Bridgewater State University - Alpha Yearbook (Bridgewater, MA)

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16 THE NORMAL OFFERING qyffli Qeparim en I. THE present tendency in Art instruction is toward education in the percep- tion of beauty. p Each year brings an increased demand for Normal graduates who have a growing appreciation ofthe line arts. The phrase here includes not only the study of architecture, sculpture, painting, music, and poetry, but also the fine art ot daily living. Reiinement of taste is looked for in the teacher's personal appearance, in her home surroundings, in the arrangement of her schoolroom. Sensitiveness to the etiquette of travel, of the street and of business is expected no less than to thatof the parlor and dining-room. A Each division of the subject of Art Study in the public schools gives oppor- tunities for direct training in appreciation. We are endeavoring more and more earnestly to lead children to so strong a sense of beauty that they will make practical application of the Principles of Every Day Art and seek artistic expression in every phase of life. E. H. P. .7315 y.s'z'ccz! Culiure. DURING the spring Basket Ball was apparently the most important part of the course in Physical Training. Intense interest in the tournament continued until one of the teams defeated the remaining seven, when the interest turned to the development of the losing teams, as shown in the games that had no direct bearing upon the result of the tournament. Those who engage in Basket Ball know of its value as a means of develop- ment, and know by experience what an opportunity is given for training in those qualities of mind and spirit so essential to a life co-ordinated with one's fellows. Like other forms of athletics it is based upon the universal play instinct without which no life is complete. Valuable, however, as athletic training is, the educational value of gym- nastics cannot be ignored. The one must reinforce the other, and both together form a means for the subordination of the body to the mind and spirit, and cause the outward expression through the physical of the inward life of the mind and soul. B. L. B. I Weadzhy and Wana! Czdizzre. THE work in reading is based upon earnest, forcible, ennobled conversation. The aim of the work is to teach the principles upon which correct and ex- pressive reading and speaking depends, and to develop mental power. As the re-action of the body upon the mind is very great, the pupils are trained in proper carriage, correct breathing, and good use of the voice. To accomplish these ends a great variety of exercises, both physical and vocal, are given, always with a speciiic object in view.

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THE NORMAL, OFFERING I5 There is a teacher's table of suitable design, near this are stone sinks with hot and cold water. Under the windows is a new wall table, piped for gas, between the windows are faucets with drip pans. The incandescent lamps put in a little earlier were so placed that there is one over each small table while the 'wall table has four. W, D, J, Wu.s'1'c. ' muscial library has been increased during the last year by Dole's 'World's Famous Composers, Henderson's How Music Developed and What is Good Music,', Hannah. Smith's How Music Came to be What it is, Upton's volumes on Standard Oratorios, Symphonies, Cantatas and Operas, Krehbiel's How to Listen to Music,'r' Howard's Child Voice in Singingi' and Lyman's Normal Music Course in the School-Roomf, An effort has been made to broaden the course so that the student shall have, in addition to a knowledge of the proper use of the voice and of how to teach sight-singing, some ear training, and some idea of the history of music, of its structure, and of its literature, including thelives of a few of the great com- Qposers. a It was hoped that the glee club of male voices started the previous year might be continued but the absence of iirst tenors made it an impossibility. There ought, however, to be a glee club of either male or female voices or of both together in connection with the school and much interesting and valuable 'work might be done. C. C. P. Jfstronomy. The instructor in this department, was in Norfolk, Va., during the recent eclipse of the sun. A lecture has been prepared upon the subject, and the -charts, maps and diagrams used in the same are now hung in the Astronomy room. The wall space proving insufficient, the Reading room has been pressed into service, the walls of which are covered with maps, diagrams, charts and pictures of an astronomical character. The Second Revision of the astronomy topics has been made, and the rpapers are now printed in pamphlet form. . F. E. G. H .7?ook-.ff2Jephzy. THE topics have received their Second Revision. Mr. 'Gurney has published a text-book, Book-keeping for the Grammar School, a small pamphlet of thirty-two pages, which presents in concise form 'the ta-mzz'azs for the grades below the High school. It is now being used in the Model school. F. E. G.

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THE NORMAL OFFERING I7 The work includes special drill in phonics, teaching the formation and adaptation of the various vowel and consonant sounds of the English language. Also, drill in the Delsarte Philosophy of Expression, the key-note to which is Gesture is an elliptical expression of thought. The reading lesson is, first of all, a lesson in thought-getting and in voice painting, for the purpose of increasing mental power to grasp the author's mean- ing, and to increase the ability to give adequate vocal expression to the thought, easily and naturally, with comprehension, adaptation and sympathy. I. s. H. belle .73raciz'ce Qepartmeni. THE work of this department has been somewhat modified and extended during the past year, but the ideals have remained unchanged. Our first care still is to place before our student-teachers a public school from whose atmos- phere they can imbibe the spirit we would have them.carry into their own schools. A comprehension of children that gives the power to interpret their thought and to meet their needs, and a knowledge of right school-'room condi- tions, with a certain degree of skill in performing a teacher's duties, are secured to the students so far as possible by observation, discussion and practice. In addition to this work, the students of the four years' course during the present year have made a more extended study of child development at different stages of growth. With this knowledge as a basis, a comprehensive and intelligent consideration of school programs and of courses of study becomes possible. L. A. H. ' Wade! Jclzool. Q No institution partakes to a greater degree of the world-wide spirit of change and progress which characterizes the opening of the new century than the public schools. The pff0g1fes.s'2'tfe spirit is the all-animating one, and many details of the educational system have probably never been in a more tentative state than at present. Under the critical eyes of the philosopher, psychologist, and practical business man, each merciless in his dealings with defects in the old and mistakes of the new, educational aims and values are subjected to a most rigorous test. In the midst of such conditions the Model School has been spared the strain of debilitating innovations. Guided by the same careful minds that have shaped the policy of the Normal School, it has successfully pursued the even tenor of its way, appropriating to itself the best as its value has become apparent. As a result, courses of study, thoroughly tested as the school has developed, have this year been printed. We are all at work, each in his respective sphere, on the great problem 1 How is the development of each individual child into a healthy, intelligent, law-abiding citizen to be best attained, and how can the forces of town and school be brought into the most sympathetic co-operation that these ends may be the more speedily and perfectly realized P is. 11.