Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1881-06-02
Thursday Morning, june 2. Iss1.
PUPIL-TEAcHERs IN ENGLAND.

| One of the most important features in
English elementary schools is the pupil
| teacher system. In all the schools there are
| classes taught in whole or in part by boys
| and girls between IA and IS years of age, who
are under the superintendent of head mas
ters and mistresses. These boys and girls,
beginning at this early age, have before them
regular series of promotions with increased
wages. Their advancement depends on their
general success in management and instruc-
ton and the successful issue of an annual
examination before the Queens inspectors.
An interesting account of this pupil-teacher
system is given by a correspondent of the
New York EOeaIaag Post
In England ordinary elementary schools
(the equivalent of our grammar schools) are
divided into six divisions called standards
Examinations are held yearly before the in
Epectors Having passed with credit the
highest examination and having determined
upon the profession of a teacher. the child
makes application for the position of pupil
teacher. Pupil teachers are only employed
in day schools and on the following condi-
tions: ''1he school must be reported by the
inspector to be under certifcated teacher,
held in suitable premises, well furnished and
well supplied with books and apparatus.
properly organized and skilfully instructed,
under good discipline, likely to be main
tanned during the period of engagement; the
pupil teachers must be not less than fourteen
years of age at the date of their eng agement
must be of the same sex as the certifcated
teacher under whom they serve; but in
mixed schools female pupil-teachers may
serve under master, and may receive in
struction from him out of school hours, on
condition that some respectable woman, ap-
proved by the managers, be invariably pres
ent during the whole time that such instruc-
ton is being given not more than three
pupil-teachers may be engaged for every
certifcated teacher serving in the school"
Pupil=teachers serve four years before pass
ing on into the Training College. 1t is pro-
vided that 1.-THE pupil-teacher, while the
school is not being held shall receive, with
out charge, from certifcated teacher of the
school, special instruction during at least
five hours per week, of which hours not
more than two shall be of the same day Such
special instruction, and any instructions, in
secular subjects, given to the pupil teacher
during school hours, shall be in the subjects
in which the pupI-teacher is to be exam
ined either during this engagement or
for admission to a training college,
During the four years of the en-
gagement the pupil ilteacher carries along his
or her studies, becomes fully acquainted with |
all the technicalities of teaching and gets |
wide range of experience The instruction |
of course varies exceedingly according to the
ability and attention of the head master or |
mistress After this course the pupil teach
srs enter the Training College, which CORES
ponds to our Normal School, where they pass
two years in study and practice. On leaving
TO enter the regular profession of teaching
they remain for one year longer on trial, and
shen, if satisfactory, are made Certificate |
Masters or Mistresses. The pupil-teachers
Of Liverpool receive during their first year a
salary of $50, the second $65, the third $e5
md the fourth BIO. There are also, we
should not omit to state, monitors appointed
n some schools at the age of twelve who as
Sistssi teaching for two years, when they be-
,ome pupil-teachers. They receive about
s19 the first year and $50 the second.
There is good deal to be said it seems
o us, against this plan of allowing immature
Boys and girls to practice the art of teaching
lpon their mates, though it is possible that
hey do not do any great amount of harm,
IS they are under strict supervision. It is
laimed that the system is a good way of
raining up experienced teachers and keep
ng the profession more clearly defined.