New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-01-24
NORMAL SCHOOL EDUCATION.

We publish this morning a document which
will be read with care by all who are inter-
ested in the great subject of Public Education.
This paper is the report for the last year OF
Mr.. Thomas Hunter the President of the Nor
nal College Of New-York. The extent of the
usefulness of this institution, presuppOsing it
to be what it should be, is shown by the large
average attendance of students, which, to June
%, 1872, was $780, and to December 81, following,
was S74. The graduates for the year number
1876. we refer our readers who are interested
in the matter TO the other statistics of the
College attendance. The President very justly
saws that cit is not necessary at this
"late day to enter into any elabo-
"rate argument to prove the useful
"ness Of normal training We do not
see that it ever could have been necessary
For generation after generation, while relying
upon our schools for the happiness, safety
prosperity, and we may say, the perpetuity OF
the Republic, we trusted to luck, to insult
ficept culture, TO our general system OF edu-
cation for teachers. Yet nothing can be more
certain than that the teacher just as much re-
quires special instruction and systematic prep
aratiOn for the duties of his profession, as the
lawyer, the doctor, or the divine. Not only
does the teacher need a certain amount OF
knowledge, but he must be taught either
directly or indirectly how to communicate
that knowledge to his pupils. In word, he
must be specially fitted for his work. The
statement we are aware, sounds like platl-
tude, and yet it contains the whole art and
mystery of teaching. The curse of our edu-
tlonal system has always been the want of
schoomasters and matrons not only trained
for their work, but in love with 1t and proud
of it.
The report contains some statistics respect
ing the number of Normal institutions now in
operation in the United States. New-York,
which has II, Ohio, which has 0, Illinois,
which has 10, Pennsylvania, which has 8.
and Massachusetts,, which has 2, take the
lead Of these the latter really occupies the
front rank, since she has one Normal School
for every 254,9I of her population. Ohio fol-
lows her, and then New York, though the
latter has the greatest number of Normal
Schools. In all the United States,
there are ia Normal Schools, with AS
teachers and 1922 pupils. Of these the
Normal College of New. York has almost one
tenth. 1t is stated in the report that as a
Training School for teachers the Model
Primary School has been found inadequate to
meet the wants of the Primary College. This
arises from the fact that there ara only six
classes and two hundred and sixty pupils in
the school-"nOt nearly sufficient" says the
report, ito permit over one hundred pupil
teachers the opportunity for practice in the
"arts of instruction and government" Pupil
teachers should teach at least two hours each
day under the eyes of critic-teachers. The
report notices that more than from any other
cause young teachers fail from lack of power
to govern; and the real cause of this failure
is from inability to make the subject interest
ing. This implies want of tact, good temper,
"and self-control,r and it is the pupils who
discover them in the training school who
should be preferred, while those found incom-
petent in this regard should be dismissed to
follow other callings
1t is encouraging to read that in the Normal
College "punctuality and regularity of attend
"ance have been most gratifying" This
shows the thorough and lively interest felt by
the students in the school, and a determina-
ton that such great opportunities shall not be
lost for trivial causes. The discipline of the
pupils is said to have been excellent. The
College has been in existence for three years,
and during this time it has not been found
necessary to eXpel or to suspend O single stu
dent. Such fact considering the very large
attendance, speaks volumes for the skill and
devotion of teachers, and for the assiduity
sa4 ssA4AAsxaA VI he QuuilaA Miss WaalaiGA.