Year: 1865

IN the complimentary resolution passed by
The Board of Public Education at their last
meeting, after receiving my report as their
delegate to Harrisburg was contained re-
quest that | would furnish for publication
the account ther given of the doings OF the
Teachers National Convention. should
| be nmindml of their kindness and conf
! danee il iailed to comply with their request.
ana yet | fear that my other engagements
VIII prevent me from making as complete "a
report as the interests involved demand


shall endeavor, as far as can, to reproduce
the remarks | made at the meeting of the
Board


The Convention numbered about five or
six hundred delegates, all of whom were
more or less actively engaged in the cause OF
Education. They represented twenty one
different States, far aud near. Yet there
were no discordant elements in this vast
body. While there was great variety of
mind and training, and disposition they all
seemed thoroughly united in common feel
ing of interest in their work, and earnestl,
desrous of making their coming together
minister to the welfare of the interests com
mitted to their charge Ii must have been
cold and stolid heart that did not catch some
portion, at least of the enthusiasm felt bS
SO many on the subject of American Educa-
ton; and ifthere were no other good accom-.
plished save this infusion of new zeal and
heartiness into the many instructors this as.
sembled, the Convention would not have net
IN vain. feel that can draw upon this stock
"i enthusiasm and devotion until shall have
the privilege of attending another simiIar
gathering. What tended to enkinde Il more
'han ordinary ardor amongst the teachers
at Harrisburg, was the feeling of the immense
responsibility resting now, as II has never
oeiore rested, upon those having in hand the
tuition OF the youth Of our redeemed and
fe"rganizing Republic. 1t was well deemed
That the issues and results of the late civil
war have imposed upon such duty and "A
labor which has not hitherto been borne; and
Know OF no class of persons more alive 10
the new and grave questions now agitaiine
the public mind, than these same educators


II was this which gave such prominent
place in AL their discussions, 10 the eonvic.
uoh On the part of the members, that The
Time had now arrived when the General Gov
ernment should take more lively concern in
'he cause of National Education. BY doing
what she can legitimatey to multiply free
schools everywhere (more especially in the
iate dlsloyal States) by establishing Bureau
OF Education, and by appointing Commis
sloner of Education, il was thought thai
much good might be accomplished. Memo
rials ON this subject were ordered to he prc-
pared and forwarded to the proper authori.
ues, and il is TO be hoped that heed may be
given to them, so that there may be IA more
SYSTEMATIC and potent effort made 10 advance
the cause of general intelligence.


Allied TO this subject was that Of Normal
Schools in general, and also with especial
reference to the greater need of them at the
present time, when there are 50 many and
such good teachers wanted for the Southern
states. If we are ever to have our schools
furnished throughout with competent instruc
tors, it must, undoubtedly, be very largely
through the medium of these training insii
tutes. What applies to other States is no less
applicable to our own, and we cannot hui
hope that the day may soon arrive when the
needs of Delaware in this respect will he
met by generous and wise provision


There was an incidental allusion made NJ
times 10 the benefits of High Schools in large
cities, as furnishing an incentive for diligent
study, and as affording to those not otherwise
able to procure it, a more finished education
than is possible in the ordinary grades of
schools When will the citizens of Whining
ton learn wisdom of'eyen smaller towns, aud
secure for themselves such advantages
through such an institution


The advisability of introducing into our
common schools, when practicable, the study
OIL tue higher branches of learning was ably