The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1875-08-16
THE NORMAL SCHOOLIN THE NATION.
AL EDUCATION CONVENTION.


Al EDUCATION CONVENTION.
Prof. Phelps the other day took part in
the National Educational Convention,
which met in the city Of Minneapolis.
and was composed of delegates from all
parts of the United States. Prof.
Phelps delivered an essay on the COM
mon schools, the purport of which was
that they were very small potatoes, and
very much diseased potatoes at that, and
that the true object of society, the real
heart and centre of the universal crea-
ton was the Normal Schools, as illus
trated In the person of Prot. Phelps.
This attempt to subordinate the inter-
ests of the republic, as represented in
the common schools, to mere incident
of education, the special training of
teachers, provoked a lively debate, in
which it became apparent that the emf
nent educators present would not sub
NIT to the pretensions of Prof. Phelps
and mis- caste of learned ignoramuses
we quote lew EXTRACTS:
COUNTRY SCHOOLS.
The discussion of Prof. Phelps essay on
country schools was then taken up.
Mr. Rolf; had listened with interest to Prof
Phelps address, and appreciated what he said
about township organization and normal
schools in the future but saw no reason for the
alarm that we shall go to ruin, in the mean
time. He meets gentlemen every day prOmi-
nent, and good men, who went to schools
, that would be pronounced by Prof. Phelps as
poor, and who were taught by teachers who
, would be pronounced utterly unfit to teach.
, He knew men who could not read even who
, were just as good men and could cast vote
, just as good as any one in the audience.
Prof. Cornwall said ii "a Ian is we'll edu-
Gated it don't make much difference where he
, gets it. When it comes to the question that
we mustn't stop for money, it was time to con.
/ slider. That sentiment was what lead to so
much thicrery If the public moneys. He
thought the academic work could be done at
a less expense than in the normal schools
that twenty academies could do in six months
what the normal schools do, and reach more
and do it fully as we'll In compiling facts
5 concerning public men he found that seren out
| of every ten had been educcted in the country
schools. He thought normal schools should be
held to do normal work and leave ,ademiC
: work alone. He believed that in republic tn.
? matter Of education should be voluntary. He
4 given natural life.
Rev A. D. Roe, Of the Albion Academy, BE-
: lieved in the academy, and that they had work
q to do, and dissented from Pref Phelps thai
Through the Normal systems alone teacher.
should he permitted TO accept schools withou
being subj ctei to competitive exam nations.
: The system of education is not comur-s ed il
g any one set of men. If we have only Norma
a schools, they would run continually in rut
- While we ask the Normal schools to send us al
y the teachers they can, We want orr colleges
It universities, and academies to do the same, ant
y we will select the most capable. But more thai
j. ANYTHING else need careful superintendent
y if we would raise their standard. Time is de
- manded.
il DR.. ALVIN, thought Prof: Phelps paper need
ed slight protest or modification. He though
= it was an error to fail into saying that man
q not educated if he is not educated in tn
" schools. We should not cast siur on til
country schools though they he not what the
III should be. Careful superintendent would
~ much He knew country schools where boy
&c learned more in four months than man, in h
le class at college did in a year. There is lots
lie education that Is better sometimes than collea
= education. These same country schools d.:
"a nave been deprecated, do make the MAORI;
:. of the best men in this country. He believe
. the best teachers could be made in the norm;
lr schools but didn't believe they had been We
e, He believed that some OF these normal pupi
d. have a sort of profession sect and become cas-
tn iron men, just good for nothing.
al Mr.. Cruitshank thought the district scho
-, system in the paper of Prof. Phelps had be
AZ too severely arraigned. The history of schoo
&C. in New York should b. su fficient answer to thi
pc He elaborated the system of development
mt the district school system, with towL his
"a schools, with its tributary district schools
,r Mr. Crosby, If Iowat regretted that the pap
had not been discussed when read. Thoua
!. the case had been stated strongly, he believe
~ the author had felt the necessity of so doin
he The normal schools of Iowa aimed to ansv
o. the objection to the schools. that they did IL
lie reach the people, by holding normal ms
mi tutes through the state for four months of t
80 wear. II the nor al schools have not accor
~ rlish-d their work why continue to establi
ICE and maintain them
It'll Mr.. Andrews thought it sad sigh: to s
nd sacA aatagonisns betceea the sor.sof Gad o.
,;u side schools Either we are opposed to (
49,. work or else they are not doing the work.
,u' was not opposed to normal schools, and wish
me there was more of them, bat when teachers
ISL the normal schools tell rs that il is obsolnt.
he essential to Be educated ths aormol schools
ad- teseA, itawahsM . spirie q an1n9onEm in !
:; :; i
m 49, SSzsSs77