexes. ..s rlf e..
No amount Of ridicule can change facts,
and the facts in this case go to show that we
lire correct in our assertion.
There are, as matter Of course, cXccp-
tions to general rules, and "Alton" " proves
one to that stated above. He tells us that
under the only female teacher he ever had
"thc most he learned was to jump" Good
exercise for the legs and body, no doubt,
but bad for the head when indl1ged in men
tally. We beg" Alton" to rc-read our let
ter, and see.if he has not jumped mentally
ut many conclusions unwarranted by the
text. ...
In closing we will state that while we adj
here to the positions taken heretofore we
are not of those who believe in the importa-
tion of teachers or textbooks. So far as
we have examined the latter, those now i'll
use i'll the University Of Virginia are the
best for us, and we have the material for
if we have not already the teachers to edu-
cate our children in our midst. ...
Trusting we shall not have occasion to
again take up the pen with reference to our
position upon the question we have dis
cllsscd, we leave the solution of the matter
to wiser heads and ADLER hands than ours,
for the present at least.
Respectfully, &C., J.S.S.