The Morris County chronicle., 1908-08-18

corning the school, it's curriculum and
i general purposes, DR.. Chapin, in an
extended interview with a Call repre-
sentative Thursday night gave q clear
outline of his plans. The principals
statement is as follows:
New Jersey has never quite as
simulated the training school idea,
which is now, and has been for some
time, a prominent factor in normal
school education in New England. But
with the advent of the new institution
at Montclair Heights the training
school system in vogue in three of the
largest normal schools in the country
will go into effect here. Two years
hence, when the time comes for the
practical teaching work of the first
class, the state board Of education VIII
seek the cooperation of the different
municipalities in carrying out the new
scheme. At that time a proposition
] will be made to school superintendents
in different towns for the establish
ment of two classes under the charge
of a. regular teacher who lwill be
termed critic in the public schools,
where the normal girls may teach for
period of five months at time.
These classes will be conducted in the
same fashion as any other classes, ex-
cept being in charge of normal school
students, acting under the supervision
of the critic teacher. This critic will
be a regular teacher of high standing,
who will be paid her usual salary by
the municipality and will receive addi-
tional remuneration from the state for
| he. service.
"By this plan the normal students
will be taught how to run a school
schedule, how to do days work
within day and how to handle pu-
| pills They will run the classes ac-
cording to the manner in which they
have been taught and the critic will
! correct them when they make mis-
takes and help them acquire the self
possession and practical knowledge of
teaching which is necessary for the
proper control of children. These
critics will also watch carefully the
| behavior of the girls and their general
temperaments, reporting the result Of
their observations to a supervising
critic, who will have charge of the en-
tire system of schools and who will
visit them each week. In this man
ner a record will be kept of the girls
ability as teacher, and knowledge can
be obtained of just what classes of
work she is strong in and what she
Is and is not adapted for.
"In all probability a score or more
of these training schools will be es-
tablished at first, and while no par
ticular localities have been selected.
several school superintendents who
have been consulted with have ex-
pressed themselves as willing to CO.
operate in the plan. OF course, this
project will not assume definite pro-
portions for almost two years but as
it is the most important phase of the
work deem it well worth while to
give 1t consideration here. In my ex-
perience have found that the train
ing schools are the secret of producing
good teachers. and they are one Of the
main strcngholds in the building up
of strong educati ,nal institution for
educators.
IT have received applications for
enrolment to date from 125 persons,
and the term will open with a class
of at least $50. Before the class grad
yates, two years and half hence. t
feel confident that the new institution
will be filled to its capacity. 800
far. none have applied to take exam
ination, all being accepted on high
school certificates or the equivalent.
To enter the school one must have
successfully finished four-years'
high school course or be graduate
from certain approved private schools
The certificate of the principal is suf-
fictent to qualify for admittance
Those who wish. however, can arrange
to take examinations before the term
opens on Sept. Is.
"Of those who have applied for en-
rollment all, with the exception of
seven, are young women. I estimate
that ten per cent. of the students viii
be men, and hardly think that this is
low, although the members of the
state board of education are inclined
to consider my figures moderate. The
average age of the entering class will
be between eighteen and nineteen
years. The youngest student must be
over sixteen years. and there is no
maximum age Some of the students
viii be twenty-five years and over. The
moral character Of the students is al
so inquired into, and they must come
with satisfactory references. In the
batch of APPLICATIONS received to date
thirty-six municipalities in all parts of
Jersey are represented. The most dis
tant places are Hackettstown, Point
Pleasant and Morristown. Among the
towns and cities represented are:
Montclair, Newark. Hoboken. East
Orange, South Orange, Englewood,
Hackensack, Roxbury, Crawford,
Brookdale, Bayonne Bloomfield.
Kearney. Arlington, Railway, Plain
field, Livingston and Belleville. There
are seven applications from South
Orange alone.
"a mistaken impression has gone
abroad that the state intends to
charge tuition at the new normal
school This is entirely erroneous.
There will be no tuition charges what
ever Everything viii be absolutely
free including the books The only
expense the students will have to bear
will be that for their lunches and car
fare, and in some instances this latter
cost will also be taken care Of Re-
garding the lunches, there are large
rooms at the school especially ar
] ranged for the accommodation OF
those who care to bring their food. We
| will serve a luncheon at noon each day
in the school restaurant at cost price.
We win have our own manager and
lunchroom will not be run by an out
side caterer for a profit The food
which will be provided will be sub
stantial and within the means Of all
1t is our intention to make the school
as attractive and convenient as pos