The San Francisco call., 1904-04-09
NORMAL SCHOOL
TRUSTEES MEET
Annual Session of Joint
Board Attended by Many
of the Leading Educators
REFORMS ARE DISCUSSED
President Edward Pierce
Speaks of Need of State
Aid for the kindergarten

Aid for the kindergarten
The annual meeting OF the 3oint
Board Of State Normal School Tr7ls-
tees was held in the St Francis Hotel
yesterday, Governor Pardee presiding
as chairman, and State Superintendent
OF Public Instruction Kirk acting as
secretary. The entire day was devoted
10 the reading OF papers, the first of
the session being one contributed by
Dr. Lewis Thorpe Of Los Angeles.
Normal Schools as View Them and
How Their Fullest Purposes May be
Accomplished" was his subject. He ex-
pressed the opinion that II teaching
could only be regarded as a profession
the standard OF the normal schools
would be greatly advanced. He sug-
gested the sdvisability Of requiring pu-
pills 10 take q university course before
allowing them to enter the normal
schools. A discussion Of the subject
was deferred until to-day.
President Samuel T. Black addressed
the meeting on the Uniformity Of Re
quirements for Graduation from Nor
NAL Schools Rather Than Uniformity
Of Qualifications for Admission to
Them" He submitted a report which
Incorporated the following recommen-
dations:
Minimum requirements for graduation from
normal schools r. Minimum residence study
one year Scholarship: Credentisls for a6rnis,
sion 70 the California State University or the
English mathematics ancient, English or
medieval and modern and American history
thoroughness represented by the courses pre-
scribed for admission 70 the State University
physics geograrhv music srs ne PNs nbSsjs
training and industrial work, each represented
rofessionai training Teachng u experienoe IN
well equipped training schools. provided that
ing st lesst 100 periods in the primary. inter
mediate and grammar grades of the elementary
schools respectively, 800 periods
SUGGESTS LEGISLATION.
Pedagogy and methodology OF the practical
teaching Of The following subjects. least
thirty periods each and a total sum OF at least
80 periods; Primary reading. primary Ian
guage ana composition. nature STUDY. history.
geography. grammar and composition, readips
enc nteI''tlfe, physical geography, higher
arltnmett, music and drawing. General peda-
Ecgy and school management. I50, so periods
making 12OO periods.
Hesith-such bodily health as is compatible
with toe duties they win have TO perform 10
oe determined if deemed necessary by a salts
factory certificate OF medical examination.
President Black further recommend
ed that a special committee be ap-
pointed to prepare a bill creating a
uniform requirement for graduation
from all normal schools. In response
TO the remarks Of President Black l.
. b. DOckveiler said that there are 74O0
teachers in the California schools, but
Of that number there are only 1900
graduates from the State normal
schools. He recommended that the
number Of teachers admitted 10 teach
ia each school be limited and that the
standard Of admission to the normal
schools be raised so that a greater
number Of graduates from the latter
schools viii be able TO secure positions.
q. c. Van Liew Of Chico submitted
report from the committee on affllia-
tion of normal schools and university,
with special reference TO increase of
men teachers. He recommended that
a conference be held between the rep
resentatives Of the university and the
Trustees Of the normal schools with a
view Of determining just how closely
these organizations can be affiliated.
KINDERGARTEN WORK.
An interesting paper was read by
Trustee Edward 7. Pierce of Los An
geles on kindergarten instruction and
the need Of kindergarten departments
in the normal schools. The speaker
dwelt at length on the philosophy of
the kindergarten, its history in the
United States. its effect on children and
society and the great necessity Of
trained teachers to perform this noble
work. He freely quoted from Come
Mus, Pestalozzi and FrOebel, apostles
Of educational reform. and from the
more modern educators who have had
experience in the work of teaching chill
dren in kindergarten work. In dealing
with the need Of kindergartens among
the children of the poor as well as the
rich the speaker said;
We nnd that the children Of the poor often
e1iet under conditions that are so unsanitars
and immoral a. 10 SOW lasting seeds OF III
health anc>Tnisery and 10 develop early IN lie
tendency toward crime neir play during
fhe most active period uf their lives Is ear
ried on with anything that comes 20 hand, ano
often IN nlthy surroundings Ihere is no d.
rection. nothing that tends 10 educatc-au IL
hsphazsrd. nothing cumulative for good.
much nv the children Of the rich as by those
n the poor. These children are usually pam
Dered and selfish. They are too tond OF nav
ing their own way IN all OF their pleasures
and have no regard for the rights OF others.
Their play is erratic and disconnected. They
are often IN charge Of ignorant servants. who
give them wrong views or ne The Kinder
esrten puts them on an equality with other
children. and thus removes prejudice. II di-
rects their thoughts along useful lines and
develops them mentally, physically and NOR
ally
SHOULD TRAIN TEACHERS.
He reviewed the Government statis-
tics relative to kindergarten schools in
this country TO show the wonderful
growth of the institution hnd prove his