Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1896-12-31
SUBSCRIPTION RATES:
FREELAND, DECEMBER 81, 1896.



In the annual report of the president
Of the Indiana state normal school the
assertion is made that the state is Suf
fertng from surplus of teachers. This
statement leads some Of the Chicago
newspapers to say that the suffering
from this condition of things is not con
fined to Indiana and that in many states
of the West there is an oVer-production
of teachers. The multiplicity of so
called medical colleges in various parts
of the country became at one time such
an evil that stringent laws were passed
regulating their establishment. and the
growth Of normal schools in some parts
of the West has been equally as rapid
and has caused alarm in the minds Of
educators.
In these days of restlessnesS and am
bition many of the sons and daughters
of farmers have become dissatisfied with
their lot, and have been readily attract
ed by plausible stories sent out by the
founders of normal" colleges, and the
alluring promises which they make as
to the future of their pupils. The
makers Of these promises declare thai
they can turn out finished instructors in
six or twelve months, just as the heads
Of medical" colleges would intlct a
full-fedged physician" on the com
munity after single term. 1t is said
that in many states there are today
several thousand so-callcd teachers
who are unable to secure positions, and
that for every vacancy that occurs
there are from fifty to Il hundred appli-
cations.
1t is just as important to the body
polite that there should be as high and
broad scholarship demanded of teachers
as of physicians. When students Of
pedagogy or medicine have shown that
they have not only natural aptitude
for the life work to which they propose
to devote themselves, but that they have
acquired knowledge and culture, then
they are deserving of diplomas, and
neither the physical nor intellectual
health Of those whom they intend to
look after will be likely to suffer. A
grave responsibility attaches itself to all
who seek to prepare men and women for
vocations, the right exercise Of which
may make or mar the life of communities.
Coincident with the appearance of the
advance agent of prosperity in Chi
cago, says the Pittsburg Post, there have
been several large business failures in
that city, the last one being that of the
National Bank of Illinois. one of the
leading banks of the city, with deposits
of over SlO,OOO,OOO. A clearing house
committee officially declares that because
Of 'unwarrantable and injudcious loans
the capital and surplus Of the bank is
seriously impaired, If not lost The
customary assurance is given that de
positors will be paid in full, The clear
ing house statement was given out on
Sunday, the same day that jor Nc
Iiinley left Chicago for home. We do
not. Of course, connect him with the
failure, or hold him in any way respon-
Siblc: but it is well enough to recall the
fact that from August to November the
country was overwhelmed with pledges
that with the election OF the advance
agent" financial, business and industrial
prosperity would envelope the land.
And in the little squirt after election
columns were devoted to showing what
a blessing the election result had been
We are just as much in the trough of
the sea- only little deeper, than we
were when Cleveland was issuing bonds
to maintain the gold standard
a contemporary remarks that lit has
been discovered at last that the system of
mine inspection in this state is no system
at all This truth was discovered long
ago: but the legislature, the executive.
the mine inspectors, the mine owners
and all concerned have had too strong
an interest in disowning the truth. The
fact is that the entire legislation Great
ing squad Of mining inspectors, while
it has not diminished the number OF
accidents has lesscncd the responsibility
OF mine owners for loss of life and limb
through careleSsneSs and neglect. For
the responsibility Of the owners and
lessees of the mines has been substituted
the responsibility Of the state and its
officials, which has proved TO be just no
responsibility at all.-IhAa. Record,