Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-08-24

A Well known Educator MAKES
Some Free Criticisms FaVOfaOIe
and Adverse.

In a recent notice of the three teachers
Institutes established In this State, one OF
which is located at Americas, where Mr. w,
b. Baker and Mr.. J. n. Cannon, OF this
city. have been the past month, we men,
toned that the General superintendent was
J.H. Smart, ESQ.,, of Indiana, who, under
the Democratic administration, was Super
intendent of Public Instructions in that
State. He has been for twenty-five years
actively engaged in various educational en-
terprises. In an interview in the ConStita-
ton he gives the following as the result OF
his observations in Georgia:
"The educational men of the North regard
Georgia as the Empire State of the South.
as the most progressive State, not only In
material prosperity, but in education. am
sure this estimate is correct. was prepared
when l came by invitation to these institutes
to find q condition and see good work, but
the condition and the work are better than
l expected. The three Georgia institutes
are In all, save the matter OF attendance,
above the average of the institutes in the
North, with all their experience, notwith
standing this is the first year Of
the work in Georgia. Some Of the
instruction has been superior. The enthu-
siasm of the teachers have never seen sur
passed. The Institutes began on the LIST OF
August, and the teachers seem determined
to continue them to the end Of the month.
The interest and attention on their part Is
remarkable, and is quite as true of the COL
ored as of the white teachers. The evening
lectures have been attended by the citizens as
well as the teachers, showing an interest on
the part Of the people generally. Georgia
is alive with the spirit OF progress In respect
to public schools"
"What is the necessity for these insti-
tutes ?"
"Well, we discover that teaching is pro-
fession-or ought to become profession.
Experience shows that something besides
academic training is necessary to make
teacher. The finest scholars do not make
the best teachers. Our colleges do not as a
rule give special attention to the methods
of instructions, especially to that adapted
to primary schools. They cannot we'll do
so and do the other work that is expected
of them. The teacher must study the
science Of teaching. Scholarship is requt-
site, but something else Is requisite also.
A teacher must know how to organize.
He must know how to arrange a
course of study suited for the capacity Of
his pupils. He must be instructed in dis
cipline. He must know how to avoid doing
mischief with the children, and how to
secure the cooperation Of parents. A
teacher ought to know something Of
the school law. Above all, he must be
acquainted with the best methods of instruc-
| ton. He needs to profit by the experience
of experts in his profession. We think in
| Indiana that our State teachers institute
affords the best means Of improving
the teachers and thus of benefting the chill
| dren. A teacher must not be permitted to
learn his business in the school room at the
| expense of the children. In Indiana each
| County Superintendent is required to hold
/ an institute each year. The teachers in each
| township are also required to meet for insti-
tute instruction one day In each month. We
thus have ninety-two county institutes and
four or five thousand township Institutes.
| The State pays the bills. In my opinion 1t is
money wisely expended. In no other way
could 1t be spent for better advantage to the
children"
"What will be the result of these insti-
| tutes In Georgia."
s'They will, am sure, have directly
| beneficial result on the schools taught by
the two or three hundred teachers in atend-
| ance and that direct result will be worth
! ten times the cost of the institutes. The
! teachers will 90 hence to tell of the good
things they have heard and thus begin a
| great missionary work. Ii another series
| Of these institutes is held next year you
will see three thousand teachers In attend
ance, provided they are held st suitable
times and places, and have enough money
to properly equip them for their work"
"Then you think the institutes ought to
| be kept ups"
"By all means. 1t is step which marks
the beginning of a new era in Georgia. If
this work is theoretically pushed the money
g.. It'll rvfo1 For
richer return than 1t now does"
"Wbat do you mean by that ?"
81 mean that 1t is evident that many of
your public school teachers are inexpe-
rienced While they are doing good work
aud earning their money, they can easily be
trained to do better work and earn more
money"
"What do you think are the educational
needs Of Georgian
"Tbey do not demand any change of the
present school law. The system has been
| admirably constructed. The machine Is a
good one. What you need is more fuel.
| answer this question because you ask me
You will not get better schools by much
| tinkering of your school law. You only
need that better administration Of 1t which
can be secured by wise expenditure of
money"
| as there any other thing Georgia needs
| to improve her educational facilities2"
81 am somewhat 10th to tell Georgians
what they ought to do, but l am quite sure
| your State needs a thoroughly equipped
| State normal school This opinion will, /
am sure, be Endorsed by the educational
men all over the country"
"What do you think of the colored de-
partment of the institutes?"
81 found that while they were organized
separately they were given exactly the same
instruction, and by the same instructors as
the white. Thew seemed to be intensely in
terested, and was surprised at the progress
they are making. think have seen among
the people of Georgia DISPOSITION to treat
the negro man with even handed justice in
respect to his educational facilities"
"What is the public sentiment at the
North on the question of national aid to
education g''
"The educational men Of the North are a
unit in favor of It,"
Chow do they want It used ~
"They are almost unanimously opposed
| to any dual system of schools. They think
the money ought to be used under the d.
rection of State organizations already exist
| ing. They have seen SO much and know SO
much of DR.. Orr that they are willing to
| trust the eight or nine hundred thousand
dollars Georgia would receive under the
pending bill in. his hands, with assurance
that every dollar would be honestly and