USA > Pennsylvania > Lancaster County > A History of the Courses of Study in the State Normal Schools of Pennsylvania > Part 3
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Though not required by law, we advise the members of this course to take at least one year's drill in Latin.
A single sheet, issued in the fall of 1877 or spring of 1878, has the general heading, "Courses of Study as Recently Revised," but is without date or signature by which it can be located chronolog- ically. The Elementary Course as therein outlined is given below :
[State Normal Schools, Course of Study as Recently Revised] ELEMENTARY COURSE
A thorough knowledge of the branches taught in common schools, as required by law, including higher Arithmetic and higher Grammar ; also,
GEOGRAPHY .- Including the leading princi- ples of Physical and Mathematical Geography.
GEOMETRY .- Plane Geometry, including the circle.
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ALGEBRA .- As found in the elementary text- books.
BOOK-KEEPING .- Single entry, as found in the ordinary text-books, with the knowledge of the use of checks, notes, drafts, etc.
PHYSIOLOGY .- As found in larger common school text-books.
NATURAL PHILOSOPHY .- As much as in Steele's fourteen weeks' course.
RHETORIC and ENGLISH CLASSICS .- The Out- lines of Rhetoric, together with at least a fourteen weeks' course in English Literature, including the thorough study of one selection from each of four English Classics.
LATIN .- The Elements, including as much as in Jones' Latin Lessons, or the first book of Caesar through the Helvetian War.
HISTORY of the UNITED STATES and CONSTI- TUTION .- As in ordinary text-books.
BOTANY .- As in ordinary text-books.
PENMANSHIP .- To be able to explain and teach some approved system, the writing-books to be presented to the Board of Examiners.
DRAWING .- As much as two of Bartholomew's drawing-books, with six months' free-hand draw- ing.
VOCAL MUSIC .- Principles as found in ordinary text-books, and attendance upon daily exercises for at least one-third of a year.
MENTAL PHILOSOPHY .- Outlines of Mental Philosophy, including the intellect, the sensibili- ties, and the will.
METHODS of INSTRUCTION .- All in "Methods of Instruction," except the Dead Languages, Liv-
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ing Foreign Languages, Formal Sciences in Gen- · eral, Logic, Instruction in Rational Science, the Philosophy of History, and the Arts in General.
SCHOOL ECONOMY .- The whole work.
THE PRACTICE of TEACHING .- This includes forty-five minutes of daily practice in the Model School for one-half of a school year, and two meetings each week for the discussion of the Prac- tice of Teaching.
THE THEORY of TEACHING must be com- menced the second half of the Junior year, and con- tinued during the entire course.
A comparison of the course as outlined above with that found in the Indiana catalogue of 1877 shows that in the revision a considerable number of changes were made, of which the more import- ant were :
I. The definite introduction of Latin.
2. The differentiation of the professional studies into School Economy, Methods of Instruc- tion, and Mental Philosophy.
3. The introduction of English Literature, including the study of one selection from each of four English Classics.
4. The importance of proper power in Reading seems to have been emphasized in the Indiana catalogue of 1875, since it was continued throughout the course. A true basis for the study of the History of the United States was found in its correlation with English History as an actual study in the course.
5 The determination of the amount of Drawing, although not very clearly defined.
6. The study of Science of Government
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mentioned in the catalogue of 1875 may have meant the study of Civil Government as now known. Also the History of the United States and Constitution, mentioned in the catalogue of 1875, probably involved all the study of Civil Govern- ment as then pursued in the schools.
7. The suggestion of the introduction of Latin into the course is found in the Indiana cata- logue of 1877.
A catalogue of 1878, Lock Haven School, Albert N. Raub, A. M., Principal, contains the same course with the studies classified according to a plan nearly the same as that now in general use. Following is the course :
[Lock Haven Catalogue 1878, Albert N. Raub, A, M.] ELEMENTARY COURSE
LANGUAGE .- Orthography; Reading; and El- ocution; English Grammar; Composition; Outlines of Rhetoric, and English Classics; Elements of Latin, including the First Book of Caesar.
MATHEMATICS .- Arithmetic; Elementary Al- gebra; Plane Geometry.
NATURAL SCIENCE .- Geography, including ' the leading principles of Physical and Mathemati- cal Geography; Physiology; Natural Philosophy; Botany.
HISTORY .- History of the United States; Con- stitution of the United States.
THE ARTS .- Penmanship; Drawing; Vocal Music; Book-keeping.
PROFESSIONAL STUDIES .- School Economy; Methods of Instruction; Mental Philosophy.
PRACTICE of TEACHING .- This includes at
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least forty-five minutes of daily practice in the Model School for one-half of'a school year, and two meetings each week for the discussion of the Prac- tice of Teaching.
A THESIS must be written upon some educa- tional subject, and will be considered as part of the examination.
For special use in the school at Lock Haven, the Elementary Course was divided into three parts: the Preparatory, the Junior year, and the Senior year. The State Examination was held at the end of the Senior year by a Board of Examiners consist- ing of the State Superintendent as President of the Board, two County or City Superintendents of the Normal District, and two Principals of State Nor- mal Schools of whom the Principal of the school was one.
An important note bearing upon the subject of changes in the course is here found :
"NOTE .- Students during the year 1879 are permitted to graduate on the former basis of study, which, in the Elementary Course, omits Latin and retains Etymology and Physical Geography."
This shows that the time set for the general in- troduction of Latin into the Course was the fall of 1879.
An examination of the Catalogues of the Cali- fornia State Normal School for 1882 and 1883, George P. Beard, A. M., Principal, shows no change in the Course. The work is arranged for the school on the basis of a division into four classes D, C, B, and A, a system still in practical service in many of the Normal Schools.
A catalogue of the Lock Haven State Normal School for 1883, Albert N. Raub, Ph. D., Princi- pal, shows no change from that of 1878. The same
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course is found in a catalogue of 1884, issued from the same school, Albert N. Raub retiring, and George P. Beard assuming the principalship.
The year 1885 brought no changes, but in the spring of 1886 the Elementary Course was divided into definite Junior and Senior years, and examina- tions were instituted providing for admission into the Senior class. The State Examinations were , changed in such a manner that the faculty now presented for examination a Junior as well as a Senior class. It is believed that the adoption of this plan was optional for the year ending in June 1886, and that it went into general effect in June 1887.
The following is. the course as found in the catalogue of the Lock Haven State Normal School for 1886, George P. Beard, A. M., Principal.
It will be noticed that the subject of Arithme- tic is divided, placing Mensuration in the Senior year in closer correlation with Geometry. Intro- ductory Latin is placed in the Junior year.
Also, Civil Government is found for the first time under this heading, although it had been pur- sued under the titles of "History of the Constitu- tion" and "Constitution of the United States" in the years preceding. Drawing is more clearly de- fined by the introduction of the time limit. These changes are confirmed by a series of catalogues of Bloomsburg State Normal School, furnished by Dr. Waller.
[Lock Haven Catalogue 1886, George P. Beard, A. M.] ELEMENTARY COURSE [Recently Revised] JUNIOR YEAR PEDAGOGICS .- Elements of School Manage- ment and Methods.
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LANGUAGE .- Orthography and Reading; Eng- lish Grammar, including Composition; Latin, suf- ficient for the introduction of Ceasar.
MATHEMATICS .- Arithmetic, except Mensu- ration; Elementary Algebra.
NATURAL SCIENCE .- Physiology and Hy- giene.
HISTORICAL SCIENCES .- Geography-Phys- ical, Mathematical, and Political; History of the United States; Civil Government.
THE ARTS .- Penmanship, sufficient to be able to explain some approved system, writing to be submitted to the Board of Examiners; Drawing, a daily exercise for at least twenty-eight weeks, work to be submitted to Board of Examiners; Book- keeping, Single Entry, seven weeks; Vocal Music, elementary principles, and attendance upon daily exercises for at least one-third of a year.
SENIOR YEAR
PEDAGOGICS .- Psychology, embracing the In- tellect, Sensibilities, and Will; Methods; History of Education; Model School Work, at least twenty- one weeks of actual teaching daily during one period of not less than forty-five minutes; a Thesis on a Professional subject.
LANGUAGE .- The Outlines of Rhetoric, to- gether with at least a fourteen weeks' course in English Literature, including the thorough study of one selection from each of four English Classics; Latin, Caesar, through the Helvetian War.
MATHEMATICS .- Arithmetic; Mensuration; Plane Geometry.
NATURAL SCIENCES .- Elementary Natural Philosophy; Botany.
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HISTORICAL SCIENCES .- Reading of General History in connection with the History of Educa- tion.
THE ARTS .- Elocutionary Exercises in con- nection with the study of English Literature.
EXAMINATIONS
I. Admission to the Senior Class shall be determined by the State Board of Examiners at the annual examination by the Board.
2. In order to be admitted to the Senior Class students must be qualified in the Junior studies ; but the examination in Pedagogics shall be deferred to the Senior year, the examination in the remaining studies of the Junior year to be final.
3. Any person or persons not in actual at- tendance during the Spring session, if recommended by the faculty, may be examined in the Junior studies at the opening of the Fall term, by the Principal and two Superintendents who were mem- bers of the State Board ; and the examination pa- pers, if approved by these three examiners, shall be submitted to the Superintendent of Public Instruc- tion for approval ; and if he approve them, such person or persons shall be admitted to the Senior class.
4. A certificate setting forth the fact of the passing of the Junior course of study shall be pre- pared by the Department, and signed by the Board, and shall entitle the holder thereof to admission into the Senior class of any State Normal School of Pennsylvania at the beginning of any Senior year.
From the year 1886 until 1893 no change was
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made in the Elementary Course, but at a meeting of the Principals of the State Normal Schools held February 4, 1891, besides the adoption of a post- graduate course, the following rule in regard to examinations relating to admission into the Senior class was adopted :
"All who wish to enter the Senior Class must now pass the State Examination at the close of the Spring Term. No student who has been denied admission to or who has been rejected from the Jun- ior class of any State Normal School can be admit- ted to the Junior class of any other State Normal School during the same year."
In 1893 certain changes were made in the Elementary Course, and the following rule was adopted allowing examination in six or more studies of the Junior course:
"Whenever one or more students are recom- mended by the faculty for examination in six or . more studies of the Junior course, the State Board of Examiners shall examine such candidates, and the examination shall be final only in the school in which the candidate passes in all the branches selected. The above provision for examination shall take effect in June 1893 ; the changes in the Junior studies shall take effect in June 1894 ; and those in the Senior studies in June 1895."
The Elementary Course as thus revised is here given :
[Catalogue of Slippery Rock State Normal School 1893, Albert E. Maltby, Principal]
JUNIOR YEAR . [To take effect June, 1894]
PEDAGOGICS .- Elements of School Manage-
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ment, and Methods of Teaching the Common Branches.
LANGUAGE .- Orthography and Reading; Eng- lish Grammar, including Composition; Rhetoric; Latin, sufficient for the introduction of Caesar.
MATHEMATICS .- Arithmetic; Elementary Al- gebra, to Quadratic Equations; Plane Geometry, first two books.
NATURAL SCIENCE .- Physiology and Hy- giene.
HISTORICAL SCIENCES .- Geography-Physi- cal, Mathematical, and Political; History of the United States; Civil Government.
THE ARTS .- Penmanship, sufficient to be able to explain some approved system, writing to be submitted to the Board of Examiners ; Drawing, a daily exercise for at least twenty-eight weeks, work to be submitted to the Board of Examiners ; Book- , keeping, single entry, a daily exercise for at least seven weeks ; Vocal Music, elementary principles, and attendance upon daily exercises for at least one-third of a year.
PHYSICAL CULTURE .- "The exercises and drills in the gymnasium are maintained for the health of the students, and as an important element in the professional education of the teacher. The course, as arranged at present, comprises gymnastics for public schools; posings; marches; exercises with wands, bells, and clubs; and Delsarte movements."
[Special development of the topic for the school]
In this State Normal School the work of the Junior year is divided into parts designated respec- tively C, B, and A, and students are classed in di- visions corresponding to these parts.
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SENIOR YEAR [To take Effect June 1895]
PEDAGOGICS .- Psychology; Methods of Teach- ing the Common Branches; History of Education; Model School Work, at least twenty-one weeks of actual teaching daily during one period of not less than forty-five minutes; a Thesis on a Professional subject.
LANGUAGE .- English Literature, at least a fourteen weeks' course, including the thorough study of four English Classics; Latin, Caesar through the Helvetian War.
MATHEMATICS .- Elementary Algebra, com- pleted; Plane Geometry, completed.
NATURAL SCIENCES .- Elementary Natural Philosophy; Botany.
HISTORICAL SCIENCES .- Reading of General History in connection with the History of Educa- tion.
THE ARTS .- Elocutionary exercises in con- nection with the study of English Literature; Man- ual training.
The Slippery Rock State Normal School adopted Orthography, Reading, Geography, His- tory, Penmanship, Book-keeping, and Vocal Music as the branches in which students recommended by the faculty were to be examined as Sub-Juniors. [Known as Junior C. class]
The important changes made in the Elemen- tary Course in 1893 were :
I. The restoration of Mensuration to the Junior year under the subject of Arithmetic.
2. The division of Algebra into two parts [Quadratics], and the placing of quadratics and
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higher Algebra in the Senior year.
3. The division of Plane Geometry by pro- viding for the examination on the first two books at the close of the Junior year.
4. The removal of Rhetoric from the Sen- ior to the Junior year.
5. The introduction of Manual Training into the Senior year.
6. The establishment, in partial form, of the so-called Sub-Junior examinations.
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7. The requirement of two meetings of the Senior class each week for the discussion of the practice of teaching, although dropped from many catalogues before this time, seems now to have been officially omitted. [Present in Bloomsburg catalogue of 1890.]
From a sheet entitled "Recommendations sub- mitted to the Board of Principals," undated, and without signature, but evidently presented at the. meeting of 1893, the following recommendations which were not adopted are taken :
I. . That the Elementary Course be called the "English .Course."
2. That the degree of Bachelor of Elemen- tary Pedagogics [ B. E. P.] be granted to graduates in this course, to be followed by the degree of Master of Elementary Pedagogics [M. E. P.]
3. That a higher course in Pedagogics be established, leading to the degree of Bachelor and Master of Pedagogics. [B. P. and .M. P.]
That a certificate similar to the Junior 4. certificate be issued to students who pass the exam- ination in the Preparatory studies.
:5. That an attendance. of at least twelve
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weeks at a Normal School, or an experience of at least one term as teacher in the public schools, be required of all applicants for admission into the Senior class.
6. That General History and Botany be transferred to the Junior year, and that Mensuna- tion be retained in the Senior year.
7. That Senior Latin be increased to two books of Caesar.
8. That Manual Training be introduced iuto the Junior year, and that the Senior course in this subject consist of forty lessons.
The changes actually made in 1893, to take effect not later than 1895, were evidently unsatis- factory. This is shown by the fact that at a meet- ing called December 11, 1894, many of these changes were reversed even before they had gone into effect.
At this meeting three Advanced Courses were adopted, and the Elementary Course revised as fol- lows .:
[Catalogue of Keystone State Normal School George B. Hancher, Ph. D,, Principal]
ELEMENTARY COURSE [As revised December 11, 1894, to take effect not later than 1896] PREPARATORY STUDIES
LANGUAGE .- Orthography; Reading.
NATURAL SCIENCE .- Physiology and Hy- giene.
HISTORICAL SCIENCES .- Geography, Political and Physical; History of the United States.
THE ARTS .- Penmanship, sufficient to be able to explain some approved system, writing to be submitted to the Board of Examiners.
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Other studies, as Arithmetic, English Gram- mar, Algebra, etc., shall be added to the Prepara- tory year, said studies to be selected by each Nor- mal School, but the "final" examination in these added branches shall be deferred till the end of the Junior year.
JUNIOR YEAR
PEDAGOGICS .- School Management; Methods of Teaching the Common Branches.
LANGUAGE .- English Grammar; Latin, suffi- cient for the introduction of Caesar.
MATHEMATICS .- Arithmetic; Elementary Al- gebra.
NATURAL SCIENCE .- Botany.
HISTORICAL SCIENCE .- Civil Government.
THE ARTS .- Drawing, a daily exercise for at least twenty-four weeks, work to be submitted to the Board of Examiners; Book-keeping, single en- try, including a knowledge of common business papers, and a daily exercise for at least seven weeks; Vocal Music, elementary principles, and at- tendance upon daily exercises for at least twelve weeks.
PHYSICAL CULTURE.
SENIOR YEAR
PEDAGOGICS .- Psychology; Methods of Teach- ing the Common Branches; History of Education; Model School Work, at least twenty weeks of ac- tual teaching daily during one period of not less than forty-five minutes; a Thesis on a professional snbject.
LANGUAGE .- Rhetoric and Composition; Eng-
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lish Literature, at least twelve weeks' work, in- cluding the thorough study of four English Classics; Latin, Caesar through the Helvetian War.
MATHEMATICS .- Plane Geometry. NATURAL SCIENCE .- Elementary Natural Philosophy.
HISTORICAL SCIENCE .- General History.
THE ARTS .- Elocutionary exercises in con- nection with English Literature; Manual Training. PHYSICAL CULTURE.
The most noticeable change made in the course was the official recognition of the Preparatory year by the specification of the studies comprised in it. Other changes were as follows :
I. The separation of Algebra into two parts was abandoned, and the subject was placed in the Junior year.
2. The division of Plane Geometry was al- so abandoned, and the subject placed in the Senior year.
3. Botany was transferred to the Junior year.
4. Drawing was reduced to twenty-four weeks, the Model School work to twenty weeks, and Vocal Music to twelve weeks.
5. Book-keeping was made to include a knowledge of common business papers.
6. General History was officially made a separate branch of study.
7. The examination in the entire subject of Latin was placed at the close of the Senior year.
8. The discontinuance of the issuing of Junior certificates directly to the student.
9. Candidates for graduation were allowed.
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to take examinations in higher branches, the same to be named in their certificates.
10. Persons who have been graduated in any course were allowed examination in any branches of a higher course, the subjects to be named on the back of their diplomas.
II. A list, certified by the faculty and set- ting forth the grades obtained by the applicants for examination in the various branches, was officially required to be presented to the Board of Examin- ers.
12. A recommendation was made that the Legislature enact a law authorizing the possible in- crease of the Board of Examiners by the appoint- ment of not more than six superintendents. [See Act of April 20, 1895.]
At a meeting of the Board of Principals held February 5, 1896, an amendment was made to Rule 8, governing examinations, as follows :
"The certificate presented for applicants for admission to the Senior class in the Elementary Course shall also set forth the standing of said ap- plicants in the studies of the Junior year in which they are not examined." This is found in only one of the catalogues examined. [Shippensburg]
At this meeting the question of uniform ex- aminations was discussed, but no direct action was taken.
At the meeting held November 5, 1896, the following actions were taken :
I. That after 1897 the State Normal Schools of Pennsylvania discontinue issuing degrees to graduates in the Elementary Course, except the degree of Master of Elements to those holding the
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degree of Bachelor of Elements. [B, E. and M. E.]
2. Granting the degree of Bachelor of Ped- gogics to graduates in the Regular Normal Course, and the degree [M. P.] after two years' successful teaching.
3. Granting the degree of Bachelor of Sci- ence to graduates in the Scientific Course, and the degree of Master of Science after two years' success- ful teaching. [Was this not already the practice ?] 4. Examination in Junior Latin was re- stored.
At the meeting of the Board of Principals held November 4, 1897, the following actions were taken :
I. That the Middle State College require- ment in English be adopted as the requirement of the course for the preceding year in the Normal Schools. [Obligatory after 1898]
2. That the separate examination in the Preparatory studies-known as the Sub-junior ex- amination-be abolished. [To take effect not later than 1899]
The following is the Elementary Course as it stands to-day :
JUNIOR YEAR
PEDAGOGICS .- School Management; Methods of Teaching the Common Branches.
LANGUAGE .- Orthography and Reading; Eng- lish Grammar, including Composition; Latin, suf- ficient for the introduction of Caesar.
MATHEMATICS .- Arithmetic; Elementary Al- gebra.
NATURAL SCIENCES .- Geography, Political
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and Physical; History of the United States; Civil Government.
THE ARTS .- Penmanship, sufficient to be able to explain some approved system, writing to be submitted to the Board of Examiners; Drawing, a daily exercise for at least twenty-four weeks, work to be submitted to the Board of Examiners; Book- keeping, single entry, including a knowledge of common business papers, and a daily exercise for at least seven weeks; Vocal Music, elementary prin- ciples, and attendance upon daily exercises for at least twelve weeks.
PHYSICAL CULTURE .- Calisthenic Exercises.
SENIOR YEAR
PEDAGOGICS .- Psychology; Methods of Teach- ing the Common Branches; History of Education; Model School Work, at least twenty weeks of teaching daily during one period of not less than forty-five minutes; a Thesis on a professional sub- ject.
LANGUAGE .- Rhetoric and Composition; Eng- lish Literature, at least twelve weeks' work, in- cluding the thorough study of four English Clas- sics; Latin, Caesar, through the Helvetian War.
MATHEMATICS .- Plane Geometry.
NATURAL SCIENCE .- Elementary Natural Philosophy.
HISTORICAL SCIENCE .- General History.
THE ARTS .- Elocutionary exercises in con- nection with the study of English Literature; Man- ual Training.
PHYSICAL CULTURE.
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THE SCIENTIFIC COURSE
The Normal School Law provides for three distinct courses of study :- The Elementary Course, the Scientific Course, and the Classical Course.
The Edinboro catalogue of 1861 specifies the Scientific as a two years' course. The graduates from the Normal Course were permitted to com- plete this course in a year and one-half. The de- sign of this course was to prepare teachers for the English High Schools. The studies were as follows:
JUNIOR YEAR
Higher Algebra; Geometry; Plane Trigonom- etry; Analytical Trigonometry; Surveying; History of English Literature; Chemistry; Botany or Zool- ogy.
SENIOR YEAR
Analytical Geometry and Conic Sections; Dif- ferential and Integral Calculus; Analytical Mechan- ics; Natural Philosophy; Geology; Astronomy; Mental Philosophy; Moral Philosophy; and Politi- cal Science.
The catalogue of Indiana Normal School for 1875 contains a Scientific Course arranged for that institution. In its broad outline it does not differ materially from the more systematic course found in the catalogue of 1877 of the same institution, and also in the catalogues cf Bloomsburg and Lock Haven for 1878. The course is here given :
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