Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1879-09-11
An Open Letter.
srARrANnuno, September 3, 1870.

OFARfhNbURuI OoptetuUer lCfV.
w. P. CALHOUN. ESQ.,, FAIR PLAY. s. c.
DEAR SIR:.- Your letter concerning the appa-
rent failure of your Teachers Union to no.
cemplsh tho results desired, and containing
request for some suggestions as to how to
make 1t power for good in your county, has
been received Of course. my irst impulse
was to sympathizo with you and the earnest
teachers associated with you in this work,
and to regret tho want Of interest exhibited,
both by teachers Gnd parents. But on
second thought, conclude that a partial
failure may be good for you, just IA you aro
beginning this work 1t will bring out and
develop the latent power you have. You
must examine the work which you have
already done and see if il he good. Those
Of you who have this matter in charge must
determine to succeed.
Special instruction for teachers is given in
Normal Schools Institutes and Conventions.
Normal S hools continue from year to year
as other schools or colleges. Thoy havo a
regular faculty and classes and a fixed course
of inetruction. Institutes arc of shorter du-
ration and last one to four weeks or perhaps
longer. In both these tho teacher is taught
how to teach. The people arc not interested
and mover attend. The Convention, however,
and I think your Union is Of tho nature Of
the Convention, is n sort of mass mooting in
the interest of education in which tcachers
and parents are alike interested. Sometimes
littlo institute work may be done even in a
convention, except that you cannot have
model class aud 90 through with few recitu-
tions. The teachers can only exchange their
plasn md practice and tell wherein they sue
cced and wi.cs,;r they Gail. Lively discps-
sions samcti..es eprin.; mp which ntenecl,
interest teacners aud acdiencc
But am aware that you WILL in great
measure, fail, if teachcrs take no interest in
your conventions and parents fal to appreci-
ote their value. If youu can get the latter to
attend, then it will depend GA The teachers to
entertain and instruct them.
In order to get tho people interested you
must nsc printers ink freely. should sup
pose that all your teachers read their county
paper. II they DO not, tho missionary should
be sent to onishtcn 'hom. Appoint q day
for your Union or convention. get out an at
trnctive programme. giving orc hour for the
discussion of each subject; assign two teach
crs to speak on each subject, not to exceed
fifteen minutes each, then throw the question
open for general discussion. IIavc an essay
Or two by some Of your female teachers.
Ask tho young people of the community
where the convention is held to turn out and
give you music. It will rest you when tired.
Givo an intcrmisson an hour long for dinner
and social intercourse. Invite the good
housc-kccpcrs Of the county to turn out and
bring well-flled baskets. Fried chicken
helps out very much in those conventions.
In selecting your subjects for discussion
take such MS would interest tho most common
teacher The inductivc and deductivc sys-
tens of philosophy evolution, tho atomic
theory of light, are tho stars inhabited? and
such like subjects would kill any convention
in tho world. These should bo avodcd But
corporal punishment in schools, the best
method of teaching writing, or geography, OF
reading, will be fresh to every teacher, pupil
and parent. The duties of the teacher and
tho parent, the giving Of prizes, the CO cduca.
ton of the sexes and similar questions will
awaken an interest on the part of every one
present Teachers and patrons will 20 to
their homes feeling deeper interest in their
work. This is the great object of Conven-
ton or Union-to impnrt enthusiasm to
teachers and to make parents take moro
lively interest in tho education of their
children.
Now | suggest that for your next Union
you get out Mt onco an inviting programme,
advertise it we'll, inrito through your paper
everybody, make big thing of it. Every.
body likes to 60 where there is q big crowd.
Let every teacher 90 with something 10 i'm
part to his fellows, or with somo sensible,
pointed qeestion 10 ask. If you do not have
tho success you desire just now, work tho
moro earnestly. and it will come one of these
days. Enrncstncss and patience will succeed.
Tho very apathy Of teachers and parents
should arouse your manhood and make YOU
snatch success from defeat itself.
Very truly yours,
CHARLES PETTY.