The Wilmingtonian., 1885-12-12
The Teachers Institute.

The Teachers Institute.
Teachers Institutes are among the strong
est motors for good, when properly and ju-
diciously carried out that can be perceived
along the wide range of speculative condl-
tions which all good citizens would keep be.
tore their eyes in using that foresight and
solcitude for the advancement of humali-
tarianism that higher patriotism, and above
all, religion demands.
1t has been demonstrated SO far, in the
in the past week, that Teachers Institute |
is abundantly successful in Wilmington.
But this is only beginning. The nature OF
the work accomplished is as good in its way |
as could be expected of such an important
project while in the 5ptive stage only.
1t is definitely understood that Teachers
Institutes are to become regular institution
in this city. Nothing could be more graft
flying and praiseworthy. To all those who
have been instrumental in formulating this
idea the thanks of the citizens of the State
of Delaware will be accorded.
The educational forces of any community
when solidfed become OF tenfold value. To
reap its full value all educational work and
educational workers need the feature of ho-
miogeneity. Practically speaking desultory
effort is a waste of time and money and
brains. Here then is one Of the grand adj
vantages of an Institute in enabling the
various educators in our state to compare re-
suits. All the teachers conscientiously
desire this.
In the t'body politely of teachers them
se.v s.s,-'as snpis ~Fs'
or ought to be, close and sharp interchange
of theory and argument upon the various
important demands of the profession. In
these debates the true and worthy teacher
will rise to his proper position among his
fellows, and contrarviwisb the braggart with
out the conceptions or ambition for the ad-
vancement of his chargeiwill be quickly rec
ognized. The school teacher is the greatest
man in the state. If there be such a thing
as an aristocracy in the tIuer meaning of the
word, in this country, it can only be found
in this profession. If there exist anywhere
in our social conditions d demaud for purity,
| ,,,nrtal;txy andF hrp In mn
walk of life is it more exactng than in that
, of the profession referred to.
But, to return to what was exemplified in
, the transactions of the recent Institute OF
New Castle County teachers, there is one
distinctive criticism to be made-too much
: wol was done by the leaders. DR.. French
] DR.. Sharfer and DIR. Raub occupied the ed
ucational platform, the floor and the depart
ment of criticism too much. In fact with
: exactly three or four exceptional instances
i they were talking all the time. Now with
due respect to those gentlemen, this is all
5 wrong. The record should have been re-
yersed, and our teachers been on the floor
l at least half the time. 1t is true that the
: New Castle County teachers and our city
g teacher too, it may be supposed, came to
: the Institute to hear something new. The
i educational theories of successful educators
5 would naturally be of interest to them. But
f our Delaware teachers were nursed to much
] by the visiting Institute leaders. There
4 seemed to be fear on one side or the other,
S on the leaders part that our teachers would
b not or could not enter into discussion, and
Q on the audience part, by implication, that
g they feared the clash Of educational battle
e and question ? Nor the grand essential il
c any teachers institute is that the audience
II enter m medios res into all discussion. MOI
: one of our teachers ventured boldly into dis
d cussion or criticism. There was plenty Of
70 food for criticism even in the ca cathedrG. talk
d of DR.. French. Dr. Raub, and DR.. Schaefer
10 Some few of our teachers ventured slightly
e but seemed to fear they were stepping OF
# thin ice.
% 1t is to be hoped that at the next teacher
10 institute in this city that Our teachers viii
is make themselves heard.
IF We trust that by the cooperation of thu
lie State Board of education and the City BoarC
al of Wilmington that the admirable PROPOSE
tion of making Teachers Institutes in thi
" city a permanent institution will be thor
N oughly and worthily carried out.
'r From the Stat Capitol.
is From the State Seminal