Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1891-07-09
RANDOLPH NORMAL SCHOOL.
Calling Attention to the Acknowledged Mer-
its of that Well X nown institution.
THE PRINCIPLE.

1te OF bhaU Weil-hnOwn institution.
THE PRINCIPLE.
Does man 60 to tanner to get his
horse shod, or to u milliner to get his
boots mended, or send for lawyer be-
cause his children have the measles
Men must learn how before they shoe
horses, or mend boots, or prescribe for
measley children. The teacher deals
with the noblest product of this world,
and has great power to improve or to in
lure that product. Surely, one who is to
train children into men should have a
special preparation for ones business.
THE RESULT OF DISCUSSION.
The advocacy of this principle serious
| ly 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
1899. In 1855 there We're seven of
them; in 1866, twenty seven; in
1870, tifty-five; in 1888. one hundred
| and thirty-four. The first perma-
nent chair of pedagogy in the United
States was established in the University
of Iowa in 1873. In 1889 there were
eight such chairs since that time an ed
ucational department has been opened in
Clark University, like department has
been provided in Harvard University and
in one of our Vermont colleges seniors
have this year taken an elective course
| in pedagogy. Such is the result of fifty
five years of discussion and experiment
Does it not justify the claim that a spec
ial training for teachers is thought de-
sirable?
IN VERMONT
normal schools began work under state
supervision in 1867. There are three
such schools which, together, for the
two years ending June 30, 1890, furnished
nearly One-seYenth of the common school
teachers of the state. In towns where
normal graduates have been employed
longest, and in the largest numbers, they
are most sought for.
The excellence of these schools has
been widely recognized. The Farmers
Advocate of June is said: +" No one
agency or class Of institutions in the
state is doing as much to fit teachers for
their work AS the normal schools" The
Journal of Education of June 25, speak
ing of Vermont, said; " The normal
schools have never proved more potent
factor in toning up school work than
here" and this statement was quoted
with approval by the Burlington Free
Press. superintendent Palmer, in re-
cent communication, says "1'he day is
passed when any one can successfully
assail the normal principle. Our own
normal schools are doing good work"
THE RANDOLPH NORMAL SCHOOL
has been in existence twenty-four and
one-half years, and has graduated from
its first course 800 students, and from
its second course Us students. The
standard of scholarship was high at the
beginning and has been raised from time
to time since. The most notable adj
vance 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
ending June 30, 1887, the aggregate at
tendance was 100, number of graduates
Is; for the year ending June 30, 1sJ1i-,s
the aggregate attendance was 100, num-
Der of graduates 81. Our requirement
for admission may be seen in our cata-
logue. Briefly stated il is a GOOD COM
MON SCHOOL EDUCATION. This is a
PROFESSIONAL SCHOOL.
One-fourth the time of the first course
is given to distinctively 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 nun
bers and to long periods. During the
twelve years for which the numbers have
been reported, this school has furnished
more than five-eighths of the common
school teachers of Randolph. Of this
town County Supervisor Goodhue, in his
report for 1890, said: Randolph ev-
IDENTIFY leads in the character and efficien-
cy of her schools"
OUR MEANS FOR INSTRUCTION
are constantly increasing. Improve
ments in our school building, and addi-
tons to our library. to our apparatus
and to our teaching force will be made
for the next school year. Our instruc-
tors for the coming year are:
Principal, Edward Conant.
Assistants, Mary S. Putnam, Mary l..
Gates, Harriet NJ. Hutchinson, B. s.,
Ethan A. Shaw. G. E.
Assistant Pupil, A. Gertrude Esta-
brook.
Lecturer on Civil Government, Hon.
n, /. Boyden.
Miss Hutchinson is a graduate from
this school and from Mt. Holyoke col
lege. Mr.. Shaw is graduate from this
school and from Norwich University.
Miss Estabrook was trained in Massa-
chusetts high school and is graduate
from this school. The other teachers
named need no Introduction to the pat
rons of this school.
EXPENSES MODERATE.
Tuition is $12 half year, and the
school is entitled to 81 free scholarships