The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1914-12-16
RADICAL CHANGES
IN NORMAL SCHOOL
SYSTEM ARE URGED
Continued from Page One,


Continued from Page Onc)
any fault of the normal schools, but to
statewide educational conditions and
could be changed only by the building up
of a good system of secondary Schools
thereby relieving the normal schools of
the necessity of giving academic courses
for those who had no idea of teaching
Recent Development
The development during the past six
years of county high schools. of which
there are now more than so, and of town
and city high schools to the number of
10 or more, all having academic courses
of study high as those offered in the
normal schools, has brought relief and
made IL possible for the normal schools
to lay aside their dual role and to devote
their entire energies to the training Of
teachers.
Now the specific task of the board has
been to convince the normal schools that,
owing to this tremendous development of
high schools, the time has come for them
to do no more and no less than to train
teachers-teachers for the elementary,
rural, village and small town schools,
where the greatest need for trained teach
ers exists, and also to formulate such
rules and regulations for the government
of the normal schools as will insure the
carrying out of this the fundamental
purpose OF their existence.
The accomplishment of this task has
not been an easy matter. 1t has been
necessary to change not only long estab-
lished courses of study, but also the life
time educational ideals of many of the
normal school teachers. However, be it
said to the credit of the normal school
presidents ana faculties that they set
themselves steadfastly to the work OF
reorganizing their institutions to meet
the new demands; and, despite the fact
that the elimination of those students
! who do not expect to teach has decreased
to some extent their enrolment, they are
confident that the steps which have
! been taken will in the end prove OF tre-
mendous service TO the cause of educa-
. ton in the state.
| Teaching is 4apidly becoming a highly
| specialized profession and little argument
| is needed to show that the only function
OF a normal school is the training OF
| teachers. 1t has been the sole aim and
| purpose OF the board TO take slleh steps
| from time TO time as would enable our
| institutions to perform this function in
an unrestricted and unhampered way.
| We confidently expect the future to JUS
| tfy the wisdom of the course thai has
! thus far been pursued.
During the period of transition too
| HUH Slbulu llOl DC expected OIL the IOl-
! NAL schools with their present limited
resources and equipment The restriction
of the student body to those who expect
to teach has already decreased the en-
rollment and very likely the enrolment
will not be large fer several years to
come. But Notwithstanding this loss in
numbers, the output of trained teachers
Will be considerably Increased.
Classification of Schools
BY resolution of the board the nor
/ NAL schools have been divided into tn.
following classes: "Class A" and Glass
! b." In Glass A" are the state norma
schools at Troy, Florence, Jacksonville
and Livingston In Glass b" are tho
normal schools MT Daphne and Mound
iville. The INSTITUTIONS in Glass Az re.
Eceive each an annual appropriation OF
$4,000 from the state. while the Glass
b. schools get $4,000 each.
Enrolment in Normal Schools
\ tNot inlucng special students.)
The enrolment for the present session
in the various institutions is as fol.
lows:
Glass A. schools Florence, 2S9
Troy, 161; Jacksonville, 124 Livings-
ton ~155.
Glass b" schools: Daphne, 81
Moundville, Al.
Total enrolment Glass A. 729; Glass
iB, 81
Grand total, 821.
i "This number was 200 before the loss
of the dormintory by fire.
Course of Study
Under instructions from the board
the presidents of the four Glass A" nor
NAL schools jointly prepared a course
OF study for these schools This was
adopted by the board and is now in OPP.
GRAFTON. 1t is believed that with GER
tain notifications of a minor character
this uniform course OF study Will brins
the normal schools into vital toucl
with the needs of our elementar,
schools and will tend to standardiz'
the graduation requirements of thu
GLASS A" schools. \ copy of this cours,
of study. together with the rules anC
regulations and adopted texts, accom-
panies this report.
Uniform Textbooks
In order to enable the normal school:
TO carry out fully the spirit and pur-
pose of the uniform course OF study
the board passed a resolution pro
viding for the adoption OF uniform text
books for the Glass A. schools II
conformity with this resolution the
committee appointed for this purpose
made a splendid selection of modern
textbooks. Good prices Were secured
from the publishers and a system was
devised for handling the books Which
has materially reduced the cost t,
students.
Normal School Visitors
. To find out definitely Just what tn,
: GLASS A" normal schools are doing
their conditions and needs and To dis
| cuss with the various faculties TIL
best methods and means of training
| teachers. the board in June, 1915
: passed the following resolutions pro
viding for the employment from tim
| TO time OF experts to visit thes
| schools.
BE Is resolved, by the board IF trus
tees of the state normal schools of Ala
bania
Il. That persons of recognized abil
Ifiy be employed by the executive com
mttee to spend one week at each o
the Glass A normal schools twio
!. ! yearly. one week in the fall and on