The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1903-04-10
Success, Of Normal school Graduates.

SHUTS. ~ NVi mat ''hN'i Nie""eN'
l. there any reason why a graduate
OF Normal school should succeed
where others hil2 II such reasons
exist what are they2 Perhaps lhi'
eau be best answered by analogy. ia
father wishes bis son to become a skill
ful physician be sends him To college
o. study medicine; II this young mans
sister wishes To become successful
teacher. shall she not be given an equal
advantage? Should she not devote a
part Of her time 20 the study Of the
mysterious workings and development
of the child mind rather than devote
10 wholly t0 culture studies? That a
thoro Igh knowledge Of these last is an
advantage go one will deny but ex-
perience proves that II does not make
the successful teacher. Some one has
said teachers, ike poets, are born and
not ma &c. This may be true, but one
who has this pedagogical talent does
not do the best work Of which he i
capable unless his talent is fully
developed 10y proper training, and
similar training wonderfully improves
those who are not thus gifted by
nature
From the time a girl enters the F rst
A class Of the Normal School until the
day Of her graduation all efforts are
directed towards fitting her for making
on the plastic chlld-mind impressions
which will fit him to become a useful
member Of society. There is a definite
purpose in view and good results are to
be expected wherever this is the case.
4 student Of this school not only has
a. much psychology and theory Of
education as her college sister, but she
has actual experience in teaching,
which is worth far more to her. The
solving Of problems met in the Train
ing School is an aid TO the solution Of
greater ones in a broader field. As
soon a. a student becomes a Senior A
she begins to realize the importance Of
the Training School. As a member Of
the Observation Glass she visits from
day % day ITS eight grades, observing
the pupil-teacher-, taking notes on the
work she sees, and giving an oral
report Of the same TO the professor Of
He always gives helpful
suggestions for the solution Of problems
she will have 20 face, not only as a
Senior B, when she will become
pupil-teacher, but a a graduate, when
she will be In her own school. As
! ion as she becomes a Senior b she
becomes a real part Of the Training
school. She now teaches different
subjects M the different grades under
the careful supervision Of the teachers
lf the same subjects 10 the academic
department. Not until she has proven
that she can cope with child-minds
we'll to become a successful
teacher is she given a diploma.
Statistics prove that manual training
is Of the greatest advantage to teachers.
Of the four hundred aud iifty-tw0
graduates, who have gone out from the
state Normal School Of Virginia,
all have made successful
teachers. Wherever they have taught
heir fellow students have been sought
By patrons and superintendent. Every
rear more applications are made to the
president than he can supply.
II behOOyes Us who are not yet
graduates to make the best Of every
offered Us by our beloved
choOl in order that We may reflect
.redit upon her when our work shall
extend beyond her walls. May we
never lower the standard Of our dear
I'D alma mater, but may we ever keep
,efore Us the high and lofty ideals in
plred By our President and Faculty