The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1873-12-25
Education.

Our SPACE does not allow a full report
of the Educational Meetings recently
held in Nashville.
The State Teachers Association oc-
cupied two days in its sittings, and was
followed by a session of the Superin-
tendents' Convention, which occupied a /
like time.
These meetings, from ali accounts, |
seem 70 have been very fully attended, |
and enthusiastic. The venerable DIR. |
Sears, of Virginia, Agent of "Ihe Pea
body Fund.-" was present, and took part
In the deliberations. Kentucky, Geor-
gia and other States were represented.
Our educators, however, do not seem
to have confined themselves to enthusi-
astic demonstrations, but entered on
practical work. The main objects ac-
eomplished, were.
LIST. The establishment of Teachers
Institutes.
End. The establishment of School
journal.
The following plan was agreed upon
for the organization of Teachers lnstl-
tutes The State Superintendent will
divide the State into 10 districts, con-
forming, when practicable, to the pres
ent Congressional Districts. He will Sc
lect and name in each district some town
of convenient location, at which the In
| lot Bildt ulsBIlcb VIII DC nGAus
Teachers, or educational men, who are
| familiar with the most approved meth
DDS Of instruction and discipline will be
appointed TO open and conduct these In
/ stitutes during the vacations at the sew
eral points designated.
DIR. Sears, on behalf of the Peabody
Fund, offered to give 500 to each of the
10 State Institutes, which shall remain
in session five consecutive days with an
attendance of so teachers.
Resolutions were adopted urging
County Superintendent TO establish
County Institutes, also requesting d.
rectOrs to encourage the establishment
of Institutes for the several school dis
tricts,
We cannot give more than a synopsis
of the arguments used by those who
urged the organization of these insti-
tutes. It was insisted, that the great ed
ucational want of our State is teachers,
who have been professionally trained
for the business. A man may be ever so
thoroughly educated, ever so talented !;
but this does not qualify him to be a
teacher. There is another requisite I;
he must know how to train and govern
| children how to impart what he knows.
It was stated, that in Germany, not even
a Bishop, or general, or the ablest
Statesman, or author can hold the po-
sition of teacher in primary school,
without diploma from a normal school.
Our own experience recalls men of the
highest talents, who have failed to make
good farmers, because they had never
been trained to farming. They cOnld
sometimes write good agricultural arti-
cles in the papers, but could never raise
good crops. It certainly seems to us,
that man might as well undertake to
be a carpenter without learning his
trade: or to be doctor or lawyer with
out having studied medicine or law, as
to be a teacher without having studied
the profession of teaching.
This training could be most thorough
" impaired in a normal school, which
is a school for the training Of teachers
The normal school, however, would be
too slow in its effects to reach our pres
ent wants. The Institute suits the con-
yenience of teachers, and though 1t can
not, in the limited term of five days
supply all that is needed, yet it affords
teachers, without experience to them
selves, the opportunity which has never
before been offered them in our State
and of which the best teachers are usu-
ally the first to own the necessity. The
influence of these Institutes will b'
powerful in reducing our schools tC
system and uniformity, and in regula-
/ blllE lhb AAAnb AO&AON3 NV Va,
minds of our children.
The School journal Is also of grea
Importance. 1t is designed as an aux
iliary to effect the same general pur-
pose as the Institute, and has additional
uses of It's own. 1t furnishes a place
for the discussion of methods of instruc-
ton and discipline, and for school liter.
ature in general. 1t serves as a medi.
UNI OF communication between school
officers and teachers supplies education'
al intelligence, thus furnishing a guide
to school officers, and begetting healthy
esprit dc corps among teachers and pu
pills, by informing them of what Is be
ing done by each other all over the State
The Journal will be published in pamph
let form, and issued monthly by lead
ing Nashville firm, at the subscription
price of 81: so. Its editorial manage
! ment has been undertaken by promi'
nent educator, free of charge. DR.. Sears
on behalf of the Peabody Fund, sub
scribed 5000 to its contingent expenses
I All educational men were invited Z
write for it suitable articles.
The Superintendents' Convention or
ganized itself into Teachers Institute
Glasses were formed, and drilled in tn
most approved methods. DIR. Sears eX
) | planned the methods of teaching Geog
, raphy. Prof. Loventhal of Kentucky
took class ia Arithmetic, and Rev. j
Braden illustrated the methods of teach
ing beginners spelling and reading iron
charts, and by a combination of the Oh
s iect, word and letter methods.
j, We regret that our space does not al
low a more extended sketch of the pro
ceedings.