The Press., 1884-12-18

Two classes, numbering sixteen each, were graduated during the last year. With a single exception these young ladies are teaching, and with excellent success, are illustrating the method and spirit gained from the school. The winter class num- bers but thirteen. Forty-ive are at pres ent candidates for graduation in June, 1885, and the entering class is by far the largest in the recent history of the school. THE REPORT OF THE PRINCIPAL contains many interesting facts. The year elapsed since the opening of the new build ing has been one of transition. The work in every department has, of necessity, un- dergone positive modification. Practice or model school was opened in September, 1883; a second term was added in Janu- ary, 1884, and kindergarten in April, 1884. These, together, constitute the training department, and make it possible and necessary to abbreviate to considera- ble extent, the time hitherto given to arithmetic, geography, grammar and some other subjects.s
 The instruction of the first year has be- come largely academic. The time is de- voted, for the most part, to searching review of the common school branches, the teaching being made to conform to the | our common schools. The rigid review of elementary subjects, conducted on the basis of experiment., exhaustive illustra- tion, and drill upon difficult points, is in itself suggestive of logical method, and prepares the way for theoretical work. The attempt is being made to impart the art of teaching intelligently, and no princi- pies are promulgated until the work of teaching children is we'll under way. The general truths or so-called principles of teaching are worked into familiar form during the last year of the course. Under such plan, the practice school becomes a center of interest and activity.
 The present plan of teaching insists that every graduate shall be tested by prae- tical as well as by theoretical standard. The model schools have drawn large num- bers of students, and there is pressing need for more such schools. Pupils are here because the Normal schools is said to give real training. The citizens of New Britain have given their hearty support. and from the first great eagerness has been shown by parents to secure admission fol their children.
 NEW IDEA
 has been adopted for holding examinations for admission. It was found convenient to hold them in several towns instead of al New Britain alone. Candidates would not readily come from remote corner of the state to try for admission, with the chance of taking an expensive trip only to be re jected. The examinations for admission were held last summer in about dozel places. Those for the next term, opening Feb. 2, 1885, will be held simultaneously in no less than 30 towns, as follows:
 Tuesday, Dec 23, at the office of the secretary of the state board of education in the capitol at Hartford; New Milford high school; Putnam, high school Der by, high school; Winsted, West Winstec school; Guilford, central school; Eas Haddam, central school; Willimantic first district school; Wauregan (Plain feD, central school; Stonington, ccntra school.
 Wednesday, Dec. 24th, at Windsor Locks, high school; East Windsor Hills high school; Litchfeld, high school Danielsonville, high school; New Haven high school: Norwich, Broadway school Danbury, New Street school Stamford high school Waterbury, high school New London, young ladies high school.
 Saturday, Jan 4th, at Rockville, higE school Stafford Springs, high school } Norwalk, central school; Bridgeport, higl school Miedletown, high school; Holland central school; Deep river, central school Canaan, central school; Colchester, Bacor academy.
 Monday, Feb. 2, 1885, in the Norma ) school building at New Britain.
 } Ambitious youth and maidens who wisl to train the young ideas of Connecticut will find out all about it by addressing the principal in this city.