Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1892-03-31
A NORMAL TRAINING SCHOOL
To Be Conducted at IrOntoa, Mo-, F'01
Benefit of Teachers.

1t is my purpose to open Normal
Training School at Ironton, Mo-, early
in the month of May, and to continue
for a period of two months or eight
weeks. The object of this school is to
afford teachers and others an Opportun-
ity for thorough review of all subjects
upon which they are required to pass
| for license to teach. And 1t matters
not whether you intend to teach or de-
sire to take the course for the intellect
ual training it will give you, you will
| have the same advantage of thorough
work in all branches required to be
| taught in the public schools of Missouri.
[ shall endeavor to make this school
worthy the patronage of all persons
who are DESTROYS of perfecting them
selves in the common branches. Let
us lay deep and broad the foundation
for an education. and the building of
the superstructure will be an easy mat
ter. My experience in Institute work
cOnvinces me that our teachers and
young people who are some day to take
the place of those now engaged in the
work, need some such training as is
proposed to be given in this school.
Public school teachers as a rule are not
broad-minded men and women, on the
contrary they are very narrow in their
views, and, hence, conservative in their
teaching. All this arises from the fact
that they are not thorough in the sub
jects to be taught, in truth they are so
limited in knowledge that they are I'M
able to stand up before a school and i'm
part instruction to those placed under
their tuition, but they are compelled to
follow the prescribed textbook; and if
a pupil seeks information of supple
mentary nature, the teacher is COM
pletely swamped, the child is referred
to the book. The active mind of the
child is thus hindered in its develop
ment, the teacher has Shirked re-
sponsibility he owes to himself, to those
who employ him. and, worst of all, a
duty he owes to those whose future he
holds in his, hands.
A teacher should not only be famil |
lar with the ground to be gone over by
the class, but he should be we'll ac-
quainted with all adjacent territory; 1.
e., he should not only be thoroughly |
posted in the subjects to be taught, but |
he should be acquainted with all relat-
ed subjects.
The Institute was not and is not in |
tended to be a school of instruction in |
the branches, but the custom has been
first to instruct the applicant in the |
subject matter, and then to examine
him on the instruction given. This
training school will be followed by the
regular County Institute for licensing
teachers, and, if those who contemplate
teaching will attend the Normal, the
entire time of the Institute can be de-
voted to its legitimate purpose-man
agement, methods. and class work.
Thus the work of the Institute will be
effective, teachers will be fortified in
the branches to be taught, and there
will not be so much empiricism practic-
ed in our public schools. Come out
and spend the entire term with me, and
will guarantee to send you away a
stronger and better teacher-One who
will be able to stand alone and do good
work wherever you may chance to To-
cate. There is a growing demand for
good and efficient teachers, and would
De pleased to see our own young people
meet this demand, and profit by this
lew condition of things.
| will gladly onswer any questions in
'egard to board and tuition.
Very respectfully,
A p VANCE. County COm'r