The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1905-07-13
WHICH WILL YOU HAVE?
The State Normal School Diploma or
the County SUPERINTENDENT Ger
tifCate.

/ yates OF the trOStburg Normal School
was read at the graduation exercises
/ of that institution and published in
the FrOstburg Journal of last week.
1t may be of interest to those teach
ers of this county who desire to quail
/ lily themselves il the best possible
manner for the position of teacher:
In our State there are two way S
in which prospective teacher may
become qualified to teach. She may
register at either of the two Normal
/ SchOols-at Baltimore or at Frost
burg, and after completing the course
OF study there prescribed in a salts
factory smanner, receive a diploma
which entities her to teach anywhere
in the State
If, however, she does not elect to
spend the four years necessary to COM
plete the Normal courses she may
take an examination from the Coun-
ty Examiner, and having made a GER
tain percentage, he gives certifi-
cate good for one year.
Thus she may become a teacher in
either of these two ways.
The question naturally comes up
(which Of these ways should be
adopted fit were desired to make
either universalz'
And the answer comes also as a
matter of course-"The one which
better fits the teacher for the place
which she is to occupy"
In childhood the mind is plastic
and easily impresscd-the character
is easily moulded, and lessons may
be taught there with deep meaning.
The possibility OF dealing with
child nature is a sacred task. ITO
fix the generous purpose in the glow
ing breast is a labor not to be taken
up without thought and preparation
for the work. \ mistaken teacher
may deaden those finer sensibilities it
should be her purpose to train while
skillful teacher-one thoroughly
prepared for her mission, will be able
to do untold good The rearing of
these tender branches should no
more be entrusted to unskilled hands
than a gardener should consign to an
ignorant apprentice boy the care and
cultivation of rare and delicate flow
ers.
In the Normal School the student
is required to study the science of the
minds of those she is to teach-Phy-
chology. She studies the history of
education, the different educational
theories advanced, methods IN ed
ucation, and teaching in all its mum
erous phases. She approaches her
speciality from all sides and made
thoroughly acquainted with definite
method and class management. She
not only studies the theories, however,
but is given the opportunity of dem
onstrating their application in the
Model School. In the Frostburg
Normal she not only observes and
notes the method of conducting a rec
itation. but she is herself required
to teach.
Besides the study of educational
methods, she is taught all the sub
jects she will be expected to teach
and she is taught how to present
them. The Normal Schools seek to
giye-not only a reciting knowledge,
but a teaching knowledge of the
branches taken up. Here is the chief
advantage over the holder of the su-
perintendent's certificate.
At best, the average candidate at
the county examination is a High
School graduate with good academ-
ic education. She has been taught
but not taught how to teach. She
forms her own laws, her own meth.
DDS without any regard for the logical
procedure upon psychological basis
Perhaps her methods are good, but it
is game of chance, and without a
knowledge OF psychology the novice
is apt to fail and fail often. Expe-
rience does not count for much unless
it be experience along the right lines.
The average high school graduate
forms her own laws for impart;ng
knowledge and continues in pursu-
ance of them.
This is the result for the better
class of candidates. There are others
who have scarcely completed the
grades they expect to teach, but who,
by lucky chance, have contrived to
make the required percentage. A
holder of a second grade certificate
known to me invariably spells the
word, until" with two Is, and
writes initials of the days of the week
in small letters. Yet, because she
made a certain percentage she is
given the privilege of imparting the
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