New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-06-04
Communicated.
SOUTHERN CHIVALRY.

New ORLEANS, June 2, 1871.
In this mornings issues of the opposition
press the animosity toward the State Super
intendent of Educa ton now passes to
new phase of bitterness
| Mr.. Conway, in the legitimate perform
ance of his duties and in accordance with
an express provision of law, has introduced
into the State a means of advancing edu
cation long in use and highly approved OF
in portions of the country where the public
school system has reached the greatest
degree of efficiency, namely, the teachers
institute. This is designed to be an Assem-.
bly, of teachers, under the direction or
| leadership of some one who has had better
opportunities than others, at which the
most improved methods of imparting knowl-
edge to the young are illustrated; and all
are invited to present their methods, and
compare their respective merits.
Mark, now, the manner in which this
praiseworthy effort has been received by a
partisan press. All of the papers which
claim to represent the class in New Orleans
who are par excellence the educated and
refined have in turn and unitedly attacked
the measure in bitter TRADES. They have
not halted with Misrepresentation of
Mr. Conway's attempt to carry out the law
to which he was elected, but have called
upon reserved venom to give edge to their
unmerited and utterly gratuitous diatribes
upon the lady who is here engaged In the
rauular nI,rsuit of har nrofacs sion
The REPUBLICAN alone has presented a
detailed report of the sessions of the insti-
tute, and given those who have not been
able to attend the means of judging of its
objects and results. Other sheets have
contented themselves with sending a re-
porter to ''drop in few minutes" aud give
report of the proceedings which might as
well have been written without any pre-
tense of having examined the matter.
The animus of the contemplate filings at
Miss Morris is so clear as to disarm most of
their sting. But those in the articles which
appeared in the Pieayune may be briefly
disposed Of "Of the two hundred teachers
present, the writer says, |'there were more
than fifty who know more of the subject,
and are better qualified to impart knowl-
edge" If this were true, it is poor com.
mentary upon their energy and ambition
that they remain content IN the minor posi-
tons filled by them here. Before employ
ing this lady, Mr.. Conway made thorough
inquiry into her credentials, and concluded
the engagement upon the commentator of
some of the most prominent educators in
New York, a State whose common school
system is without peer in the land. If it
be presumption for her to appear in the
position she does here, what is it for any to
continue their labOrs in a pursuit into
which they have been heartily welcomed
by those who have preceded them and adj
vanced beyond In reference to the COM
mendation of certain work, it is sufficient
to repeat a fact which was already known
to many, that the author is former teacher
of Miss Morris, and an esteemed friend,
one in whose praise she is not stimulated
by mercenary motive.
We may fifty conclude by referring to the
item in the Times, which unblushingly as
serts: 'If the teachers of our public schools
need instruction in the art of teaching, they
are entirely untitled for their business" If
there were anything which would especially
demonstrate an unitness for teaching, it
must be Discrimination to learn. H.