The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1891-05-06

school. uuier the supervision of q MEM
ter Of the faculty and reciy tae
sane kind of work 10 e done 5gessf7
school that undertake. 70 place Itself
within The provisions - Ills act is con-
templafed BY this measure. This bili
does not propose 10 deprive the state
Normal schools of q single fZneais er
a single dollar o. appropriation. It IN
tsTseres IL No respect with their uperioz
a an-lsss tuf q ms fsscfher ael1a'-
q rizht shlch fhes A. nlt euis-. ara ars
vhfrh the stae esnnat sflrd 30 deny
iheH. It's right tlai the State sha
establish the standard Ut exceliencs
which it does. for teschen. moiicii s.r-
dents and others. but this biE aecepts
the standard adopted BY the s1a-e. and
asks only that the State accept Gre Har1
when done, The state Itself being ac
Judge Of the quality Of that work end
itscorrespondence with thessau5arl laid
down.
It is no argument 70 say that tie in
efficiency Of the various incorporated
schools Of the state renders them incap-
able 70 do this work, ard that % adait
them 10 the privileges proposed BY this
bill would lower the standard Of qua,if-
cations that the public school tescher
should possess. Tor the bill provides tlat
the graduates from the normal depart-
ment or teachers class Of such school
shall be examines by the same board,
or a board constituted By the same aa-
thority, that conducts the examinations
Of the state Normal schools, and il VII
be the business ofthe ezsmines t5reiect
the inefficient and incompe,ent. Just 1s
they now do every year at the annual
Normal school examinaiouz
It has been said that the state Normal
Schools are opposed 10 this mea=ase.
Mr.. President, ] would Ike % know up0a
what principle OF justice s1ch opposition.
fit exists, IS based. II these sckol-.
which confer special advantage upos
the several communities where they exist,
continues 10 receive their accustomed ap-
propriations if they continue 20 enjoy
the franchise 70 which, under the laN a.
It now exists. they have had exclusive
access for quarter Of a century, why
should they or their friends object %
other equally loyal, equally needy. ani
equally efficient schools state being
the Judge having the same francIis
By what principle Of justice, o. equality,
of fair dealing can We continue to deny
this equal privilege before the law to al
who ask it, and who are willing 20 com
ply with the same conditions exacsl
from those to whom It has already been
given?
There are schools in Crawford. Mercer.
in Beaver, in Green, IN Westnoreland,
in Luzerne, in Lycoming in Wyoming,
in Cumberland, in Adams, in York. in
Lebanon, in Northampton, in Hunting
don and all other counties ofthe state
among which, in a few years. We nav ex-
Pect all the necessary arrangements made
school apparatus. pedagogical instruction.
etc, to be provided without one dollar Of
cost to the State, provided we do these
counties and these schools the simple
justice Of examining and passing upon
their work Fit proves 60 be bad work
let 1t be condemned, and the loss is
theirs and not the C0mm0uwealth's. -Ir
they prepare q hundred teachers annual
ly all told il Eill beso much gain f5r the
Commonwealth and in addition il VIII
show Justice to these schools, it viii vim
dicate the STATE against all imputa.ioas
Of uniairness, and in time it viii save the
state many thousands Of dollars.
have said this bin does not interfere
and does not intend 70 interfere in the
least degree with the privileges fthe
State Normal Schools, or the appropra-
tons that they now receive but have
10 doubt but that iii should become
law these schools will become more pure-
ly professional than they are at present.
If the work Of instrEcting teachers fnthe
branches that the law requires shall oe
taught in our public school can be done.
snd well done, By other Institutions Of
the time viii no doubt come
when the state Normals can give their
more particularly % giving ic-
structions in teachers ethics, moral and
science, and such profession
al studies as tead to give them peculiar
fitness for the responsible position 0c-
cupied by the teachers of the youth OF
this Commonwealth.
viii admit, however, that the tend
eney will be to lessen the call thar is
made upon the state for aid IN this work.
As other schools come forward and show
their willingness and ability to Do, with
out expense TO the state the same WORK
that IS now being done by the state Nor
mails, i; viii place upon the state schools
the necessity Of standing more upon their
own merits and depending less upon
State aid, but as long as it's found neces-
sary 70 continue the aid that is nOw Civ
en in order that they may he kept up 20
their present degree Of efficiency AMI
usefulness. I shall not be in favor Of
Withdrawing the support Of the state or
diminishing the appropriations granted
them by a single dollar Bat with the
knowledge that have. the other schools
are ready 10 do this w0rk With0ul help
from the State, asking only tbar their
work be examined and passed upou by
the same authority that examines and
passes upon the work Of the Normal
schools, and that their students. If found
qualified, shall enjoy the same privileges
IS nOw enjoyed by the Normal school
students, would not dsre % rsturl TO
the people who sent me here o. repre-
sent them, i'll should oppose this bin
and contiaue % vote the usual appr0pri Be-
tiOns to the Normal Schools oft the STATE.
In conclusion let me say. that ssger4l
members Of this body have been kind
enough to show me letters that tLty have
received from persons that are connected