ii. Instruction in the Art of Teaching and Governing. iii. Practice in Teaching in the Common Schools. The standard of admission to these early Normal Schools was low, and at that time, opportunities for any thorough study outside universities were few, especially in the case of women. Accordingly their theory of training gave the greatest importance to “a careful review of the branches of knowledge required to be taught in schools.” The first business of a Normal School was said, by Horace Mann, to consist “in reviewing, and thoroughly and critically mastering the rudiments of elementary branches of knowledge.” And although conditions have changed much since 1839, most of the Normal Schools of the United States still pursue the lines of work adopted by Massachusetts. Standards of admission have been raised, courses of study have been correspondingly extended, but the Normal Schools, with a few exceptions, still remain more or less efficient schools for the teaching of ordinary subjects, and devote half the course, and in many cases even more, to academic work. It is thus a distinctive feature of Normal School work to pursue school subjects side by side with professional, or pedagogical subjects. But there seems a general tendency to emphasize the academic part, at the expense of the professional. Examples of the courses of study for Massachusetts and New York, two of the foremost of the Eastern States in educational matters, will indicate this. Normal Schools of Massachusetts. _Two Years’ Course_: Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry. Book-keeping. Physics, Astronomy, Chemistry. Physiology, Botany, Zoology, Geology. Mineralogy, Geography. Language, Reading, Orthography. Etymology, Grammar, Rhetoric. Literature, Composition. Penmanship, Drawing, Vocal Music. Gymnastics. Psychology, Science of Education, Art of Teaching. School Organization, History of Education. Civil Polity of Massachusetts and of the United States, History and School Laws of Massachusetts. _Four Years’ Course_: Subjects required in the Two Years’ Course, with the addition of:-- Advanced Algebra and Geometry, Trigonometry, Surveying. Advanced Chemistry, Physics and Botany. Drawing, English Literature, General History. Latin, French, German or Greek.