The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1880-05-20


=, s1s Edo. u tie Eel:
.Fu1l many shalt q randea ssnt,
Einds marx the archer nsyer neazAe
In reading the discussions Of the in
stitute question, which has been carried
ON with much vigor by Mr.. King ard
Allie E. Simpson, l have found room
both for instruction and amusement.
Among other things this fact has been
foreibly impressed upon my mind, that
the shaft sent at random BY Mr.. King.
and probably with both eyes shut, went
straight to the mark and found lodg-
ment where he least expected. Had his
fair opponent shown no sign, we should
have remained in ignorance Of its dcs-
tination; but, like the Irishman's bird,
che futtered and VIC thereby immedi-
ately became cognizant Of the fact that
somebody was hit. 1 think, however,
that Mr.. Kings article was miscon-
strued, and that is What caused all the
trouble. 1t is evident that he intended
his remarks not SO much in specific as
in general way, not so much to criti-
else individuals NJ tn elucidate a gener-
al principle. Taking this view of the
matter l think he is correct. There Is
no such thing as to stand still in any pro-
fession, much less in that of teaching.
II the teacher does not keep up with
the times he will see the day in the near
future when he viii be cleft, }" and his
place filed by Those who have shown .
disposition to keep moving. Occasion
ally, teacher viii strive to ease his con-
science and allay his fears by the reflec-
ton that no is getting just as good
wages and had no more difficulty in OBJ
tanning & school than the one who at
tended the institute, and he proceeds
with cool assurance to inform US that if
we question the wisdom Of the school
board in their choice, we give them
credit for very little common sense, etc.
l do not question their wisdom. In fact
my only wonder is that they make so
few mistakes. They are obliged to
judge of the qualifications Of a teacher
by his certificate alone. And what does
that show? Does it show the methods
adopted by him in teaching those who
are placed under his charge? Does it
show the knowledge gained from the
experience Of others, in matters relat-
ing to school management and govern
ment? No. 1t simply shows his stand
ing or grade in the several branches
which is very small part of the quail
fications requisite for successful teach
er. Is it any wonder, then, that they
fail to discriminate between the one who
attends the normal and the one who
does not! This, then, is the gist of the
whole matter: p'.',lic opinion is not yet
educated up to the point which appre-
ciates the work of the institute. This
is attributable, in great measure, 10 a
general misconception on the part Of
the people us to the real aim and object
of the institute work. A great many,
even among the teachers themselves,
labor under the Impression that il is for
the purpose of gaining more thorough
knowledge of the branches which are
required at examination. While this is
true to a limited extent, it is not the
chief object of the normal. II is for
the purpose of gaining, from the expe-
rience of others. knowledge of the
best and most approved methods Of
teaching and Of school management,
which it would take months Of unas-
sisted labor and experiment to obtain.
In short, it is for the purpose of the bet
ter preparing teachers for their work,
and making of them active and useful
members Of their profession. AS soon
as the people become aware of this,
whica they arc surely doing. just 50
soon will the '.happy-go-lucky' sort Of
teacher find himself no longer in de-
mand, and be compelled to step down
and out. Then what If it does cost us
and We get no immediate re-
turn in dollars and cents, we bring that
away which is of infinite value to US,
and find ourselves amply repaid in the
increased efficiency Of our work.
would say in conclusion, let us think
twice before we decide not to go, and
when the institute commences let there
be full attendance Of active, earnest
teachers, the result Of whose labor shall
be decided and permanent improve
nent of the schools throughout the
county.
Hoping this will call out remarks from
others. if only in the way Of criticism,
" i'll dcsist for the present.
+. A. PHILLIPS.
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