Daily Kennebec journal., 1878-02-13

That there must be adequate preparation for all
efficient wolk Is evident, AMI that valuable prep4-
ton NAV he obtained in professional schools is
proved by the results Of special a'nirg in the
olo ", law. medicine and the industrial arts. In
tcllcctual power has AWAY, been developed by
education. The labor, Of eminent educators, a
comparison of results, an tlV-is of method. and
careful study Of the law If mental growth
have furnished the elements of philosophy of
teaching, science of education. As the life aud
prosperity of the state are conditioned upon the
intelligence and viItue OF the people, the govern
ment must sustain public ,cHool- aud ~1ch sgen-
cies are nece-,aiy 10 render them efhaieLt. The
stream cannot RE above It. souice, the school
above the level of IL teacher. oar various inst-
tutiDus of learning are doing noble work in CIV
ing general or special culture bat the teachers
Of our common schools need Il training in the
elementary branches aud in the theory and ptac
tee of teaching. for which our academies and
colleges do not provide.
"Aptuess to teach" l., to 80 ne extent an origi-
nal power, bat to no greater * eut than aptitude
for other occupations. Success IN any avocanoB
depends manly upon a careful study and practice
OF 1t, established principles. The state has rec
oguzed the value Of professional uaaing FIR
teachers by establishing lotmal schools, and a.
the method pnrsued in these schools may not be
familiar to all who are interested IN education,
brief outline Of the work l. here given.
The entrance examinations reveal the fact that
neither district nol hgh >chOo> PREF are pupis Tor
"a course Of professional Ualutu2. and
thorough knowledge of the common Engl - stud
le- must be had basis Of ability to tcacn thcn
from one term to one year Is det oied to ILsruc-
ton in these branches. The pupil Is tau ht what
to study and how to study, to discriminate be
tyeen that which Is necessary and that winch is
useless, or OF little vaiue; to seek for priLcl-
piles and the logical connection OF facts.
Special attention Is gwen 10 tIe means Of ac-
qulnug and OF imparting know edge. The
I tl.la f..t,
| erence to modes of teaching the branches under
consideration, aud teaching exercises III the va
nous studies oil the course are conducted by the
pupils under the direction Of the teachers and the
criticisms Of the class This practice tests the
skin Of the pup Il-eacher in selecting toIics ask
ing aud answering questions and IN the manage
ment Of class recI alton The pupis made 10
realize that they are learning and practcing, that
they NAV become successful teachers, hence their
work must be thoroughly performed. Many of
the pupils have taught several year., and the re-
suit. OF their eNpelience-successes and failures
given to the class for consideration.
SPECIAL instruction Is gwen to the whole
school by the Principal, III the school Jaws of the
state, school organization, government and in
struCuOn Dniing the Senior tel n lhe class gives
special attention to Didactics and Mental Pnilos-
Ophy, the later being studied with reiereuce to
tue law OF intellectual development in the child
The Cli.s Is a 50 required to complete a course OF
professional reading, inc udug the History of
EdpcatIonAl Progress, Theory and PrAct ce of
Teaching, "oystems OF school Orgaulz ,tluu and
Government" &c. During the last year of the
course, the pupils are Iequuel'to pend con.iicr.
ahle time IN ob-t rsatlon, aud plact teaching 10
tie exec ent pliniIy school OF Cas- lie, with
has been gtDiLed as a model de artment while
putsuiug a course of study in the higher anches.
In reply To the question often asked, What
proportion of Normal graduates teacu I" We are
able To state from tue results OF careful inQuirv
more than nInety-hye pei cent; ami of the 500
Nit H.. h4.tf, Il IA h..,,4 "a
not yet graduated, nearly all have taught in the
Stale. e.. L. FLETCHER.