The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-11-04
SAYS NORMAL TRAINING
AIDS SUNDAY SCHOOL:
J, W. OLSEN, SUPERINTENDENT
J. OF SCHOOLS, WRITES OPINION:
Calls Attention to Special Need Of
1 Preparation on. Part Of Sunday
y School Instructors Thirteen Normal
/ Graduates Teach in Plymouth sun
day School, St. Paul. ss2i ~!

J. W. Olsen, superintendent of public
instruction, believes that normal train
ing classes are of great aid in furnish
ing better teachers for Sunday school
teachers. :. .....>, j.. ..-.0..
In writing on the subject for the
Minnesota Sunday School Herald Mr..
Olsen says - ~ - '..-
Many excellent Sunday school teachers there,
are who have never had normal teachers train
they are, qualified by personal cultivation, by
religious conviction, by insight into child ma
ture, BY love Of children and by love Of God.
Beiore the day Of normal schools and special
training there were Mark Hopkinses and Daytd
Pages--masters Of the art of teaching, who with
sympathy, power and purpose directed, Guilt
waited, quickened and inspired their pupils.
. Yet everywhere the necessity of special prep.
aration tor the RESPONSIBLE work of secular
school teaching is recognized Our own suite
supports five normal schools, a department Of
pedagogy at the state university and summer
training schools in which are enrolled over 5000
teacers.
Mankind now more than formerly understands
that skill and facility in teaching, as we'll as
In the practice OF law or medicine, depend upon
study and practice.
For Good or Evil.
Every child is born with tremendous posi-
bilities for either good evil. Impetus to-
ward either extreme is given by the secular
teacher, because OF infrequent contact with
pupils, lack Of time, and indifference of par
ents need bring to her service every Quali6ca-
ton OF head and heart, both natural and &C.
quired, 49,.
The normal training school is not to veneer
poor material with surface knowledge of scrip
ture or pedagogical polish. Childhood cannot be
deceived. 1t sees thru to the heart, and mo-
tive; the soundest and fnest-gratned material
Of which Christian character is made becomes
better fitted for the Sunday. school In the teach
ers' normal department.
The teachers normal training class offering
systematic orderly courses Of study Is as
sent1al to the Sunday school as is the normal
school to the educational system of the state
for the following reasons: -,
Ftrst-The training class rightly directed helps
to prevent those from becoming teachers who
fail by lack Of application, lack Of conservation
and who are not temperamentally adapted to
the work.
Second-The training class gives added knowl-
edge Of subject matter. An important element
of success is accurate and comprehensive knowl-
edge OF subject matter. Algebra, geometry and
trigometry are very helpful IN teaching arith:
metic Numerous devices will yield but little,
If the whole field of religious truth is not within
perspective. Every part should be seen in rela-
tion to the unified whole, that the lessons may
be unfolded in orderly Sequence with definite
purpose -" 49,. -" ..'' IL -.
Fundamental Laws.
Third-The training department unfolds GER
tain fundamental laws Of the teaching process
resting upon the needs of the soul In its deel:
opment. 1t IS essential that these be under
stood so that truth may be impressed In
order and manner harmonizing with them.
Fourth-Present methods suggest how to adapt
to the needs of the class the best in those
approved methods which represent the most
chastened pedagogic thought of all time. Crit
ical and philosophic study Of the scriptures Is
not easy; the study of the most elementary
psychological laws Is difficult. There are rea-
sons why normal teachers trimming should not
be offered the young and immature. ,.,-.- :
Normal training awakens to the need of broad
general and painstaking special preparation.
The trained teacher feels the dignity, responsi-
bilties and possibilities of service gloriAed
by the life Of the Great Teacher, AS she
studies the allcomprehendng subject Of Chris
tian education she finds it developing into d.
mansions of which before she had no conception.
Her ideal Is distinct" She keeps to the main
purpose and reaches the climax by a straight
line the shortest distance between two points.
This is not theory. Thirteen normal graduates
in Plymouth Sunday school, st. Paul, which
attend. are lifting teaching into the region of
the higher life. -...
'Let knowledge grow from more to more
And more Of reverence in us dwell
That mind and heart according we'll
May make one music as before .
But vaster.'