The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1875-07-01

The Normal Schools Again..An interesting
Letter from Hon Thomas Simpson, OF
Winona, in Reference to the System, with
Notes and Commentaries by the Editor OF
the Anti.Monopolist.
rive publish with great pleasure the
following communication from Hon.
Thomas Simpson, of Wiaona, one OF
the ablest and best men in Southern
Minnesota. He has sense enough to see
that the argument of a public question
is not helped by personal abuse; and
that two gentlemen may differ widely
in opinion and yet each of them be per-
fectly honest in his views; and that in
fact the absolute truth is rarely lodged
entirely on one side of a controverted
question. ED. ANTI-MoNoPoLIsT.
WINoNA, June 18th, 1875.
Ed Ant-Monopolist:
In your paper of May 9th, observe tn at
YOU return to your assault upon the State
Normal Schools with an array of statements
and figures, which, if reliable, would be
well calculated to disturb the confidence Of
the friends of our common school system,
in the wisdom with which at least that
branch of the system is managed. Unfor-
tunately for your case, your statements
and figures are not reliable, as | shall IN
this communication show most conclusively.
You begin by saying that "while 1t Is
doubtless true that the special training of
teachers in the art of teaching is desirable,
il is not absolutely essential The best
answer to this assertion is, that in Europe
more than 500 seminaries for the special
trimming of teachers have been brought in
to existence under governmental auspices
within the last century and half, while
in America nearly 100 have been created
under similar auspices within the past 81
wears. This wonderful growth unexaufpled
in the case of any other class of profession
al schools would scarcely have been brought
about upon any demand short of absolute
necessity" No, desirable is not the
word. Governments do not pay such prices
for what is merely desirable" You do
rank injustice to the long line Of distin-
guished statesmen in Europe and America
through whose efforts these schools have
been established, when you assert so palp
able an error. If authority is desired fol
the foregoing figures. refer to the Repor
of the U, s. Commissioner to the Paris TX
position made to the Secretary Of State, IL
1867. pages 573 to SO inclusive. But NOR
than this. for opinions Numerically op
posed to you upon every phase Of TIM
question allow me to refer to the writing
and speeches Of such men as Lord Brougham
in England, Victor Cousin and GuiIot. II
France Pestaloz1i. in Switzerland, an,
Humboldt, in Germany. Let me also asl
YOU to read the words of John oninc,
Adams. VIM. Il. Claiming. Horace Mann
Edward Everett, Dewitt Clinton and hos
of others whose great names are among tn
Nations treasures. Many of the ablest ef
forts Of these men were made in behalf 0
schools for the special training of teachers
could fill column in your paper with tn
simple names Of those who having studio
this subject thoroughly, have given tn
best wears Of their noble lives to the build
ing up Of institutions. such as you seeI
intensely anxious to tear down. You wi
fail in this. however. Facts are strong'
than fallacies Truth more enduring tina
fiction, and the people win sustain the il
stitutions that preserve their freedom.