Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1878-12-03
A NEW NORMAL SCHOOL PLAN.

There is plan III operation nj SWarth-
more College, near Philadelphia, i"r
trayhinGtcacher how IT, teach, which
adds anew feature to Normal school
teaching, very much like the Kinder
lirtru plan i'll the common school, and
which strikes us ~ an advance on any
Of the practical methods now i'll general
use.
There is preparatory department
connected with the institution, divided
into four classes, Of which the professors
al the college take charge and
structing and developing. These
primary classes furnish the model
school or ground work for illustrating
and instructing the normal classes in the
mysteries of teaching the ''young idea
how to shoot"
Two pupil teachers sit III the class
room while the professor in charge is
hearing lesson from one of these pri-
mary classes They sit together that they
may mutually compare notes and sug-
are there They observe the professor
to see hoU hc teaches, they note the DRIFT
"i every question, STE how the class re-
spends tn it, what it is meant tn bring
out, and il the response falls short in
any particular scholar, what is the par
ticuMr defect in the scholar, which the
professors next leading question il
aimed at. They see also the moral pow
cr which controls and governs II class;
what il is keeps il interested and up To
its work, what is the stimulus APP
piled by anecdote, humorous sugges-
ton, or whatever is needed when II
lags behind. They are critics-in other
words, in double sense, they ste the
lesson from both standpoints, OF teacher
and class. With the question their oh
servation is on the teacher, with its ans
wer their attention is on the class, and
the amount ot practical knowledge OBJ
tanned 10y this method ol observation
includes also the measurement OF each
scholars mental and moral standard, as
shown in behavior at the blackboard
and in his seat Four hours in each
week this lesson OF observation con-
tinues, after which each pupil is given,
for one hour nj each week, the sole
charge of the class, and teaches it in the
presence of the companion pupil, while
the professor may or may not be in the
room.
Thus while not on actual duty as Il
pupil teacher in the other branches OF
study, the attention is directed To the
manner in which every professor
teaches the class Of primary stu
dents, and the practice sf
teaching, for which the normal pupil is
preparing himself or herself is constant
ly under review, and they ~ out OF the
institution not only with the theory of
teaching hut the practical experience
already acquired.
Another advance which Swarthmore
adopts is in the methods OF study and
preparation for lessons, which in day
schools, apart from routine study
hour, is done at home, and at the ex-
pcnse al parents. TEopupil teachers at
Swarthmore are taught 10 teach the
next days lesson, rs well as to hear the
Rotations of the present, and part OF
every day is to be given to getting
ready" the work for the next Most
schools have their study hour, hut in
the new normal method that hour il 10
he under the care oi a pupil teacher,
who will give all necessaryexplanations
and assistance, and the stimulus which
the child now must get at home, under
the present management OF our day
schools. II can never be said that
teachers do teach until they prepare the
lessons with the class, rs well as hear
the Rotations.