Los Angeles daily herald., 1890-03-18
TIE TEACHERS.
The County Institute Begins
Its Session.
SEVERAL OF THE ADDRESSES
A Large Attsndance--C. L. Ennis on
Normal observation-disclosures Teach
ing Ideas.

NOkmo1 GuuCatAOu- -oCAcuCC ICoCu-
ing Ideas.
Yesterday morning at half past 10 the
Los Angeles County Teachers Institute
was called to order by County Superin-
tendens w. w. Seaman in Turn Verein
hall. There was very large attendance,
every seat on the main floor and most of
those in the gallery being taken. When
the roll was called, it was found that
nearly all the teachers of the county were
present.
Mr.. Seaman delivered some brief but
forcible remarks. He referred to the ex-
cellent condition of the Los Angeles
county schools in spite of the late storms,
and congratulated the people upon the
superior results attained in the public
schools of this county. Last year one
hundred and thirty-two pupils we're gradu-
ated by the County Beard Of Education
He spoke especially of the advantage
which was gained by graduating exer-
cises in school in stimulating the efforts
of the pupils.
At the conclusion of his address Mr..
Seaman appointed q special committee
composed of w. M. Friesner. Mrs. E. P.
Rowell and Will Monroe to draft reso-
luton of welcome to the teachers of the
State. The committee offered the follow
ing, which was adopted:
"WHEREAs, The California Teachers
Association is with us, we. the teachers
of Los Angeles county, cordially invite
all members of the State Association to
meet with US in social reunion at Turn
Verein hall Tuesday evening, at 8
O'Clock; also, that we welcome them to
the sessions of the County Institute,
held Monday and Friday"
Charles L. Ennis, President of the
County Board of Education, delivered
the opening address of the Institute. 1t
was a scholarly and intelligent effort,
containing much valuable and interest
ing matter. The following are selections
from the address:
General public education, as you all
know, is of recent origin. AS it pro-
crosses, ignorance and superstition dim
inish and our republican institutions
grow stronger and become more firmly
rooted. The majority of parents being
unable to teach their children, or to
have them taught at home, there arises
Q nece ssity for public schools. The pub
lie schools of today are supported at
public expense for the public good.
They are by no means an inexpensive
luxury, and it is but just that the public
should demand that they subeerve the
purpose for which they are maintained,
which purpose is to educate our boys and
girls and make of them thoughtful, in.
telligent, honorable men and women. OF
course this is the ideal. But to expect
its realization in every case would be to
assume that all children are we'll dis
posed, that they have good minds and
are brought up under proper home in
fuences; that all schools are under wise
supervision, and that all teachers are
conscientious, intelligent and painsiak-
ing. These conditions, alas! do not
always exist together.
OUR NORMAL SCHOOLS ARE Doing NOBLE
SERVICE
In the preparation of trained teachers
for the public schools of this State, and
these institutions are constantly growing
In efficiency and popularity. am sure
our worthy superintendent will bear me
out in the statement that there are but
few State Normal School graduates teach
ing in this county who are not doing so
with signal success. I am glad to be
able to speak thus encouragingly of the
work of normal schools, for | am thor
oughly imbued with the idea that their
maintenance is a necessity, and that cur
country must eventually look to them for
all her teachers. With q view to reaching
that point as early as possible,sI believe
1t would not be bad idea to allow the
normal schools instead of county boards
Of education to hold examinations and
grant certificates of qualification to teach.
This plan would have the advantage of
being more uniform and less expensive
than the system now in use; besides, it
would relieve teachers of repeated OK.
aminatlons and would dispense with the
accusation sometimes now made that
those who pass on teachers qualifica-
tions are themselves incompetent to
judge.
Fellow-teachers, do not wish to be
understood as intimating that none bat
normal school graduates ever succeed in
teaching. On the contrary, believe
MANY OF OUR BEST TEACHERS NEVER AT.
TENDED A NORMAL SCHOOL;
But it does not follow that they are bet
ter teachers than they would have been
with the proper normal-school training.
There is a class of teachers, far too
large, and regret to say that some of
our normal school graduates are in
cluded, who think when they have
secured certificate to teach there is
nothing more for them to do but put
themselves in prominent place and
wait for the numerous multitude to walk
up and drink at the fountain thus pro-
vided.
Teachers belonging to this class do not
find time to read educational papers or
works on teaching. They are able to at
tend an institute for five long days,
miogling with the best teachers of the
county and State, and not get one educa-
tional idea to assist them in their every
day work. Teachers of this class, allow
me to say, soon rust out, and the sooner
they do the better for all concerned, for
the world has no further use for their
services.
Hon. Ire G.. Hoitt, State Superintend-
ent of Schools, followed in an address in
which he urged the value of school
libraries. He spoke of the excellence of
the Los Angeles public schools, and COM
plimented Superintendent Seaman on his
work. He referred in feeling terms to j..
N. Wilson, prominent educator OF the
State, who has died during the year.
Hon. Abbott Kinney then spoke on