Education -- Norway; School management and organization -- Norway
Utilizing the strong points of other systems and adapting them to local
conditions, the state established six teachers' seminaries, locating one
in each of the six dioceses into which the country is divided, so that
they would be within easy access of the people attending them. Besides
these state seminaries, four private institutions, having almost
identical functions, have been established and are flourishing. The
private seminaries are located at vantage points not too close to the
State Schools yet where they will be within reach of a large number of
people. The favorable location of these schools makes it possible for a
large number of the attendants to live in their own homes, while the
large majority need be but a short distance from their homes.
The work of the teachers' seminaries is, of course, to provide special
preparation for teaching in the schools throughout the nation. Their
curricula are similar to those used in the secondary schools. The chief
point of difference between them is the attitude taken toward the
subjects of instruction. In the secondary schools the aim is general and
in a large measure cultural, while in the seminaries the attempt is
always to present the lesson or subjects of instruction in such a manner
that the pupils shall get both intellectual development and the correct
method of presentation. It is the intent that this experience shall help
to qualify for the successful teaching of the subjects studied. The work
corresponds closely with that done in the normal schools of America or
similar teachers' schools in other lands.
It is everywhere true that teachers teach as they have been taught. The
principle of imitation is illustrated clearly every day in every school
room. Teachers, like pupils, follow example more closely than precept.
Providing schools designed to fit people for the teaching profession
have ideal teachers, they will be able to turn out from year to year
groups of teachers, who, imitating their masters, both in the
application of scientific principles of method and in the exercise of
individuality, will in turn become ideal teachers. If the curriculum and
teaching of the training college are rich and varied, its products will
be characterized by efficiency and resourcefulness. On the contrary,
should the work of the school be narrow because of a cramped curriculum,
or on account of biased and shrunken ideals of the faculty, the results
will be unsatisfactory. The teachers who go out from such an institution
will be unequal to the tasks awaiting them--they will be unable to meet
the situation in the educational field.
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