The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1891-06-17

THE RESULT OF DISCUSSION.
The advocacy of this principle seriously
began in the United States in 1886, and it
has continued to the present day. The first
two public normal schools in the country
were established in 1889. In 1856 there
were seven of them; in 1866, twenty-seven;
in 1870, fifty-five; in 1885, one hundred
thirty-four. The first permanent chair of
pedagogy in the United States was estab-
lshed in the University of Iowa in 1878. In
1889 there were eight such chairs Since that
time an educational department has been
opened in Clark University, like depart
ment has been provided in Harvard Univer-
sity, and in one of our Vermont colleges some
of the seniors have this year taken an cleo
tive course in pedagogy. Such is the result of
tifty-ive years of discussion and experiment.
Does it not justify the claim that a special
training for teachers is thought desirable?
IN VERMONT
normal schools began work under state SUI
pervision in 1867. There are three such
schools which, together, for the two years
ending June 80, 1890, furnished nearly one
seventh of the common-school teachers of
the state. In towns where normal gradu-
ates have been employed longest and in the
largest numbers they are most sought for.
THE RANDOLPH NORMAL SCHOOL
has been in existence twenty-four and one
half years and has graduated from its first
course eight hundred thirty-two students,
and from its second course one hundred
twenty-eight students. The standard of
scholarship was high at the beginning and
has been raised from time to time since.
The most notable advance in requirements
for admission was made in 1885. One first
result to the school of this advance was a
smaller number of students, but the change
has been approved by the people, as the fol-
lowing statements show: For the year end
/ inn T1ra fl,n 70 orr dom
was 100; number of graduates, 10. For the
year ending June 30, 1891, the aggregate at
tendance was 1870; number of graduates, 81
Our requirement for admission may be seen
in our catalogue. Briefly stated, it is a
GOOD COMMON SCHOOL EDUCATION. This is a
PROFESSIONAL SCHOOL.
One-fourth of the time of the first course
is given to distnctively pedagogical studies
and the remainder of the work is pervaded
by the pedagogical spirit. The graduates
from the school retain that spirit. Among
them are found school superintendent of
every grade, college professors, principals
of high schools and academies and teachers
in all other grades of schools. They
STAND THE TEST
of experience as applied to large numbers
and to long periods. During the twelve
years for which the numbers have been re-
ported, this school has furnished more than
nNe-elRnInS OF Uut COullHOu-SCuOOl ledCu6TS
of Randolph. OF this town County Super
visor Goodhue, in his report for 1890, said
Randolph evidently leads in the character
and efficiency of her schools"
OUR MEANS FOR INSTRUCTION
are constantly increasing. Improvements
in our school building, and additions to our
library, TO our apparatus and to our teach
ing force will be made for the next school
| year.
OUR INSTRUCTORS
for the coming year are: Principal, Edward
| Conant; assistants, Mary S. Putnam, Mary
l.. Gates, Harriet NJ. Hutchinson, b. s., and
Ethan A. Shaw, G. E.; assistant pupil, A,
Gertrude Estabrook; lecturer on civil gov
eminent, Hon. n. l.. Boyden. Miss Hutch
| inson is graduate from this school and
from Mt Holyoke College. Mr.. Shaw is a
| graduate from this school and from Norwich
| University. Miss Estabrook was trained in
a Massachusetts high school and is a gradu-
ate from this school. The other teachers
named need no introduction to the patrons
OF this school.
| EXPENSES MODERATE.
Tuition is S12 half year. and the school
is entitled to eighty-one free scholarships.
Textbooks are furnished at 81 half year.
Board and rooms at low rates. The next
term will begin Tuesday, August %. A
new catalogue and report will be issued
about July /. Send for one. For further
information apply to the principal
Randolph, VT, June, 1891.