Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-06
LONGER NORMAL.
COURSE ISURGED'
Report Of Education Bureau
Committee Recommends
Stricter Requirements.

biaL from two to three years; imposi.
ton of rigid entrance Requirements
for applicants to the schools and pro-
vision whereby grade teachers OF spe,
cial excellence or with peculiar aualin-
cations may be brought into the
Washington school system from out.
side Of the city are recommended by q
reau of Education in a report to the
Board Of Education today, following
a survey OF the normal schools OF the
city. The committee composed Of DR..
Arthur j. Klein, w. 8. Deffenbaugh
and L. r. Alderman, all of the educa-
ton bureau, has just concluded its
work.
The. findings are based upon care
full examination and study of the Dis
trtct Of Columbia and other normal
schools" and are approved by Com.
missioner Of Education John y.
Tigert.
Would Raise Requirements.
Among the committee recommends
lions are the following:
That only graduates Of the District
of Columbia high schools who rank
In the upper half Of their class for
the last two years of high school
be eligible for admission.
Only high school students who can
pass q strict physical examination
should be admitted.
That the course of the normal
{ schools be extended to three years.
the increase in time being used to
strengthen those portions of the cur.
ricuium which serve to provide the
prospective teacher with educational
and cultural background.
That for the present the District OF
Columbia normal schools confine their
work to the preparation OF teachers
In the kindergarten and elementary
school grades through grade g., and
that In preparing teachers kinder
garten and primary grades be consid-
cred a unit--in other words, that all
kindergarten teachers be given some
primary training and AL II primary
teachers some Kindergarten training,
Graded System Urged.
That graded system OF supervised
observation and practice teaching be
made q part of the teacher training
In both normal schools.
That critic teachers, both In the
practice school and in the regular
school system, be required to have
special training for their work as
critic teachers; that teachers in the
regular school system who act a.
critic teachers be given extra com.
pensation. and that their connection
, with the normal schools be somewhat
closer than at present, and that this
connection be more fully recognized
by listing them as members Of the
normal school staff.
That at least one supervisor of
practice teaching, with AZ good gen.
eral training as the best trained
members of the normal school fac
ulty, be provided for each of the
normal schools,
That the libraries of both normal
schools should be reconditioned so
they will contain up-to date books
and periodicals in SUFFICIENT number
and variety to constitute libraries.
suitable and standard for normal
schools OF the size and character Of
those of the District of Columbia.
Would Go outside District.
The committee found that "the
deleterious effects of taking a large
proportion of grade teachers from
the District of Columbia normal
schools may be greatly mitigated by
securing at least 80 per cent of the
principals and other supervisors Of
4 the elementary and high schools Of
the District and of normal school
faculties employed each year from
outside the District school system,
Recommendation was also made that
way be provided whereby grade
teachers of special excellence or with
peculiar qualifications may be brought
! into the District Of Columbia system
from outside,
The committee also urged that for
the immediate future the District OF
Columbia provide a number Of schol.
aIvhips of an amount equal to the
tuition and laboratory charges In local
colleges and universities for graduates
Of District high schools who conteln-
plate preparing themselves AZ junior
or senior high school teachers. The
number OF scholarships so provided
should equal approximately one-half
( the number of new junior and senior
high school teachers employed an.
nua1ly.
Recommendation was made that all
new appointeeS to teaching positions
In the normal schools OF Washington
should have received the masters de-
gree, have had at least 80 semester
hours Of professional work and have
had in addition two or more years OF
tuocessful teaching experience. It
was also urged, that no attempt be
made for the time being to prepare
Junior or senior high school teachers
pr special teachers in either Of the
District normal schools.
Urge Personal Rating.
Admission TO the normal schools,
{ the committee found, should be based
in part on the rating made on O. per.
sonai characteristic score,card 70 be
used TO rate the members OK the high
school graduating classes. This card
should require the principal and at
least two teachers to express judS-
I nent II, regard to personal qualities
and activities, which contribute
largely to success or failure In teach
I ing.
High school graduates who do not
I rank In the upper half OF the class
! but who meet other requirements.
should be admitted IL they submit to
an examination and attain or exceed
: the standard score Of a standardized
! achievement or standardized intelli.
( gence test.
/ The committee urged that the Dis.
4 trict OF Columbia provide teacher
4 training facilities for all the gradu.
{ ates of its high schools who are resi-
dents Of the District, without restric.
ton as to place Of employment, pro
/ quirements for admission to the nor.
! NAL schools.
The report was prepared ct the
suggestion Of the Washington Board
!, Of Education, which on January
asked the Bureau Of Education "a
! make q. survey of the two normal
schools here. The summary sent to
the Board Of Education today will
Be supplemented, Or. Tigert said; by
3 detailed report ernbodying the facts
ana other considerations leading "a
the conclusions reached and present.
| Ing also comparisons and information
IN regard TO the normal schools main