Illinois State Normal University - Index Yearbook (Normal, IL)

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The Training School

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The Index, 1906 the whole boy to school. Forms of training that formerly were left to farm-life, to the play ground, to the incidental lessons of experience now are given a place in the school curriculum. Recent changes in the normal school have been chiefly in adjustment to these new demands. The required work in physical training has been trebled and systeniatized. Manual training introduced two years ago in the form of bench work suitable for grammar grades has ex- panded until the courses taught may cover three years of con- secutive work. Nature study as related to the science of agri- culture is growing alike in scope and popularity. The school garden and the greenhouse are proving valuable adjuncts in this work. Geography at the hands of Mr. Ridgley is taking on new interest. The thousands of stereographs now available in his department, the daily use of the stereopticon have brought freshness and a new reality to this subject. A new emphasis has been placed upon public speaking by the appointment of a special teacher in this held. Teachers ought to be leaders in the civic and social life of their communities as well as in the narrower educational interests. Effective leadership waits upon forceful speech. The decision of the Supreme Court adverse to the present union of our training school with the local public system has obliged us to reorganize that department. 'We shall provide a complete graded school system from the kindergarten thru the high school. There will be ample means to make it a model school in every detail of its equipment. Wfe regard this neces- sity as in some respects unfortunate. It would be better for the town to have a unified school system. VVith the material re- sources and stimulus that the normal school could bring to its aid, there would be a fair field for the realization of the ide-al public school system. The success of the plan was doubtful in the face of the extensive local dissatisfaction, now it is declared impossible. The lines of future advance are plain. First we need a new building tot give ample space for physics and chemistry, bench iworkf, film-::1'i'y ghand work, domestic art, household economics, e ff! 4 'v e 'v . 5 to 9 o O 5 IW Y 5 '- 1 J

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The Index, 1906 and for the art department. This building should contain a modern auditorium on the main lloor. In the vacated third Hoor of the main building we can fit up rooms for music, vocal, piano, and orchestral, and also a museum and laboratory for the department of geography. The influx of academic students under the Lindley act will soon require separate quarters for the academic department. These together with the upper grades of the training department will hnd suitable quarters in the rooms on the lirst Hoor rendered historic by their former dedication to this use. But buildings, libraries, apparatus, are only the instruments. The strength of the school lies in its teachers and students, if these be earnest, aspiring, devoted, consecrated to the great cause for which the normal school stands, the future is secure. DAVID FELMLEY. I0