The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1881-06-11
writtenfor THE W. Va UNIVERSITY DAILy.l
The Normal Schools and the Uni
versIty.
BY A. L. WADE.


the gutter and the other in the uni
vcrsity." 1t is evident that the
founders of our State government
intended to establish an education
al system which, when perfected,
would bear to be measured by the
above standard. That we have
not yet perfected the system none
will dare to deny. The object of
this article is to offer some sugges-
tons relative to the State Normal
schools and the University, which,
if carried out, would help to har-
monte the educational work in
West Virginia.
These schools are supported and
controlled by the State, and it
seems reasonable that they should
be under the direction of the same
board of regents, and that the
State superintendent should be
made ex officio, member Of this
board. No great corporation
would appoint two sets of directors
to manage system of railroads or
a line of steam ships.
1t is evident to every one that a
perfect system of public education
must provide intermediate schools.
We are in need of such schools in
| this State. The rounds Of our ed
ucational ladder are too far apart.
It's true that we have, in West
Virginia, several UNCONVENTIONAL
academies and colleges. We have
also several graded and high
schools, in our cities and towns,
supported by local taxation. These,
however, do not release the State
from its obligation to provide inter
mediate institution.
The course Of study in the nor
NAL schools should reach down low
enough to take hold of pupils who
have completed the common
branches in the country schools and
should rise high enough to prepare
them to enter the University.
| am aware that some persons
maintain that the legitimate work
of the Normal schools is to give in
struction in the art Of teaching, and
that any attempt ON their part to
teach the branches is perversion
of their power. Such views, how
ever, are not carried out in prac,
tice in any school in the land, nei-
ther are they in accordance with
the teachings of the foremost edu-
caticnal thinkers. present the
opinion of Professor Edward
Brooks, Principal of the State Nor
NAL School at Millcrsville, Penn
sylvania who is standard authority
upon this subject.
cit was formerly held" says
Professor Brooks, "that the Nor
NAL School should not attempt to
give scholastic training, but should
restrict itself to the work of the
professional course +; that any at
tempt to impart instruction in the
branches Of knowledge was de-
parture from the legitimate func-
ton of a Normal School, and an
Infringement upon the domain of
other institutions. 1t has been
found however in the practical
working of these schools, that the
young people who present them
selves for professional instruction
were not properly prepared in the
branches; and the Normal Schools
were thus compelled to introduce a
scholastic department, whether
they desired to do so or not.
Whatever, therefore, be the true
theory of Normal School instruc-
ton, experience has proven the
present necessity Of such a scholas-
tic course, and the Normal Schools
Of the country to day, almost if not
entirely without exception, provide
for the scholastic training of their
pupils. Such a course, however,
in my opinion, is not only pres
ent practical necessity, but an es-
sential part of the true theory OF
Normal School education.
The widening of the scope of the
Normal Schools need not in any
way interfere with the training of
teachers. 1t ought indeed to make
this part of their work more thor
ough than it is at present. But
the work of training teachers should
by no means be confined within
the walls of the Norma Schools.
Most of the students in our acade-
mics and colleges are employed
from time to time as teachers in
our public schools and ought to be
trained in the art Of teaching.
Every school under the control of
the State should give special atten-
ton to the training of teachers.
There was, several years ago, a
normal department in our State
University. 1t was. however, bit
tirly opposed by many friends of
the Normal Schools and was abol-
ished. This was certainly back