Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1879-03-20
Normal School.

nlESSl<S. EDITORS: ou ultfGr so widely
with me in regard to "Normal Schools" !"
the new method Of teaching and the books
now in use, that ! will give you few
thoughts on tho subject, replying as near
as possible to your editorial on tho same
subjc Allow me to state here that the
introduction Of the system of teaching you
condemn would be of great and lasting
bcnt fit to our county. As to normal schools,
| am afraid that you do not comprehend
fully its purpose, at least my notion of one.
1t is not, according to my ideas; intended
as an educational school, but q place for
training teachers bow to impart instruction
to their pupils, and giving them thorough
training in their duties; also for reviewing
weak points in the education of the teachers.
1t does not prevent stu Tents from, complct.
ing their education at other colleges, and
do not see how it can Interfere with our
colleges; but, as | will have something to
say on this subject in a subsequent article,
| will d,op it for the present and proceed
with my remarks
You say in your editorial, "Old things
arc p1ssing away all things arc becoming
new, but We are sorry to express our opiu-
ion that tho changes arc in DO way for the
better. One would think from the great
cry about teachers aud normal schools, 49,,
shat in our heretofore days education vas
sirm, and teaching dry, prosy repetition
Of books, without benefit or development,
meutai Or physical. What arc the facts?
&C., &C." 1t is not denied that there
were good teachers formerly, or smart men
facts that cannot be denied; but you must
rccoiect that times change and We must
change with them, wheL the change " for
tho better, which | contcad it is in this
case The world generally changes for the
better, aud it is ever making improvements,
and all this crying about teachers AID norr
NAL schools means that we want the best
possible method Of instructing our youth;
a method, too that meets the contingencies
of the times. From my own experience
adhered to, and tho chance have had to
judge of the new books and method of
instruction, both from experience and visi-
ting other schools, | DO not hesitate to pro-
nouncc in favor of the last system.
Admitting that VIC had then few good
teachers and great many bad ones, we will
pass that part of your editorial for the
present aud will claim the following supc-
riorty in tho books of to day over those
| formerly used: The books formerly used
were not adapted to the minds Of tho pupils
| as they are now to suit all ages. Tho pupil
lost great deal Of time waiting for his
mind to grow up to his books. Geography,
arithmetic, &C., wcro not arranged with
regard to the age Of the pupil. Only such
books as Mitohcl's Geography, which was
well enough for advanced pupils, was in
use. The younger minds could not COM
prehcnd them, and aa stated, had to wait
TIL the mind was sufficiently maturcd to
comprehend the heavy books then in use.
1t consumed too much time by this waiting
| Owing to the fact that nine -tcuths of our
boys have to quit school by the time they
reach fifteen or sixteen, we have to cndca-
| vor to give them as much education as
possible up to that age. This is ono reason
| why our hooks have been so much imposed
on. Necessity brought it about, and it has
done good thing for the country at large
Our books are so arranged now that We can
commence to instruct tho youngest in the
! various branches as soon as they can read
ntcIigibly. The books are carefully pro
pared to suit tho minds of tho youngest,
and prepared, too, in steps or grades TINT
arc so gradua! that the pupil does not poticc
the change from ono step TO tho other, and
tho mind is not overtaskcd Study becomes
pleasure instead of drudge, making tho
work lighter, and enabling tho pupil to
advance moro rapidly. Whenever tho sys.
tom has been properly tried it has not failed