The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-01-28


I'm the excellent communication on the
subject of normal schools signed Teacher
in late No. Of thc Dispatch The writer
does Injustice, uninienti0nally doubtless,
10 the University Of Virginia IN stating
that he questions "whcther single gradu-
ate of the University Is teacher in the
public schools" Had "Tcacher" read the
report OF the Board Of Visitors OF the
University for 1SSC-'Sl he would have
found the following statement bearing di-
rectly on this point, aS also on the worth Of
that institution in preparing men for the
profession OF teaching:
q" In the colleges Of Virginia exclusive OF
the University ITSELF forty-three Of the pro-
fesSorS filling chairs during the last decade
were trained for their work in the Uniyer-
sity Of Virginia, and, in addition TO num-
Der Of pUbiic hjJh schools tdpght 6y her
QrQdUdfes. there are about twenty-five
prosperous private high schools in Virginia
whose reputation extends through the
South and West, attracting numerous pu-
pils from other States, over which alumni
of the University preside or in winch they
occupy important position, as instructors.
And if we take q wider view, we will
find more than fifty alumni OF the Univer-
! sity holding positions as professors in lead
Ing universities ana colleges OF our sister
states, and others in charge Of prosperous
high schools in those States"
Among these graduates who have taught
or are teaching in the public schools may
be noted the lamented Biniord, and Fox,
/ Cunningham, and others in Richmond, and
/ they are to be round in Lynchburg, Fe-
I tersburg, Charlottesville, Staunton, and
other towns and cities Of the Common
wealth. Also in the counties rs superin-
/ tendents or teachers. But perhaps "Teach-
er" would say that he alluded TO public
primary schools. Well, even then Il wrong
impression is conveyed by inference. which
/ the above extract removes. Every really
sound and efficient system OF public edu-
cation consists, as we all know, in the case
Of the PrusSian system OF the higher cdu-
cation represented by the universities, the
secondary represented By the gymnaSia
colleges or high Schools normal schools,
and the primary. Without the universe
ties the Gymnasia and normal schools
would lack in yigor and efficiency !;
without the Gymnasia and normal schools
/ the primary schools would do poor work.
Now, in Virginia we must not ignore the
fact that there are two branches OF the see
IllSl. 4 ut utiOulllld-
tional colleges and the great private high
schools. Second. The public high schools.
These together form the link between the
University and the primary education, and
we must consider them all when we are
making a statement as to the normal work
Of the University. That these institutions
OF secondary education are furnishing
numbers of teachers for the primary schools
"goes without saying" Well may the
venerable rector write OF the University in
the report from which we have given the
above extract
"lier influence is daily felt through more
than one half OF the Union. She has per-
formed the office OF the great heart of the
system OF southern education. sending,
with strong pulsahon, warm and inyigor-
ating likelihood through every part OF it,
down to the humblest primary school,"
In making the statements above do not
design TO combat the views OF "Teachcr"
as TO the importance OF normal schools.
They were instituted in Prussia mainly to
train teachers for the primary schools. The
Gymnasia furnish many, but the supply is
not equal 10 the demand. The importance
OF providing more thoroughly trained
teachers for the primary schools cannot be
impressed upon our people with too much
earnestness, and do not design 10 say any
thing to weaken The force of anything
which "Teacher" has said upon this SUBJ
iect. CARROLL.