Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1880-07-29
Training Cur Teachers.

Tho Normal Institute to bo held at
SpartanburS next month should awaken the
kcencst interest in the minds of all teachers
and friends Of education in South Carolina.
This Institute marks another decided step
10 the progress OF our i'uDiio Soi.ool ays
tcm, and if it be largely ateodcd will have
NEST bcucliclal results. One of tho most
important features of State educational
system is the enrolment Of its teachers into
an organized body, and their suticc,ion to
constant aud Intelligent training and per-
vision, developing an esprit t1c colbs among
them, aud stimulating them to earnest cf-
forts for self Improvement. The annual
examinations required by the State Board
have already accomplished much good in
wedding ont incompetent teachers und re-
Quirins the rest to strengthen themselves
whore they arc weak. \ demand for some
attractive method Of self Improvement has
bcen created. Thus have arisen County
Teachers Associations in niany parts Of the
State, while these in turn hcvc led to de-
sire for u general meeting of all the teach
crs in the State. The proposed Normal
Institute supplies this demand. AS tho
Common School system i, still new, so;nc
instruction as to It's aims ani its method. ia
much needed. While it is hoped that IN 4
few years The genius of public clucutiou
may be fully pretended, SO that teach,
ers may meet for consultation among them.
selves rather than for instruction from
others, in tho lncautitic the wiscst lisposi
tion of the share Of tie Peabody Fund
allotted to South Carolina is undoubtedly
the establishment of u Normal Institute,
suoh ms is proposed by the State Board of
Examiners
The best method of utilizing this bcno-
faction las been question for years. For
a time tho Peabody Trustees devoted tho
surplus fuod to the aid of certain dcs;ena-
ted schools in the State. Last year, how-
ever, it was determined to expend tho whole
quota in the training of teachers. Sohol.-
arships were given in tho white Normal
School at Nashville, and in tho co'orcd
school at Hampton. Besides this, DR..
Sears promised thousand dollars for ln~
sttuto work in the State. Three plans for
oxpendns this sum presented themselves
First, to apporticn about Thirty dollars to
each County for a County Association or
Institute; second to cxpcnd two hundred
dollars each on five Institutes, Que at some
central place 10 each Congressional Dist Irct;
third; to hold Quo central Institute for the
whole State, lasting one mouth, ana con-
ductcd by somc leading educator from
abroad. Tho first meant simply to frttcr
away the money. Tho second was but little
better. 1t would have cntailcd upon the
teacher almost as heavy an expense as would
attendance on a State Institute, while ofFor-
ing no adequate inducements to part with
scanty earnings. The third plan is un-
qucstonably the proper one. All the
attractions arc centercd at ono point, and
superior advantages can bo promised. The
location of this Institute has been wisely
chosen. Sparanburg presents special ia
cililies in the Wolford College buildings
The town is easily accessible by railway, aud
it affords cheap rates of board-from
twelve to twenty dollars a month. Special
arrangements arc expected to bo mado with
tho railroads, SO that travelling will DO an
inconsidcrab!o item, Situated within easy
reach of Glenn Springs, and almost in sight
of tho magnificent mountain scenery of
North Carolina, it is just tho place to visit
to recruit strength lost in tho classroom, and
to invigoratc tho systom for tho next school
session.