Middletown transcript., 1895-12-14
INsr1TUrF ECHOES.

1t was a noble band of toilers in thl
field Of future possibilities, alive to th'
advantages of the hour, earnest il
gathering the valuable suggestions o
those more experienced in the work
we refer to the teachers OF New Castl'
County in their Twenty-first Annua
Institute. But few of them hav'
passed the prime of life, while most o
them have several years Of experience
to help them in the important work O
directing and training the youthful
minds under their charge. We car
sincerely congratulate the people o
New Castle county upon the ability
| character and earnestness Of the teach
ers in the public schools as evidenced
by the interest they manifested in al
the exercises Of the Institute. Young
and strong and hopeful, they will in
spire the children of their schools will
an ambition to learn and to know
And the parents should aid them il
their work; aid by visits to the school
by taking an interest in the studies Of
the children, by words of encourage
ment to the teacher whose path is not
always strewn with roses.
Supt. Smith was much pleased with
the attendance upon the part of the
citizens of the town at the day
sessions, and the TRANS CRIPT is
doubly glad that it urged upon the
re ,ple to attend; glad because the in
struction was of a high order and at
the same time entertaining, and glad
that the public schools of the town
will reap a twc-fold harvest from the
Institute-the impressions left with
the parents and the hints and sugges-
tions given to the teachers.
We give in this issue the two able
papers read before the Institute on Fri
day morning upon Compulsory Educa-
tion. They are full of facts and fig
ures, and very suggestive. Having an
experience of ten years in the schools
of the State we cannot endorse all
that the ladies ask for, nor is that nec-
essary in giving general endorsement
to the claims they make. The ask only
fair hearing and their ples for the in
nocent children of the State is one to
which no thoughtful man or woman can
affor d to turn deaf ear. Read what
the ladies say and unless you have
argument to convince yourself, not
mere prejudice, that they are wrong.
be manly enough to align yourself with
them for the education of all the chill
dren in the State. We must confess
that Mrs. Howland's figures are sug-
gestive of an indifference On the part
of parents that is almost incredible. 1t
does not seem reasonable that the
average attendance upon the schools is
so small, that there should be so many
out of school, but many things are true
that are not reasonable. We shall be
glad to have the teachers discuss this
matter of Compulsory Education in
the columns of the TRANSCRIPT. 1t is
worthy of serious thought.
And in this connection it has been
suggested that the teachers uss the
TRANSCRIPT as means of communi-
cation with each other, to discuss
methods and the routine work of the
school room. We shall be most happy
to have the paper become the bearer of
to the teachers in the
county. Whatever is of interest
to teachers is of interest to par
ents, and it is the homes of the
people that we seek. While writing
tn is arti Gle a teacher familiar with the
work of the Susse1 Journal along this
line when the writer conducted an
Educational Column" therein entered |
our sanctum TO endorse the idea and to
pledge support. And We have received
from another teacher in the county an |
article that is full Of suggestions, des-
,riptive of his supplementary work,
which shall have place in our columns
,oon. Let others come. The TRAN
SCRIPT will be glad to enroll every
eacher in the county among its regu-
ar readers. Do not I've afraid the TRAM
SCRIPT is too generous in its offer. You
IAN subscribe by postal card and send
your subscription when convenient, by
riend, 10y letter, in stamps or as you
please.