The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1869-01-01

snail be rightly taught such lessons nom
books and lessons from life as win 1T them
worthy of Kansas and the tines-in which
they live.
Another element, possibly of strength,
perhaps OF weakness, is found IN the neceS,
sary isolation of the school from any and all
other higher institutions of learning. The
nature of its professional training, its meth
cd of instruction, the limited means of its
students, and the fact that its pupils are
drawn from only small class of the popufa-
ton Of the State, preclude its successful
working as department of university, or
in connection with any other institution diff
fering form itself. The consolidation of
State institutions. as proposed in the last
Legislature. would, as it seems TO me. prove
highly DISASTROUS to the interests of the
Normal School. whatever its effect might be
upon the Agricultural College and the State
University.
PROFESSIONAL VISITING.
Shortly after the opening OF the fall term.
having received leave of absence for few
weeks. and been furnished with instructions
from the Executive Commute, undertook
visit to the East having for one OF its spec
ial objects the personal examination into the
conduct of affairs in the Normal Schools of
such States as have these institutions organ
lied upon basis similar TO that adopted IN
Kansas. 1t was also part of my errand
to study the working of the common-school,
academy and university systems of New
England.
The object of this professional visitation
was TO gather such facts. methods and the
or1es OF school management and instruction
as might be made available in advancing the
work of Normal instruction here. The eX-
penses of the trip, since the visit was per-
sOnal as we'll as professional, were borne by
myself.
Without entering into details except in
respect to the oldest Normal School in the
United States, l beg leave to present a sim
pie outline of visits made.
NORMAL school. AT BIRMINGHAM, MASS.
This Institution is not only the oldest of
the four State Normal Schools in MasSachus-
etts, but also the oldest in North America.
1t was established at Lexington in 1889. re-
moved to West Newton in 1874, and after
wards removed to birmingham in 1858,
where it is now located.
This School was established by the State
OF Massachusetts for the preparation of fe-
male teachers to instruct in her public
schools. Pupils are admitted from any State
! i'll the Union.
Tuition is free to those intending to teach
in the public schools of Massachusetts,; but
those intending to teach in other States, or
! III private schools, are required to pay ola. 90
a term for tuition. At the beginning of ey-
cry term. each pupil pays 81 80 to meet in
| cidental expenses.
! Candidates for admission must be at least
sixteen years of age; must give pledge to
remain in the School at least four consecu-
| tive terms. and to observe faithfully all the
regulations of the Institution; and must de-
| clare their full intention OF teaching in the
| public schools of Massachusetts after gradu-
| alton. They must also present a certificate
| of good physical. intellectual and moral
| character, from someareSpOnsible person;
and pass satisfactory examination in read
ing, spelling. writing. defining, grammar,
! geography and arithmetic.
| The course of study includes reading
! with analysis of sounds and vocal gymnas-
| ties; writing; spelling, with derivations and
definitions; ,punctuation; grammar. with
analysis of the English language; arithme-
| tic; algebra; geometry; physical and politi-
cal geography, with map-drawing; physi-
! ology; botany; zoology; geology; natural
! philosophy; astronomy; mental and moral
philosophy: school laws; theory and art of
teaching; civil polity of Massachusetts and
| the United States; English literature; vocal
music; and drawing.
The length of the regular course is two
! years; but pupils who have had much ex-
| perience in teaching, and are we'll qualified
may complete it in a year and a half.-the
shortest time for which one can be member
of the School. Those who. in all probabi-
lily, would become successful teachers, but
| who fail for any reason to complete the
course in the required time, must, and others
who desire it may. take longer time
! found the number of pupils in attend
ance to be SO. There are six permanent
| teachers besides the Principal making seven
in all. This does not include. however.
| the services of the instructors in drawing
and singing. Teachers in these studies are
employed but portion of the time. The
school is in session four hours each Clay
Each teacher hears the recitations of three
classes daily. With us the school is i'm SEES
sion six hours, and each teacher conducts
the recitatiOns OF five or six classes = thus
doing nearly double the amount of work
that is required at the birmingham school.
| A much better classification of the pupils
was found than with us, less evidence of hur-
Fy and over work, more consulting of Cyc-
| lopedia and reference books, more delibera-
| al In, RI int
course between pupils and teachers there
was more formality. more attention paid to
etiquette than here.
NORMAL SCHOOL AT SALEM.
This school is also for females exclus-
lively. One hundred and fifty pupils
were in attendance at the time of my
visit. Nine permanent teachers are en-
ployed, besides extra teachers of draw
ing, music and elocution, and lecturers
on civil polity, English literature and
zoology. This institution has library
of some eight thousand volumes, good
supply of philosophical and chemical
apparatus, and Museum containing a
large collection of specimens illustrat-
ing various departments of science.
ALBANY, NEW YORK.
The Normal School at this place has
been in operation for twenty five years.
/ Unlike all the other schools / visited,
here no time is set apart for the study
and discussion of the theory and art OF
teaching. No special lessons are given
in methods of instruction. At this
school, not only is the tuition free, and
the text books furnished without charge,
but the necessary travelling expenses of
the students in coming to the school and
returning to their homes, are paid by
the State. About 250 students were
present at the time of my visit.
wEsTFIELD. MASS.
The teaching in this Normal School
l found to be more truly PestalOzzian
than in any other institution / visited.
'-Object teaching" is at the foundation
of all the instruction given to the pu-
pills. The attendance is as follows: fe-
males, 125; males, Is. Massachusetts,
pays out annually for the support of her
Normal Schools, $4,000.
NORMAL, ILLINOIS.
The school here gives satisfactory ev-
idence of the enlightened public spirit
of the West in educational matters.
S250,0O0 has been spent by Illinois in
constructing and furnishing the State
Normal University buiIding,a and $4,000
is cheerfully given each year for the
maintenance of the institution. The
result of these OUTLAWS is one of the
largest and most influential Normal
Schools in the United States. Over 300
pupils were present at the time of my
visit.
For more full account of these and
other institutions visited, beg leave to
refer to the early numbers of the Eda-
catiORdt Journal.
In concluding this report, Gentlemen
of the Board, desire, i'm the name of
the Faculty, to express our many obi
lrrnA -. r.. Al 4