Delaware gazette and state journal., 1896-01-23
THE TRAINING OF TEACHERS
An Interesting Meeting of
Friends of Education.
BETTER FACILITIES DESIRED
Talking for a Normal School
in Delaware.
Paper Read by superintendent Tindal of
Kent tcounty-speeohes Urging the Exer-
else of More Care in the Preparation OF
Teachers-The Attendance Large.

An educational conference upon the
need OF training for teachers was held
undor the auspices Of the educational
committee OF the New Century Club
in the parlors of the clubhouse Friday
night. There was "A good attendance
of school teachers and others interested
in education. Mrs Charles Rowland
presided, and the speaker of the even
ing was o. G. Tindal, superintendent
of the schools Of Kent County. Among
thuse present were Bishop Coleman,
Superintendent of Public Schools ID.
W. Harlan, Principal A. IL. Berlin of
the High School, and Principal Isaac
Il. johnson of Friends School, Willard
G. Smith, superintendent of schools of
New Castle county; i. b. Morrow, DIR.
Crumbaugh, Daniel Ross and S. A.
Mcdaniel of the Board of Public Edu-
cation, John II. Dandy, j. Ii. W.
Watson Of Newport. In addition to
Mrs. Rowland, the educational com
mittee of the club comprises Mrs. Ben
iamin Nields, Mrs. A. d. Warner, Miss
Emma Worrell, Mrs. J. Frank Ball and
Mrs. John II. Dandy.
Superintendent Tindal put the sub
ject of the evening in the form of
question: 1T is expedient TO establish
a State Normal School in Delaware?n
In speaking on this line he said that
there should be taken into considera-
tion the cost of establishing and main.
tanning the school, the limited area
from which it would draw pupils, the
probable attendance, and the number
Of graduates that would be turned out.
He showed the need of proper train
ing for teachers. Fine school build
ings do not amount to much il the
teachers are incompetent Higher
scholarship plus experience must he
insisted upon. The back number idea
is that the scholars memorize the lesson
and the teacher hold the book in her
hand while they recite. The up to-
date teacher has an ideal goal TO work
towards. Few realize the enormous
waste OF public money by incompetent
teaching
There is remedy, the speaker said.
The superintendent may do much, il
be has the courage to limit the number
OF those to whom he gives certificates.
The agencies that are at work to ele-
vate teaching to the highest proficiency
are State normal schools, teachers
classes, teachers institutes and sum.
mer schools of method. The Normal
School is strong in scholarship and is
the best place. In il the student is
trained in the best methods of organiza-
tion. government and instruction of
schools. Promptness to decide, firm
ness to execute are iuculcated. Good
order is the first condition of success
full teaching barring scholarly attain
ments. Many State normal schools
have practical class
Mr.. Tindal named some drawbacks
Of normal schools as shown by expert
erce OF States which have them. In
some States the number of teachers
who attend normal schools is a very
small proportion to the whole number
Of teachers, and the proportion of
graduates is also small. Speaking of
the matter in regard to Delaware he
drew attention first to the comparative
smallness of the population and the
small number of teachers. He took up
Kent county and showed that out of its
lao teachers only IA would attend
normal school provided it was in the
same proportion as in other States
Multiplying II hy three gave the eRti-
mated number for the whole State out
side of Wilmington. Such school
would furnish few graduates, who
would get good positions, and the great
majority Of places would still be held
by incompetent teachers.
Concerning teachers training classes
he referred 10 the example OF New
York, which has about 100 such classes.
Teachers institutes he termed as like
an educational revival.
1t was upon the Summer School of
Methods that MIR. Tindal seemed 10
pin his greatest faith for the elevating
Of the profession of teaching in this
state. They afford drills in the teach
| ing OF the common school branches.
! Persons who are not proficient in those
branches should not be in the school.
| In the Kent County School Of Methods
| drill is given in the teaching of the
| primary and grammar branches. Mr..
| Tindal finds that the scheol has done
good.
! Feeling that at present the public is
not ready TO make sacrifices for suf.
| ticient number of teachers, MIR. Tindal
held that the best hope lies in the
Summer School Of Methods.
After Mr.. Tindal had closed his in
teresting paper, Mrs. Rowland called
on Others to speak. Superintendent
Smith Of the New Castle county schools
made some remarks, and Principal
Berlin gave some facts in regard to the
school system in Pennsylvania.
Principal johnson discussed the
facilities for education IN this State.
Sound scholarship is needed ho said.
lie commended the measure introduced
in the last Legislature to provide foi
county institutes. All that tho Legis-
lature does for the encouragement OF
the teachers is TO appropriate 500 foi
each county. He was favorably i'm.
pressed by the institutes of four or six
weeks held elsewhere.
Mrs. Rowland remarked that Della.
ware was the only State east Of the
Rocky Mountains that is without q
normal school. She then called upor
DIR. Crumbaugh, who read some letter.
from Provost Harrison Of the Univer.
sity of Pennsylvania in regard to the
Summer School of the University oi
Pennsylvania.
In response to a question by Mrs.
Rowland as 10 possible location for a
summer school in this city, DR.. Crum-
baugh replied that a building next ia
the High School owned by the Board
of Education might be fitted up foi
thar purpose at little expense. The
audience was we'll pleased with DR..
Crumhaugh's IS attention to the subject.
Bishop Coleman turned tho thoughts
Of the audience fnrcibly towards the
normal school matter. He declared
that 30 years ago when he was mem
ber OF the Hoard of Education he had
advocated normal school. On Satur-
days he used TO meet Che teachers il
what might be called 4 teachers class.
lie termed what hau been offered IN
place Of normal school as gops, ~ and
urgpQ Tint hY kreping at il A norlnnl