Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1905-06-24
The state Normal school Diploma :; the
County SupcrIntcndcnt's Certificate;
Which

In our State there are two ways in
which prospective teacher may become
qualified to teach. She may register at
either of the two Normal Schools-at
Baltimore or at Frostburg, and after
completing the course of study there
prescribed i'll a satisfactory manner.
receive a diploma which entities her to
teach anywhere i'll the State
If, however, she does not elect to
spend the four years necessary to COM
plete the Normal course she may take
an examination from the County Ex.
aminer, and having made a certain per
Centage. he gives Il certificate 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
if it We're desired to make either
UNIVERSAL"
And the answer comes also as mat
ter 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 impressed the character is easily
moulded, and lessons may be taught
there with deep meaning. The re
HI'ilNlbillAN VI 'ttdlIIlS WIFI tIllltl uIt
is Il sacred task ''TO fix the generous
purpose i'll the glowing breast" is IA
labor not to be taken up without
thought and preparation for the work.
a mistaken teacher may deaden those
finer sensibilities it should be her pur-
pose to train, while IA 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 IA gardener should cOuSigu to an
Ignorant apprentice boy the care and
cultivation of rare and delicate flowers
In the Normal School, the student is
required to study the science of the
minds of those she is to teach-PSy-
ChOlOgy. She studies the history of edu-
cation, the different educational theories
advanced, methods i'll education, and
teaching in all its numerous phases.
She approaches her speciality from all
sides and is made thoroughly acquainted
with definite method and class manage
ment. She not only studies the theories
however, but is given the opportunity of
demonstrating their application in the
Model Schools In the Frostburg
Normal she not only observes and notes
the method of conducting a recitation,
but she is herself required to teach.
Besides the study of educational
methods, she is taught all the subjects
she will be expected to teach and she is
taught how to present them. The Nor
mai Schools seek to give-nOt only a re-
citing knowledge, but teaching knowl-
edge of the branches taken mp. Here is
the chief advantage over the holder of
the superintendent certificate.
At best, the average candidate at the
county examination is a High School
graduate with good academic educa-
ton. She has been taught, but not
taught how to teach. She forms her
own laws, her own methods without any
regard for the logical procedure upon
psychological basis. Perhaps her meth
DDS are good, hut it is game of chance,
and without knowledge of psychology
the novice is apt to fail and fail often.
Experience does not count for much un-
less it be experience along the right
lines. The average high school graduate
forms her own laws for imparting
knowledge and continues in pursuance
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
second-grade certificate known to me
invariably spells the word, "until,' with
two Is, and writes the initials of the
days of the week i'll small letters. Yet,
because she made certain percentage
she is given the privilege of imparting
the above facts ~ to some twenty-five
children.