Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1900-01-02


. state of any prominence in the un-
ion that does not maintain state nor
NAL school initiates against the repu-
tation of Ohio In advanced educational
matters and tends to place Ohio teach
ers In n class in which they do not be-
long.
Slxth:-The influence of normal
school is not measured alone by the
graduates or under graduates that en-
ter the teaching ranks, but also by the
educational influence exerted on the
immediate community in which 1t is
located and the general influence that
is excrted throughout the state. So ev-
en- if Ohio should have trained teach
ers educated in other states in every
school In the commonwealth, yet there
would be wanting the forceful local in
ilucnce of n normal school as an i'm.
pulse toward renewing inspiration of
the teaching force and releavening Of
the educational system.
Seventh Teachers educated in
other states in this professional work
bring with them into Ohio the pccul-
iar genius of the state in which they
were educated, and this initiates more
or less against the genius Of Ohio in
stitutions.
Eighth:A Normal school must be
measured rs means of intellectual
power and educational influence on
the teaching force. and also MS
source Of intellectual information to.
ward awakening and informing the
people.
Ninth:--It is strong argument In
favor OF Normal schools that not one
of the States that has established
Normal schools has ever given them
mp after having them fairly tried.
The establishment of Normal
schools in Ohio sets up no educational
opposition to the colleges of the State.
Indeed this unusual number of ex-
ccllent academic schools makes un-
usual provision for the Fundamental
qualifications OF the teaching service.
high type of liberal learning Few
States are able to make such adequate
| Nfi ici nd h,.,
Is ready to give the professional ped
agogcal school larger and higher
function than almost any other State.
While we recognize scholarly at
tainment and the scholarly spirit ms
the first essential in the teacher, we
must also recognize the difference
between the teacher and the mere
scholar. Tint which Gdfferentiates
the one from the other, or rather that
which projects the one into the other,
is that special nnd specific knowledge
which can come only from the pro-
fcssional school. 3
The aims OF the college and the Nor
school are so radically different that
neither can ,lo the wofkYof both. They
may be supplemental, but not ldenti.
cal The one in Its training is acadc-
mic, the other professional 1,.
That we have in Ohio many sue.
ccssful teachers who have never Ind
the advantages of normal school
training Is true. This Is not however,
saying that our schools have realized
the highest possible degree of prof,
cheney rthat our teachers would not
do their work more successfully If
their earlier preparation for the great
work Of teaching had been broader
and deeper.
Hon Lewis ID. Bonbrakc. state com.
missioner of common schools, in his
recent report TO the governor, recon-.
mends the establishment of 1ve state
normal schools in Ohio.
The writer during n recent agitation
Of this question, received nearly 300
letters from leading educators, rep
resentlng every county in the state,
All with one exception, expressed
themselves in favor of normal schools
for Ohio.
WIN not the parents of the 10000
children attending school in this state
urge til emembers of our general as.
sembly TO make provision during the
present session for the establishment
of state normal schools in Ohio?
Yours respectfully,
II, S, THOMAS,
Supt, Public Schools Akron o.