The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-07-17
yrnsrsTA rEACHEns INSTITUTE.
The Good Work Which Professor H. u
Glaze IL Doing.


| The Good Work which Professor Il. u
| Glaze IL Doing.
Editor Of the Times:
The condition OF our public schools
throughout Virginia must DO q matter OF
deep interest to all who have the welfare OF
| Virginia az heart: and in common with many
| others | have long felt growing interest IN
| them. The form has appeared In the main
| good enough bur there has seemed to me
! something lacking. In certain places. gener-
/ ally in the cities. the substance is there. but
n has not seemed that Virginia at large WAS
getting fully tho worth OF her money. The
teachers selected and operating under this
machinery have not appeared 10 secure the
best results. Generally Of good attain
ments themselves, they have not seemed
able % give a personal STAMP 20 their
schools. They have not been able to impress
their personal character upon them and
their pupils. The result has been that their
productseat the best have shown by COM
plrison with the pupils OF private schools
what machine made article is TO one that
is handmade The personal character OF
the teacher Of private school is every
thing.
There are many exceptions. Of course, TO
this among the public schools. This fail
ure has appeared 10 me due mainly 10 the
following things: The mode of selection
and the tenure Of Office. and TO the condi-
ton of the teachers. Many If the latter
have had wretcbed advantages themselves
10 start with. and throughout the country
districts they live TO themselves. without
anything 10 improve them OF stimulate
them; frequently. perhaps. thew pass their
lives with but the least intellectual associ-
alton from which they can derive benefit.
Thus. even if they have started iairiy, they
soon get into ruts which are rulnous 20
themselves and their work.
VIRGINIA. TEACHERS INSTITUTE.
So much by way Of preface to few words
about the Virginia Teachers Institute, or
Summer School Of Methods, now in SEES
sion at Bedford City under Professor +. G.
Glass. school superintendent OF Lynch
burg, which / have recently had the pleas
ure Of visiting.
Mr.. Glass. who is one Of the most success
full superintendent in the State. having
long since recognized the fact that eauca-
ton depends upon the teachers, has Tor
some years been laboring at the improve
ment Of the public school teachers OF VIZ
gInia. and he has now at Bedford CITY
teachers institute which ID one or the most
interesting things ever attended.
Years ago DR.. Rufner. TO whom our pubic
features, assisted by Duncan c. Lyle,
the present official head Of the
great Mcdonald school. started q teachers
institute at. I think. Char. Ottesyile, and
from time to time further steps have been
taken. -Four years ago Professor Glass or
gained a teachers school with a three
years course. which was completed last sum-
mer. and then. stimulated by his success,
he brancbed out on more extensive scale
This year he has IN iuil and successful oper-
alton a teachers institute with corps OF
professors and a system OF instruction un-
eXceled IN this country, and with an atten-
dance OF some four hundred Of the teachers
of Virginia aud other States who are there
as pupils. learning the newest and bestmeth-
DDS or teaching aud getting an lncalculaDie
amount of good thereirOm. Nine states
besides Virginia are represented there and
am sure that neither the Glen Al ais. theMar-
thas Vineyard. the Texas State Normal nor
any OF the other great organizations OF
that kind excel II. whilst for cheapness, ac-
ces siDllity. and on many other accounts the
Virginia school presents special advantages.
The session is held in the new and COM
modious Randolph Academy. aud
those who attend can have their choice Of
accommodations from the beautiful and
beautifully kept Bedford Hotel on the hill
down t. neat little summer boarding houses
under the oaks IN the village
had the pleasure 70 appear twice before
the institute. and never spoke or read 10
an audience that gave more pleasure. What
/ said then ! wish % sag now more public
ly-that / believe this institute marks
new era in public education IN Virginia, |
and that Virginia ought TO support 1T.
Appended is a list OF the faculty and de- |
partments. which | give TO show the wide 1
scope of Mr.. Glass work.
Ii will be seen that the subjects are most |
general. and that they are all for the train |
ing Of teachers. The professors are from |
all parts OF the country. and Mr. Glass OBJ |
ject has been simply To secure the best. !
Dr. White. Miss Arnold. Professor BpgGr |
and Mr. and Mrs. Southwick are among the |
reading lecturers at the Glen's Falls lnsti- |
tute this summer. OF Professor Thorn. |
his culture ability. earnestness and devotion |
10 the higher literature branches OK educa- |
ton It - not necessary TO speak to Virgin !
ians, and have not space 20 particulsrize as !
TO the others. But found them complete |
faculty. teaching and inspiring their four |
hundred students with new zeal and cOur- |
age in the great work Of educating our peO- |
pie.
l believe it would be to the general adj |
vantage Of the public if the public school i
teachers were offered by the State the OPP t
tute and If their expenses were paid out Of |
the school fund. As small as IS the expense.
il Is a drain upon the resources OF many of |
our poor teachers. and many are Kept away /
by it: but the State would get full cOnsid-
Grafton Tor IT'S outlay in the new ZEAL larger
and greater skill with which its
hundreds of teachers would return 70 their
winters work fresh from inspiring associa-
lion with others working successfully /
IN the same great field.
Professor Glass has in contemplation the
development of his institute into a regular
Jhautauque. and | feel iustihed~in saving
That be is the man in this State 10 do It.
The Work which hs is doing strikes me rs
AL augury Of what our common school sys-
.em may IN the future become What is
wanted 10 mako it in practice what 1t is in
theory is a few more men who have both
the zeal and the ability to build Il up aud
change II from a piece OF machinery 10
i've and life giving system.
Thomas NELSON PAGE