Baltimore daily commercial. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1865-1867, 1865-11-04
THE STATE NORMAL SCHOOL.

THE STATE NORMAL SCHOOL.
Among the prominent features of the Act |
Of General Assembly establishing a uniform
system of Public Instruction is the State Nor
NAL School. Its object is to instruct and train |
teachers of Public Schools in the science of |
education, the art of teaching and the mode of |
governing schools. 1t is strictly professional
institution, and holds relatively the same posi-
ton towards our Public Schools, that the West |
Point Military Academy or the Naval School
at Annapolis does to the army or navy of the
nation. 1t fits the teacher for the duties of
the school room. 1t acquaints him with the
mode of organizing his juvenile battallOns,
and renders him familiar with the weapons of
his warfare against ignorance.
We can ask no better evidence that the
General Assembly comprehended the impor
lance of Public Schools, and understood what
is necessary to render them an efficient, living
power, than we have in the liberal appropria
fions and iudicious plans adopted for the
training of an accomplished class of native
teachers.
The Normal School will be located in Balt
more, if the Mayor and City Council provide
suitable buildings for its sessions. The sub
iect will undoubtedly receive the prompt at
tention of the next Council, and soon we will
have the qualification of seeing in full opera
ton this training school for teachers, with its
schools of practice Of different grades.
In completing the new Central High School
in Park street, arrangements might be made
to accommodate the Normal Glasses, thus
giving those who are preparing for the re-
sponsible duties of the school room an oppor-
funity TO witness and profit by the systems of
instruction practically exhibited by the able
High School Faculty in their several classes.
We would prefer, however, to see a separate
building dedicated to this purpose of training
young men and women in the best method of
teaching and conducting Public Schools; a
building which will be an honor to the munich
pality and an evidence to those who visit our
rapidly increasing city that all things connected
with public instruction are to be well done.
An outline of the Normal School law will be
interesting not only to parents, but to those
who purpose to engage in the work of the
teacher.
young men and young women, who, being
instructed and furnished with the use of text
books at the public expense, agree to teach
for stated period in the Public Schools.
These normal students are appointed from
the city of Baltimore and the counties, two for
each member of the House of Delegates, and
one for each Senator.
ton Is eX-otiicio the principal of the school.
and prescrihes the course of study, supervises
tAo curriculum and provides for the establish
ment Of model primary and gram mar schools
as schools of practice. In these schools the
normal pupils will be engaged as teachers,
and verify by experiment the systems of IN
struction in which they are trained.
The faculty of the school consists of four
professors, two of them men-two women,
each having distinct department of instruc-
ton. The first professor has already been
selected, and brings the highest evidence of
fitness for the important and responsible posi-
tion which he will occupy. The delay in Or
ganlzing the school, consequent upon the
adjournment of the City Council, without
being able to take up the subject of providing
buildings for its accommodation, will give
Prof. Newell ample opportunity to aid in
devisng thorough system of instruction, and
to inspect the normal institutions of other
States
1t Is OF great Importance that Maryland
shall have the benefit of the experience of
those States which have preceded her in de-
veloping efficient systems of public instruction,
and specially in this matter of training teach
erS. 1t is true proverb that the teacher
makes the school. Water cannot rise higher
than its source, and the grade of energy and
intelligence Of the pupil will be in equilbrio
with that of the preceptor
In order that the teachers now engaged in
school work may derive benefit from the
superior methods of instruction which the
normal professors will impart, the law pro-
vldes for two sessions of the school in Balti-
more, continuing through six months. The
remaining four months Of the scholastic year
will be appropriated to the counties, in each
OF which a Teachers Institute will be held
annually, presided over by the county superin-
tendent, aided by professor from the Normal
School.
Thus the whole State will reap the imme-
date benefit of normal instruction. New
methods of teaching and proper modes of
discipline will be impaired to the preceptors
who, tor many years, have been engaged in
public school work, and a degree of uniform
1ty promptly secured, which, through the
Normal School alone, would require many
years.
We wish full success to the noble institu-
tlon, and hope that our city authorities will
cooperate cheerfully and literally with the
State Board Of Education in carrying out the
provisions of the law
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