Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1872-12-19
TEACHER,s INSTITUTES.

CHHLLJCOTHE, Iowa, Lee. Ia, ".
The law establishing institutes nn-
doubtedly was designed to work great
good to the educational interests of the
State, and great advantages might be
gained from this source If they were
properly conducted; but ii is seldom
that they are conducted so as to arrive
at the desired point of usefulness.
Most institutes are coayened by the
published mandate of the County SUI
perintendent, and also the preparations
are made by this same worthy individ-
ual, who sometimes, through selfish
motives considers nothing but the per-
sonal aggrandizement of himself and a
few cherished favorites.
Perhaps, in his selection of the pro-
fessional condu ctor, he fails to appre-
ciate the ability ofthe States most able
professors, VINO reside in the coun-
ty in which. the institute is con-
vened, but following the old max
i'm that "a new broom sweeps clean,'
sends off for some A. NJ. of whom he
has heard, but knows nothing of his
working ability in that particular field.
Sometimes the morals of these are so
bad that they bring reproach upon the
whole fraternity. l have had the dis
pleasure of walking between a brace
of these worthy conductors when the
smell of their potent breaths was
scarcely endurable. Then we had the
modification of being bored greater
part of the day in an institute capacity
by the tipsy professor.
The next objection to the present
mode Of conducting institutes is, that
the whole management is taken from
the teachers and assumed by the Supt.
and his cabinet. No programme of
exercises is distributed so as to enable
every working teacher to be ready for
the exercises in which he is expected
to participate, with the exception of
that cherished few, are notified per-
haps one month in advance that they
will have the privilege Of boring their
fellow teachers with their particular
pet theme, and they always do this to
the letter. Consequently, from the In
efficiency of the conductor, the ego
tism of the presiding officer and the
disagreeableness of his cabinet, the
working and worthy teachers become
Disguised. They fail to participate in
the exercises with that zeal and vigor
that they used to when we enjoyed
teachers institutes that were worthy
of the motives that gave rise to them.
The most dangerous effect arising
from the improper conducting of in
stitutes is the implanting of an enmity
to them in the minds Of our tax-paying
and voting population, and will, if they
are not speedily changed into the
proper channel of usefulness, result in
their total extinction, and the law pat
ronizing them will be eraced from our
statute books.
Teachers, call on you throughout
the State to avert this in the future, by
acting in concert; and If the Supt. and
conductor are not capable to conduct it
properly, take it out oftheir hands and
conduct it yourselves. Easha county,
Especially such counties as our own)
lhave. numbers of teachers in their
graded schools who are amply able to
conduct them to advantage.
Let us, in the future, regardless of
all pre-arfanged disadvantages, make
our institutes an educational success,
and this will serve to allay the rapidly
increasing objections to them.
OBSERVING TEACHER.