The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-07-01
TEACHERS, INSTITUTES.

Among the most valuable meaus OF I'M
pro,ing the schools of the country, assem-
blies of teachers, for the purpose of mutual
consultation and special instruction, hold a
high place. These teachers meetings, or
institutes, as they are called in the North,
are usually held during the autumn vaca-
ton, and continue one or two weeks. The
day sessions are usually spent in discussions
upon the best modes of teaching, school
discipline books, apparatus and all matters
involved in the successful conduct Of the
school. Evenings are usually devoted to
lectures, upon topics of special interest to
the teacher by distinguished friends of edu-
cation. Thee occasions have been found
vastly profitable, by cultivating intimate
acquaintance among the members with each
other; keeping them familiarwitht the latest
and best improvements; familiarizing them
with the details of the general system and
it's administration, and cultivating that pro-
fessional pride which is a powerful motive
to faithful effort. ~
1t has been found that where these insti-
tutes are held, teachers rapidly improve, and
the standard of popular education is high
est. The whole community shares the ben
eft of these associations, and hence in many
localities, and especially in the West, extra
ordinary facilities for attendance are offered
to all teachers actively engaged in profess
sional work. Railroad and steamboat
companies furnish free transit private
families tender their hospitalities, and en-
tertain the teachers free of charge during
the sessions of the institute the best halls,
Tor churches if these arc wanting) are freely
offered for the meeting. These courtesies
are worthily bestowed upon profession
which more than any other controls the
future well-being of the State, and whose
members are harderworked and poorer paid
than any other calling. II, by holding out
such inducements, a'srand attendance at the
institutes can be secured, the community is
vastly the gamer in the end.
It is for the officers designated by the
law to administer the school system, to in
auourate Teachers Institutes in Virginia.
We hope to see every..county iu the State
organized, and its teachers assembled at
least twice every year, for purposes Of inn
provement. The county superintendent
have it in their power to MANAGE this mat.
ter, and if need be TO enforce attendance
Certainly no teachers ought to be employed
| in the public schools who would refuse Il
avail themselves of such an opportunity o
improvement. The teachersl themselves
should take hold at once, and by informa
communications with each other, and stu
dious examination of all debatable topics
prepare themselves for the fall meetings.
This great work is to be done by tn
teachers, township officers and county su
perintendents combined. They will fint
public-spirited citizens every where ready Il
second judicious efforts to improve tn
qualifications of the teachers. 1t would b
a great improvement over the present scat
) tered and expensive mode Of conducting ex
, aminations for certificates, if the institute
; could be made the occasionfor examinations
also. Such examinations should be publ
and competitive. In this manner unqual
fled pretenders will be rapidly sifted ou'
and elevated, capable teachers wa tax
their places. Give us good teachers, an
good schools will soon follow, and Virgini
F will rapidly take its proper place among he
}. sister States in the education of her chile
e rem. We are confident that our exceller
and devoted State Superintendent, Nj
Ruffner, will give his powerful aid to thei
Institutes.