Nebraska advertiser., 1868-12-17
Closing Exercises OfGhe Fourth
Term Of the Nebraska State
Normal School.


I ing committee we beg leave to make
/ the following report:
The examinations commenced OF
the afternoon Of 1Tohday, the Tth inst
! The classes ia the Afsael Departmeni
were first brought 70 ard. This de-
partment has been fought by mem
bers Of the Normal Department, under
the eye of the Prineipal, as far as pos.
sible- It is here the teachers get tins
practice that they may test the theory
given them, by actual experiment
This we consider one of the best fea-
lures of the school.
The classes in this department con-
sisted of students of all grades Of ad-
vancement, from thealphabet to prac-
tical arithmetic, &c. Many Of the
teachers in this department showed an
aptness TO teach truly worthy Of com
mendation, and the pupils under their
care exhibited a degree of proficiency
in the studies pursued that spoke well
for their own and their teachers ef-
forts.
Tuesday morning Glasses in Algebrs
and Practical Arithmetic were exam
ined. The method of examination
was altogether topical. Topics were
written on slips of paper and, students
drew their topics. A topic was then
called for by the teacher, or some
member Of the committee, and the
pupil holding the topic arose to his
feet and read over his topic, and pro-
ceeded at once to discuss il. Nothing
of the -parTOt-like memOriter style of
recitation was allowed; but a thor
Ough, clear. concise and rigid demon
stratiOn of every principle was re-
quired. No leading questions were
asked to aid the students in recalling
the subject before him. 1t was either
prompt response, or the next pupil
answered the question for him.
During the day on Tuesday classes
in Grammar, Analysis, Higher Ar
ithmetic, History, Penmanship. Read
ing, Spelling, Descriptive and Physi-
cal Geography, Geometry and Latin
were examined. We cannot speak of
them all in detail, but will mention
especially the Reading and Geography
classes. We would be pleased if some
Of our teachers who are now engaged
in teaching could but listen a few
times to the recitation Of the reading
class. We are confident they would
return to their school with very diff
ferent views of the subject; and be
able to make their classes worth a
hundred per cent. more than they
are now. The great central ideasOf
every member of the class as he rises
to read Is ! must express the true
thought and feeling contained in the
book, and to do that I must first un-
derstand it thoroughly myself, hence
the reading lesson becomes a deep
study to every scholar; and the inter
est manifested showed -hOW intensely
in earnest was each one. Everything
in eOnnexiOn with the class was Criti-
cised-pOsitiOn, manner of holding
book, tones, emphasis, infection, ar
ticulatiOn, etymOlOgy of words, etc
In fact, the object was to do what was
done, just exactly right. True but
little ground could be gone over during
each recitation; but what was gone
over during, was done in such man
ner as to make deep impression on
the mind of the students.
The Geography classes also showed
the great distinctive features in the
school. In place of the Old question
and answer method the students had
studied entirely by topic, and had
drawn maps Of different countries
locating themOuntains, rivers,
lakes, CULTS, bays, etc, with a preeis-
ion that showed atOnce that a picture
of the whole thing under cOnsidera-
tiOn was indellibly fixed on the mind.
Maps were sketched on the black
boards during the. examination, by
members Of the class, that were highly
to them. The class in
Physical Geography exhibited a thor
Oughness highly creditable to both
teacher and scholar.
On Wednesday forenoon the eXami-
nation of the Normal class proper took
place. This class consisted of about
twenty young ladies and gentlemen,
in course of preparation for the active
duties of teaching. The examination
of this class was TO show, as far as pos
sible, the manner in which the various
branches had been gone over during
the term. First, chart exhibiting
a classification of all the arts and sci
ences was presented, and explained.
The chart was to show the proper To-
caIity of each branch studied, and at
the same time give the students an
idea of the extent tOfhuman knowledge.
The subject of OrthOgraphy was taken
up and located as a branch of gram
mar, which belonged to the depart
ment of science called PhOnics. A
word was then written on the black
board and a perfect exhaustive, ana
lysis was gone through with, and
every thing was told about the word
as q whole; each syllable and each
separate letter that could be told, and
this may serve as an illustration of al
the different branches taught in our
common schools. a perfect systemat-
ic classification Of all the branches was
gone over during the term, and lee
lures on the theory and practice were
delivered as far as possible by tie
Principal during the term before the
class. And the readiness conceived
by the members OF the class in ans
wering the inquiries OF the committee
on questions Of school discipline
plainly showed that their training had
not been in vain. As a whole, we
were highly. gratified with the conduct
OF the school The whole course OF
training showed a depth and thorough
ness that cannot fail to make good
scholars. We were especially pleased
with the good order and system man
ifested in the change of classes, and the
style of passing to and from recitation.
At nearly every change of classes the
students all march TO their several
recitation rooms to suitable music,
and gymnastic exercises are also per-
formed to music.
The school can no longer be regar-
ded as an experiment. 1T has every
element of success, and only needs the
fostering care of the State and a liber-
al patronage to make it what every
true friend of the institution can de-
sire. But while we rejoice IN the sue
cess of the school, and commend the
ability and untiring energy Of the
teachers, we cannot overlook the fact
that they labor under many disadvan-
tages.
The building is not yet wholly com
pleted. The grounds are Unfenced,
and there is but little library or appa-
ratus, and the building very deficient
in furniture. These deficiencies ought
at once TO be supplied, and we hope
the State Legislature, soon to assem-
bic, will make q liberal appropriation
for this purpose. IT is a necessity.
Without il the school cannot accom-
plish what il should. 1t is the duty
Of the State TO foster feerning, and We