Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1897-01-21
PROF. cUNNINGHAM's ADDRESS.

The address of Prof. r. C. Cunningham
before the teachers meeting in this city
last Saturday, and which appeared in the
State Herald Tuesday following, is
worthy of careful reading. The address
is in defense of normal schools and con-
talns some very valuable information,
and also shows a weakness in the school
laws of the state that should attract the
attention of the lawmakers now in ses-
sion.
Prof. Cunningham introduces some i'm
portant and valuable educational statis-
tics which must have cost no little time
and research to obtain.
The State Herald reproduces below
some conclusions reached by the able
pedagogue after having carefully con-
sidered the fruits of his research:
1.-The normal school seed, planted in
Massachusetts, in the first quarter of the
nineteenth century, sprang up. grew,
spread it's branches toward the warm and
the setting sun, let down its rootS-one or
many-in almost every state in the union;
till today, less than seventy-hve years
after its termination, 1t stands the
wonderful Banyan-in the shade of whose
protection every child of America may
rest.
"The figure is not overdrawn. The
normal training movement has unified the
educationa forces OF America--forcss
heretofore antaSonistlc and repelent.
Though there be many trunks, the living
sap is one. In none of its bowers is per-
mitted tyranny over childhood. Pleasure
succeeds pain. Love displaces hate.
Permit me to see hundreds of children
running to embrace their teachers each
morning, while I know that the Spirit
which brought about and which fosters
this affection is that of the normal school
and no arguments of dollars ard cents
can make me risk the danger of a return
to the old system; nor do I believe that
the average parent is poorer OF heart than
of pocket.
st Is the experience of superintend
and principaIs--to say nothing of teach
ers h-mselves--that a raw recruit from
college. nigh school or elsewhere, on the
average, viii be two years in becorang
successful Tie normal-trained become
successful in from SIX to twelve months
This takes 1rto account those of both
classes who Viii totally fail; hut the per-
csntage Of failure IN raw recruits is far
higher than in the normal-trained
limitation is such marked chara ete--
istic of The human race that one Of the
chief benefits to be derived from normal
shoels is the fact that a few earnest,
we'll trained. successful teachers. scat
tered here and ,here over the state be-
come types which hundreds of untrainsd
teachers follow. While this is one of the
good effects, yet 1t is but Secondary
to the necessity for giving to each child
the best opportunity. eGucationally. pos
sihie Initiation should be rational not
traditional
"If the state attempts to educate, it
should provide the, best teachers in its
power Given zoo men and women
equally educated in the branches to b.
targht. 1,ee9 inarss diately on ceasins to
be pupils become teach RS: ! 900 sne nd4ng
two years in study of mind. history of
educators and nnthads. hece,r .ns famll-
iar with the w.osrtd's post and rres mt ss-s-
TENS OF cGucstion---tfeir verbs as. fell
ures, studyinc the s.isc:io.s. fea~s, mo-
tivss and GERS OF chilsr so shat DIP
cipline beecr.ss n i'atianal. nssrrs to =
clv.lizing eEG---to 6env that the iatterStwc
vii Go far rEsa.e- rood in MECH less
tine to the cersr,. rri:scx wkssi Jhsv teach
than Will. or can. tie forne--f Gee Is 20