The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1891-05-06
Senator CritchfieId's Speech
on His Educational Bill.

which provides tn&I clartefeu lustltu-
tons Of learning within the state which
procure the faculty, apparatus, pedagog-
ieal instruction, etc, 70 enable them TO
do the same kind Of work that Is nov
being done BY the state Normal schools,
shall possess the right Of having
such Of their students as complete the
Normal course examined by the Board
appointed for the examination Of Normal
School graduates, and that such students,
if found qualified, shall receive a certif-
cate emitting them to the same fran
ehises enjoyed by Normal school grada-
ates, lacked but two votes Of the consti-
tutional majority necessary to secure It's
passage.
Considering that the bill met the or
eanized opposition Of the state Normal
schools. the support it received on the
final vote was beyond the expectations
Of the friends Of the measure. We copy
from the Legislature Record the speech Of
Mr. Critchfeld, which gives his reasons
for offering the bin and asking for its
passage.
ME. President -
have no desire TO cucumber the rec
ord with 4 lengthy speech upon this
measure, but I want 70 say with respect
to this bill that II is not the product Of a
personal whim Of my own, but it was
drawn and offered after I had given the
subject careful thought AMI had become
fully satisfied in my mind that its pro-
visions were necessary for the geneal in
terests OF education and for the highest
good Of the public school system OF our
state. have not been actuated by any
spirit Of opposition 70 the Normal school
system as il now exists. Our State Nor
NAL schools have been doing a good
work, so far as the preparation Of teachers
is concerned, and what desire to see,
and what this bill : intended 70 provide
for, is the increase Of precisely the same
kind Of wcrk, to such an extent, if pos
sible, that every county in this Common
wealth can enjoy the advantages, which
are at present enjoyed by but few, Of
having its public schools taught by
teachers who have undergone some
special training for their work To sup
pose that the twelve Normal Schools
nov in operation, or the thirteen pro
vided for by law, viii ever be able 70
keep the twenty-five thousand schools OF
the State supplied with teachers, is a
a proposition too absurd to bear argu-
ment.
If the teachers who enter the profss-
sion after having completed the Normal
course were 10 continue in It, making
teaching their life work, such a result
might be a practicable attainment. But,
Mr.. President, We all know that such IS
not the case. Of the male teachers who
graduate at these schools, a large PEI
cent can scarcely wait for the expiration
Of the two years which they pledge them
self to teach. in order % secure the aid
he receives from the state, until they
leave the profession TO engage in some
other vocation more conCenial to their
tastes and more satisfying to their am
bition. An equally large per cent Of
female teachers wait fully as anxiously
for the expiration Of the two years, when
they may be relieved from their obliga-
ton 10 the State, and be at liberty 10 ac-
cept a proposition 70 en-er into q life
partnership that win separate them from
the schoolroom forever.
Hence, I say it is impossible, with 50
large a number Of teachers going out Of
I the profession every year, for the Nor
NAL Schools Of the state to supply any
7 thing ike an adequate number Of teach
/ ers for the public schools If the Common
wealth. The late lamented Dr. Higbee,
in his annual report for the year one
thousand eight hundred and eighty
eight, says:
"If our Normal schools are to furnish
teachers for our high schools only, We
have TOO many Of them.
If, however, they are to reach down
( to orr primary schools as well and help
to fix the foundations upon which all
must rest, the number which we now
have, although remarkably well attend
ed, fail in supplying the demand
The Normal schools are doing the
work, and doing il well, in the localities
where they are situated but the misfor-
tune Is, that while they were not intend
ed to be, they nevertheless are, largely
local The twelve counties in which the
twelve Normal Schools, are in active op-
Grafton furnish just about one half Of
al the students found in these schools,
and the remaining ffty-iive counties fur
nish the other halE and as a large ma
jOritY Of the teachers OF every county are
likely to be citizens OF the county in
which they teach. il necessarily follows
that comparatively few Of the teachers OF
/ the counties having no such schools have
! ever enjoyed the advantages Of a Normal
school training It may be said that
this IS no faul- 9f the Normal schools,
and admit that it IS not bat this does
not change The facts in the case. Our
public school teachers are not ordinarily
the sons and daughters Of our most
wealthy citizens. BY far the larges;
number are the children Of parents who
are il moderate circumstances; parents
who are a0ls % give them but little as
sistance in securing an education, and ic
travel z distance Of from a hundred to
hundred and fiity miles at the beginning
ard close Of each school term, and 20 bt
deprived Of the many little helps that
can be furnished without cost from 8
home that j. near By, makes the expense
too heavy for them to bear, even affsl
they have received the fily cents pei
week allowed them by law, and the re
suit is that they must avail themselve:
Of whatever advantages are offered b,
the academies and other institutions o.
learning near their homes.
This bill, therefore, provides for tn,
cultivation Of territority that must 2,
uneulsivated, % far as the preparation o
teachers Is concerned, if the law remain.
as it Is. You viii observe that the bill
as amended, not only provides that tn,