The training of teachers in the United States of America — John Stuart Mill — John Shaqi
The training of teachers in the United States of America
John Stuart Mill · en
At Willimantic, as at New Britain, especial stress is laid on preparing
the teacher for the practical part of the profession. The child,
however, is the unit of the school, and on the right understanding of
the child depends the teacher’s success in teaching. The child has
both a body and a mind to be trained, and the two cannot be separated.
It is therefore necessary that a teacher should know something about
each, and students are therefore expected to devote a good deal of time
to the study of Physiology in the Junior year, and to the study of
Psychology in the Senior.
The Model Schools[5] are most carefully staffed, and the students spend
as much time as possible in observing work done in these schools.
During the last term of the course, each student serves as an assistant
in the various grades of the Model Schools, thus having experience in
teaching under the guidance and criticism of an expert in each grade.
The course is for two years, but the Principal is anxious to have the
time extended.
_NEW YORK STATE._
The first Normal School for the State of New York was opened at Albany
in 1844. There are now eleven such schools in the State, two of
which--Albany and Oswego--are entirely professional, while the others
provide also for academic work.
STATISTICS OF NEW YORK STATE NORMAL SCHOOLS.
+-------------+---------------------------+---------------------------+
| | Normal. | Academic. |
| +-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
| Location. | No. | Average | No. | Average |
| | Registered. | Attendance. | Registered. | Attendance. |
| | Last Year. | Last Year. | Last Year. | Last Year. |
+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
| Albany | 375 | 305 | | |
| Oswego | 382 | 323 | | |
| Brockport | 370 | 283 | 108 | 61 |
| Cortland | 384 | 312 | 35 | 25 |
| Potsdam | 490 | 395 | 182 | 134 |
| Fredonia | 253 | 196 | 67 | 49 |
| Buffalo | 357 | 295 | 12 | 7 |
| Geneseo | 535 | 391 | 78 | 65 |
| New Paltz | 227 | 170 | 26 | 13 |
| Oneonta | 365 | 304 | 23 | 15 |
| Plattsburgh | 142 | 106 | | |
+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
The following extracts from the circular issued by the Superintendent
of Public Instruction give the principal features common to all the
Normal Schools of the State of New York.