New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-03-10
YORK OF THE NORMAL COLLEGE.
WHAT BECOMES OF THE GRApUATEs-PREsIDESI
uI. .r.n,a .


HUNTERS REPORT FOR LAST YEAR,
President Hunters report OF the Normal College
for 1887, Just printed, shows that the present
register OF the college there the of 1850
students. This is an increase last year OF sixteen
and Is the largest number enrolled since the college
was established The college has graduated 3,76s
students since 1870 so per cent Of whom. 1t Is said
have found places teachers In the public schools Of
the city, Last spring there $50 graduates and
6s2 pupils we're admitted from the public schools Of the
city, A table shows that the admissions were from
all the wards of the city except tho First, Second
Third and Sixth. The Twelfth Ward sent l3o girls
who we're admitted TO the college, the Nineteenth 121,
and the other wards ranged from five to seventy I'VE
Speaking of change in the college course President
Hunter saws:
Perhaps the worst error committed by many teachers In
all parts the country Of permitting their pupils 70
pursue many branches OF study at the same time MOI
nfrequenty boys and girls under fifteen are found wres
ling with and different subjects which Just aDou
compel them eat every day az dinner nine
or ten courses Forty years ago only three or four
branches were pursued time, and consequently
there thoroughness and better mental training
students were compelled to discover knowledge for them
selves. and not helped until they actually needed
help In these days they not only spoonfed but the
mental pabulum masticated and mixed with sort or
mental pepn in order that the students may De graduated
rapidly possible.
To up part report every effort has been
made by the president and faculty reduce the number OF
studies pursued at the same me 70 make the students
thorough In the branches taught to remove anxiety con-
corning promotion create and foster love OF learning
for sake and above all TO promote the happiness
and welfare Of those committed to their care.
In regard TO the graduates the report says
Nearly thousand OF its three thousand and sixty
eight graduates have taught In the common Schools ana
half Of all the female teachers employed IN these
schools to-day Of the Normal College Several
OF have the rank Of principal and many OF
ill the higher positions in both grammar ana
primary The testimony Of the city superintend-
and assistants and OF the best and most succes
principals that the Normal College graduates make the
most competent 1t not the aut OK the col
ege supply Of teachers exceeded the demand nay
college existed the supply would have been
much greater and vastly Inferior while the demand would
have unchanged The trouble is not In the col
sge, vtated public sentiment in regard TO labor
This things continue until channels
employment opened for women, or until all kinds OF
honest work considered respectable If the ward
would uniformly appoint the best teachers In the
merit regardless Of eXraneOus Influences IL would
found that the supply OF good teachers would be
the demand and natural consequence the
inefficient would drop into other cangs for which they
might have aptitude But 10 may be asked, why do
you graduate inferior eachers For the simple rea
foresight cannot always determine the fu-
ture Of any student Not nfrequeny the yaledctorian
failure, and student the foot OF her class
turns out 4 success