University of Northern Iowa - Old Gold Yearbook (Cedar Falls, IA)

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SPIFIHDVPLL CINV S.LNf'ICII1.T.S .DIO.LVHVd?TN4I

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OF'F1RST YEARS GROUP A

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THE NORMAL TRAINING SCHOOL CRY VVILBUR H. Bi:NDER.j The purpose here is to give training in the art of teaching in the primary, grammar grades and high school, to candidates for Normal school graduation. This is done through regular illustrative teaching, observed by the student, by individual and class conferences with these same persons, and by class room teaching by the student himself. Each senior is in contact with some form of the above work a part of the time each week for one or two years, according to the length of course taken in the Normal School. The department is organized in three divisions-preparatory section, grammar grades and primary. Tn these three schools there is an average of about two hundred and forty pupils per term. To look after the interests of these pupils and to direct the work of the students in training, the State supplies the following instructors: 1. Four regular critic teachers. The work of these persons is divided on the depart- mental plan. One has all the languages and reading. Another has charge of history, geog- raphy and the sciences. The third gives attention to mathematics, drawing, and penmanshipg the fourth to all primary subjects. They give illustrative teaching, read plans of student teachers, direct the teaching of the student, and hold individual and class conferences in their respective lines. 2. Five room teachers. These teachers have charge of the assembly rooms of the various classes. They are regularly employed and give the children such attention as is given in any well regulated school. Opening exercises and general exercises are conducted by them. They do some regular teaching in their rooms. The study periods of the chil- dren are under their care and they give individual instruction and help as it is needed. 3. The supervisors of primary and grammar grades. The duties in these positions consist of supervision of courses of study, oversight of some special lines of work, con- ferences with critic, room, and student teachers, and general direction of the work. The P1'cpa1'at01'y .S'0ctz'011.-Here all the common branches are taught. The pupil from the country schools or from the grades can ind any work in these branches. The work prepares well for entrance to the Normal. The Grammar Grades.-The essentials of the common branches, from the fourth grade upward, are given close attention in these grades. Also manual training, drawing, music, and nature study are regular lines of work. It is found that certain of the difticult parts of the common branches may well be left until the pupil is older, so in these grades certain phases of subjects usually held for high school or college, are introduced. The method of instruction employed is that adapted to pupils of this age and not that of the high school or college. Concrete geometry, elements of algebra, general views of history, physics, Ger- man, and Latin can thus be started several years earlier than is generally done, and saves from one to two years in preparing him to enter the Normal School, and take his classifi- cation along with graduates from high schools over the State. The P7 ilI'ZG?'j' Section tSee p. 26j.-Here all the pupils from first primary to the third grade are provided for in the same manner as those in the grammar grades'-by the supervisor, the room teachers, and those student teachers preparing for special primary work. 22