While thus proceeding, he could also obtain the promise of one or more intelligent persons in each county, to write on the subject every week in each of the county newspapers. Articles thus addressed to the reason, the patriotism, and the economy of the people, would have a powerful effect, and cost nothing.
If funds could be provided from private benevolence to establish proper Teachers’ Institutions in two or three states, they would set the matter far ahead in a few years. They would serve as models and inducements to the public, and would not long continue to need the support of private philanthropy. They would really be normal, or pattern establishments.
Beyond a doubt, the plan ought to embrace institutions for the preparation of female teachers. The gentleness, self-devotion, and untiring humanity of women eminently qualify them to be the instructers of the more youthful pupils of both sexes, and of their own of all ages. There is not a show of any reason why male teachers only should be provided for at the public charge, when female teachers are as necessary, as useful, and as much confided in by the public.
From the Rev. Mr. Sturtevant, President of Illinois College.
“In regard to some voluntary organization to secure popular education, if it were worked with a truly liberal and Christian spirit, it could, and would, do us great good in this state: first, by collecting statistics of our wants, and calling attention (by the press, and by public lectures all over the state) to these wants, and to what has been accomplished in other states and countries.
2. By supporting, at least in part, model schools in different parts of the state, to show, by example, what good schools are.
3. By bringing public sentiment to bear on the Legislature, especially in reference to our school fund. It is now nearly two millions, and is yearly increasing. Now, its whole management is left to the unregulated action of the Legislature, without a single mind devoted to acquiring and disseminating knowledge as to the proper mode of using it. Whether, any one year, there shall be even one intelligent friend of education in our Legislature, is a matter of chance. If some plan be not devised for leading the Legislature to wise views, the object of this fund will be lost. It will a little diminish the expense for each child, but add nothing towards getting better schools.”
President Sturtevant’s account of the deplorable state of their schools, and of the public apathy on the subject, is mournful.
From the Rev. Henry Beecher, of Indianapolis, Indiana.
Much can be done in Indiana, much ought to be done, and speedily; for,