University of Nebraska Kearney - Blue and Gold Yearbook (Kearney, NE)

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IDhi] a Four I]ear Curriculum? “Why are not Normal Schools content to present two years of college work and present that well? is a question often put by two classes of people. One of these is composed of those who profess to be sticklers for “scholarship'' by which they mean ‘’the three RV or some other factual exercise. The other is composed of those who are jealous of the rapidly in- ti easing prestige of the Teachers Colleges. To the first of these classes it should he pointed out that teaching is hourly becoming intensively and actually professional and that the mere academician is never so. Two college years is not enough time to acquire more than a perfunctory thoroughness in academics and not enough of that. To the second class it should he apparent that the people at large, patrons of the public schools, are becoming increasingly competent to criticise the art of teaching and are not going much longer to tolerate the domination of high schools by embryo druggists, civil engineers, veterinary surgeons and the like. The public is demanding professional services in the ranks of high school teachers. Furthermore, it should be observed that there is a wide spread tendency all over the nation to raise the qualifications of teachers, California already has demanded two college years of training as a condition of eligibility to teach. That state now is in the midst of an effort to raise that standard to four college years. Hence, the anxiety of the former Normal Schools every- where to broaden their curriculum rather than circumscribe it. In connection with the above it should be remembered that school authorities everywhere rapidly are getting away from the fallacy that “any- one can teach a primary grade. More and more educational authorities are coming to the sane view that the necessity for teachers of broad scholarship and splendid technical skill is most urgent in the elementary armies. The pupil who has been well trained in the beginning of his elementarv school course frequently is able to continue his education in spite of poor in- struction in the high school. Hitherto the greatest amount of treasure of the supporters of the public school has been poured into the high school. The day is not far distant when the preponderance of support will be lodged where it logically belongs, in the elementary grades. State Teachers Colleges have, therefore, hut made wise preparation for future demands in broadening their curriculum to four college years of training. Most of their product will naturally gravitate to the ranks of teachers of elementary grades. With the provision that has been made for obtaining baccalaureate work in these institutions the outlook for the future of the school children of America is bright.