The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1910-02-14
NORMAL SCHOOLS
TO Be IMPROVED
REAL TRAINING SCHOOLS Foa
TEACHERS INSTEAD OF
ACADEMIES AND HIGH
SCHOOLS.


Az the result OF the final sessions OF
the conference Of the State board Of
regents and the principals Of the nor
NAL schools Of the State several chang.
es Ct Importance will be made next
year In the courses Of study, and
Some interesting Innovations will be
made. The normal schools are to be.
come what the name implies, really
schools for the training of teachers
The changes will not be radical but
the schools will gradually become true
normal schools.
For some YEARS and in fact to a
great extent ever since the State
normal schools were established, the
academic work has predominated
They have really been schools Of sec.
on ary collegiate education and the
training work has bsen neglected.
From no" on the Opposite will be true
Among the changes to be made is
une at the Fairront normal, where
for year rone Of the dead languages
will be required, In the normal course.
1:r!,g time fer mere efficient wcrk in
subjects whie:, the teacher must teach
In the public schools Of the State.
Heretofore the normal schools have
allowed graduates of high schools hav.
ing four years. standard course 20
c ,mpIete the normal course In one
ycar's additional work. Tn. board
ct regents hope to extend the normal
eourse to require two years work in
addition to the nigh school work.
With this end In view tn. normal
schools at Huntington End Fairmont
have b.er authorized to offer this
two years course next year to such
students as desire it.
One of the most interesting innova-
tionr is to be made at the GlenviIle
normal where next year the normal
will take over the public school ard
have charge OF IL. All the public
GchooI courses will be taught just the
sln1e as though the public school had
no connection with the normal, but
the work will be done by the faculty
ard students instead Of teachers
regularly employed for that purpose.
Tic scheme Is expected to be mutually
successful. TIE students in the
rorn1al, who are to become the
tcachers Of the future, WI have the
opportunity to witness real training
work. On the ether hand the pupils
Of the public school will have better
instructors than they would likely
have otherwise. The location and the
size of the public school are ideal for
the innovation.
At the Huntington school. thanks to
the enterprise of Principal L. j. corb
ly. some Of the business men Of the
efiy have offered to erect a men.
oormitory at cost Of about $4,000
for the benefit Ct the male Students.
While the State will not be financially
interested, the dnrmitory will furnish
comfortable home and good beard
to ftudents at lower cost than can
be offered by private boarding places.
The management of tte dormitory
will be turned ever to the school Of.
firers and any time the State wants
to purchase I. 1t can be dene at cost.
State Superintendent sh7wkey and
Regent G. A. Northectt, of Hunting.
ton. were appointed 4 committee to
pass unon tine kindergarten course.
now being offered by two of the
normal schools.
The reports brought by the pra,ci.
rails show th- enrolment at the
schools this year to be an increase
of about % per cent. over that OF Las.
year.
Arrangements were made for spe.
cial teachers for the spring term at
the schools. verd Peterson and r. l..
Cole, two we'll known pedagogues,
we're c:toren to assist at GIenvillc,
while r. 3. Chambers will assist at
Marshall college. Special teachers for
other seI,aois will be named later.
Some changes were made in the
rules governing the administration at
tho schools.