News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1891-08-13
The Kansas Normal.

What we call the Kansas Normal or n sum-
mer school for teachers begins in this county
-Cherokee-July 9th and closes July 31st
with the usual examination. The enrolment
reached 19G, the largest Normal ever held in
this county. Over 100 of the number took
the examination. The first school of this
kind in this county was formed in 1874 by n
few leading spirits in theprofession. In 1877
provision was made Icy law for the support
of n Normal in each county of the state. Inst
year therewere log Normnls held one IN ench
county Of the state. A three years course Of
study has been prepared by the State Board
OF Education neontaining topics in each branch
for each days study. When teacher enters
the Normal he enrolls aud pays 81 90. n ne
takes the examination nt the close, he PAYS
another dollar. This money helps TO defrny
the expenses of the Normal Theronre usual
" three instructors, a conductor aud two
Others. Each teacher prepares himself ON the
lessons as outlined in the course Of study, and
must recite the same as a pupil in school;
The first year we were in Kansas found us far
in the rear of the Kansas teacher; when In
the Normal they began TO talk about din
critical marks" drawing diagram OF the
arterial system" "eye" ear" aud various
other organs Of the body, as well as the lin:
ductive" and "deductive" methods Of teach.
ing, we shook our heads and we're silent. We
saw what we must do and went nt IL with as
much zeal as the warm weather would permit.
While then only one book, treating of teach
ing and methods, was IN our library, now
there several. Some among those considered
valuable for teachers are Hewett, Pedagogy.
published by Van Antwerp, Bragg 4 CO., Gin
cinnati, o.; Hughs, How to Secure and Re
tain Attention, c. W. Bardeen, Syracuse. n.
Y; Hughs, Mistakes in Teaching 4. L. Kel-
logg & Co., New York; Page, Theory and
Practice, A. $. Barnes 4 Co., New York; swett.
Methods of Teaching, Harper 4 Bros, New
York. Any or all Of these are OF value TO a
teacher who tries to do good work. Every
native Of Vermont wherever he lives. loves his
native state and wants her TO be tie foremost
in all the Union. But | do believe the COM
mon schools Of Vermont have been neglected
in the past, and that they are far behind (not
40 years. those Of the west. What is the
remedy? Follow the example Of Orleans.
have normal or summer school, whatever
you want to call it, in every county in the
state. IL can be done. Are you poorer than
Kansas? Have you less energy No, not
by any means.
The common school teacher In Vermont ia
the past has had no encouragement TO ft and
prepare themselves for better work More
should be made of the profession and every
stimulant should be used that possibly can
be TO keep the teacher long in the work. The
minds we intend to instruct should not be-
used by us TO practice on. We should know
the laws that govern the minds, in fact. an
that goes into the makeup Of the subject up
on which we work. The methods Of present
ing school work, the when and the how. Il NO
small matter. This is, with the stimular aud
culture it brings, The work Of the Institute.
The question asked here last year wns.
What is the matter with arithmeticg'' Ny
question is, "What is the matter with La
moille2 Why not have a Normal9"
r. j. STEWART.