Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-07-10
AMERICAN INSTITUTE
OF Instruction Nov in Session
Al Saratoga, n. Y.
Another Protest Entered AGAINST Elec,
tfoeution At Auburn, New York.
Dr.. Barlow OF Poughkespsis Goes
Forty -nvs Days Without Food.

SARATOGA, \. Y, July This even
ing's session OF the American Institute of
distraction opened with the usual musical
features and n reading by Pref John Mst-
teson of Providence. The lecture Vas de
livered BY Hon. T W Biekneil of Boston
on The Next Step in Normal Work.
Mr.. Bicknell said that Normal schools had
existed in Europe for century. and in this
country for fifty years. Horace Mann. the
founder of Normal Schools in Msssschu-
sets, established the Elementary school,
from which he expected TO see the plan of
full Normal work developed. As result
OF this beginning. We have today in the
nited States lSS schools for teachers,
With over 25 900 pupils, with a roll of grad
yates of over 50.0aU.
About two millions of dollars sre now
annually spent on the education of teachers
for our common schools. The great body
| of these teachers are engaged in elementary
| schools. Up to the present time, the work
of the Normal Schools has been more
largely academic than professional. and il
has been limited Il by the low standard OF
| teaching; y by the inadequate quslid dca-
ton of candidates for teaching and ,SA by
the want of skilled nsrmsl teachers.
Changes are nov going on which demand
| better preparation for these schools longer
courses Of study, with y better qusli,y OF
instructors.
| Three classes of educators now need and
/ demand another kind of normal training,
~hi,a Shall be purely professional. These
are high school teachers, superintendent
of schools and normal school teachers. who
have not hitherto been provided for A
true profession must he founded on literary
st,sinments and liberal training, which the
| colleges alone can give. From our college
graduates must come the supply for the
| highes, teaching and supervision. The
colleges do not aud cannot furnish profes
sional training for teachers any more than
they can train lawyers, doctors and minis
tiers. Each profession must have its sub
sequent fitting school, with corresponding
advanced courses of study.
| The present Normal Schools do not meet
the needs of college graduates. % from
the elementary character of the courses OF
study, u from the want of liberal train
ing of the great body of Normal students
with whom college graduates would fud no
scholarly sympaihies The Normal col
Iege is the next step in Normal work in
which students shonld be either graduates
| OF colleges or of equal scholastic attain
ments. The work of tho Normal colleges
should oe ristinctiy professional, covering
period OF at least two years. The courses
OF study should cover the history of educa.
uon' ancient, medieval and moderu, the
philosophy OF education from Aristotle, and
The methods of education ss the product of
| history and philosophy. The best schools
OF the country should be made the field OF
observation and heentiates for teaching
should be required to examine and lay out
courses OF study in de sil. and be required
10 teach IN some form Of class work, a.
least SIX months before probationary po
sluon could be secured. A degree of Il.
I.--Bacheior OF Pedagogy should be con-
ferred at the end of two years of successful