Bridgewater State University - Alpha Yearbook (Bridgewater, MA)

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NORMAL oFFER1NG 17 used as memory, selections, myths-Norse, Greek and nature, the best reference books on mythology, a small but choice collection of photographs of mythological subjects, readers and classic stories appropriate to the upper grades. A new feature of the Literature Department will be a course for teachers of the Junior High School with books suitable for use in these grades. The department purposes to train teachers in methods of in- teresting children in the literature studied in school that they may form the habit of making companions of good books outside of school. E. M. M. ART DEPARTMENT. HE aim of the Art Department is three fold. First it tries to develop some technical skill by giving all students in the entering classes practice in drawing, designing, lettering and color-theory. At the end of this year all are expected to have attained enough understanding of the technique of drawing to be able to apply their knowledge to the desired methods of teaching it to children. In the second year, therefore, the second aim is em- phasized, that of teaching drawing. Methods, with the analysis of these methods in the written plan, and the practical application of them in the Model school practice form the basis of the work. The technique of drawing is maintained as far as the student, through self-discipline, is able to maintain it. It is felt that now the student hasbecome the student-teacher and should begin to assume the responsibility of sustaining her efforts and keeping up her work to the required standard. The time for drill is passed, she has now entered the world of active self-development. The third aim, that of developing artistic appreciation and the ability to give beauty to art expression, underlies all the work of both years, and the principles of beauty, order, harmony, bal- ance and rhythm are emphasized constantly through the course in Picture Study. All classes are brought in contact given in the second year with the work of the masters of painting, and the three-year students have the advantage of a special course in art appreciation applied to home making. This course includes a study of architectual forms, house planning and interior decora- tion. M. B. S.

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16 NORLMAL OFFERINZG mar grades. Opportunity for observation in all grades is now given to Class B. Randolph, Wareham and Middleboro have added three schools to the district for practice teaching. Standish Manor School, Halifax, is open to students interested in speech defects and other special problems of that school. C. A. N. DRAMATIZATION. HE Reading Department has been emphasizing the Work of dramatization throughout the grades. The students are taught to recognize the dramatic element in all literature taught as reading lessons in the grades and to develop the dramatic in- stinct in children. So much of the teaching of reading is merely a process for in- crasing the child's reading vocabulary and not an interpretation of the thought and feeling of an author. Dramatizing is reading in the fullest sense. After the child has pictured in his imagination the thoughts and ideas of the author and has shown by oral reading that he has pictured the scene, he then dramatizes the scene, thus from reading about the actor, he becomes the actor. This is realistic reading. It also serves as a means for the teacher to ascertain the real conception of the child which cannot always be obtained from the oral read- mg. This Work is especially helpful in the Junior High School Where the child has reached the self-conscious stage. In developing the dramatic instinct in children, We make them forget themselves. We train them in unconscious reasoning for it is the insight of one mind into another. . A It has been said that all sympathy, all union of ourselves With the ideals and struggles of our race are tracable to imagination and dramatic instinct. L. A. M. LITERATURE DEPARTMENT. HE Literature Department is equipped With its own library of reference and text-books for use in classes preparing to teach in elementary and grammar grades. This departmental library includes stories, such as King Arthur and Arabian Nights, for reading in children's classes, books of children's poems to be

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18 NORMAL OFFERING READ HISTORY! JUDGE HISTORY! MAKE HISTORY! STAND aside from life for a little and see by what ways man- kind has struggled to the land of the present and mark what ways now lie ahead. Scan the land beyond carefully. Decide which is the path which will lead the race to the land of happiness. Then take your place once more among men and make the history of the future. F. A. F. MUSIC. UNE of our greatest needs of music teaching in public schools is in the art side of the subject. The ultimate aim in all our varied musical activities is to create a sensitive and discrimin- ating regard for good music. The departmental plan favored in Junior High Schools oiers an improved solution that specially trained teachers may be chosen to teach music as applied in other subjects. There is the same need for a specialist in music. Chorus singing is encouraged in our school. Our glee clubs offer opportunity to those who are especially talented in singing to attain higher standing. The same opportunity is extended to the instrumentalists and credit given for good solo and ensemble results. I heartily agree with Professor John Dewey, Columbia Univer- sity. He has said: The teacher who succeeds in imparting zest to education, who brings about an association of books and the things of school with joy is a public benefactor. Why should the adventure of mind into the unknown be associated with drudgery? Is it not possible to make of education the great romance of life, to bring it home as a great drama of exploration, discovery and conquest? H. W. F. DOMESTIC SCIENCE. HE war and food conditions have made us take Conserva- tion as our motto this year and our course has had to be adapted to meet the call for sugarless cakes, wheatless breads, and meatless meals. The aim of the course is to give the students practical knowl- edge of the principles of cookery that they may be able to co-oper- ate with special teachers of home economics and also be helped to better understand the business of homemaking.