New-York tribune., 1873-07-29
THE STATE TEACHERS Association RE-
VIEWED.

ITS USEFULNESS IMPAIRED BY PERSONAL RIvMETs
-rTs PRESENT METHODS AND NEEDED REFORMS.
TO the Editor OF The Tribune.
SIR: AS / was in attendance during all the
sessions Of the annual meeting of the State Teachers
Association which has just closed in this city, perhaps
will not be out OF place TO notice one or two things
that strike looker in Vienna" without an office to
seek or an ok to grind. Many Of the papers seemed
able enough but the subjects whole did not touch
closely the interests activities Of the younger teachers
who form the bulk of the membership Besides, papers
op more carefully chosen topics however able may be
only the views of a single person-the writer These
views do always command the assent OF those In the
audience capable Of forming an opinion through long
experience Discussion educational theories Is the NE
of such an association and interest will flag unless this
Is cared for I'm the future What has been the case
this animal meeting There has not Deen' up TIL the
afternoon OF the third day, single comparison OF views
involving discussion worthy of the of any great
principles underlying the teachers work 1t s idle to
say that tho teachers loquacious that business
will be interrupted hndered. The business OF the
Association is comparison OF views on the subjects that
interest teachers and repeat that the managers OF
the Association cannot afford to neglect this. Why
should the papers be 80 numerous as TO press out dis
cussion9 Half n dozen. well chosen, on subjects OF
commanding interest, prepared by men VINO VIII
assuredly he present read them and giving certain
and vet reasonably ample time for discussion would be
greatly better than so many reports and addresses
which must be swallowed without remOns:rance on The
paIt OF tho Association
PTbat WHICH interests every earnest teacher perhaps
more profoundly than any 0ther thlng eOhheceu WIN
he STATE Association i3 20 understand the spirit which
ecnates and peryades IT, What are its objects and
piraiOnsl Does II sincerely, earnestly ann 70 eeyae
ihe Common school system, not this little part OF II, that
cIicne or wonder asprant for Office ana notOriety
what, in short, IL Its atmosphere 1here ore some
things which il cannot be expected 10 10 IL Is lde 10
demand that Il shall 70 instruct tue teachers
who 90 there after the fashion OF teachers institute
A large part OF the most active. certainly the most
steady and reliable part OF the AssOcaton have long
passed beyond the needs of any such instruc-
gUm, sHo5t c'1n time. Nor can it Bo expected
10 be the place where all sorts OF erued
theories may be Set loose. This would make the Ass0
citation wide spreading OF injury and not beno
ft But IL ought to be expected 10 meet the younger
members OF the profession with the best thinking OF
their older fellow teachers and the anxious desire Of
the Young and earnest 10 reach the highest marx OF snch
experience and skill ought not TO he disappointed This
ur0pem It sought 70 solve from the rst by making
IL worthy honor for the best minds TO read papers be
fore the annual meetings Interest was to be increased
hy DISCUSSION on these papers Ip this way crude teo-
RES II any were introduced, would DO submitted 10
viCorons treatment and the chief danger arising from
such source would be averted. Much valuable expe-
- ~ Wv or the teaclers and tbe Association
has accomp ished undoubtedly great good. So muGh
must readily conceded. And yet 1t does not take
nuet observer long time to perceive that the Associa-
tOn has Travelled away the objects which an
organization ought 90 hold steadily III view. For II can
moi afford TO lose sight OF the fact that It's influence over
the rising members Of the profession is OF its very
hrat objects. Tue programme OF exercises for the pres
ent wear contains comparatively few papers directly
useful TO young teachers IN their business aud by
fuI mean useful through suggestion through the ab
ity Of writer TO start the anxious teacher
plans aud methods OF her invention. This
leads me TO inquire the reason for this, and l
mink Il NAV be found IN the lauentably chaotic CON
diton IN which the state system or no system OF
public education has been brought by direced egsld-
non Can ANYTHING be much more confusing than
the dual government Of StaJe education represented by
the Board Regents hand and the state Super
on the otherl The Board OF Regents las charge
o the colleges incorporated academies and the academic
denortments of union schools STATE Superintend-
These departments OF control and supervision
mo antagOufsn through the normal schools side
and academies with the academic departments Of union
schools the Otheror tine reason That the latter has
Tor many years past drawn from tde literature fund, an
annual appropriation for preparing teachers. Out OF
his comes more or less rivalry between the teachers OF
bese respective schools and this rivalry crops out in the
annual meetings OF the Teachers Ass0cation-in the
papers and the debates. To show sii more clearly tho
confused OF education let us look dt the present
mode OF supervision by means Of County COnmis-
sioers and city village superntendcuts These two
classes officers exist in the county, ana dis
tinct appointments bY two different authorities The
Commissioners are elected by the people, the Superin-
EiuCatIOn the respective cities and villages. These
classes Of officers have not really common interests al
though would naturally suppose they oughtto have
and they appear IN the annual lneepgS OF he assOch
tion way that does not add greatly 10 the harmony
Of business.
interests chat appear in this body Add to what has
been stated the evident feeling the part OF teachers
10 Commissioners and superintcndents ard 10 viii
readily be understood that the OF these interests In
body OF tins sort by means Of papers resolutions, and
discussions absorbs great portion OF the time which
mount all such rntereststhe grand object for which
the Association was organized aud which has been al
ready alluded TO. 1t Is greatly 10 be desired that wiser
councils might prevail 10 modify II not 10 change
trey the present manner OF business for tho OF
every association, started for grand aud noble Objects
that may DC used lOr personal Gnd therefore, glObo
Utea. ". Y, July "a, 1873.
------