USA > Pennsylvania > Lancaster County > A History of the Courses of Study in the State Normal Schools of Pennsylvania > Part 8
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graduation, and, if satisfied with their qualifica- tions, they refer them to the Board of Examiners for further examination. .
The Board of Examiners consists of such Principals of the State Normal Schools as may be designated by the Superintendent of Common Schools ; and the examinations are to be conducted in the presence of the State Superintendent, and the County Superintendents of the Normal Dis- . trict in which the school is located.
The Board of Examiners may ask questions upon all the branches of study included in the sev- eral courses ; but this examination is intended to have particular reference to the Theory of Teach- ing.
The catalogues of 1863, 1864, and 1865 con- tain the same statement of the plan of examina- tions. In that of 1866, the following words are added :
A Thesis upon some educational subject will be required as a part of the examination.
Examinations were held under the Act of April 15, 1859, until the Act of April 3, 1872 was passed, changing somewhat the duties of the Board of Examiners, and setting forth the official com- position of the Board. The Act provides :
That all examinations of the graduating classes at the Normal Schools shall be conducted by a Board of which the State Superintendent or his Deputy shall be President, of two Principals of the Normal Schools, of whom the Principal of the School where students are under examination shall be one, and two County, City, or Borough Super- intendents of the District in which the school is
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located, to be appointed by the State Superintend- ent.
The act of April 12, 1875 determined the num- ber of votes required for graduation.
That no person shall graduate at a State Nor- mal School, or receive a state certificate as a prac- tical teacher, unless by the affirmative vote of four out of five members of the Board of Examiners.
The catalogue of the State Normal School at Indiana, 1875, sets forth the general plan of the ex- aminations under this law (page 69). Modifications of the general plan of examinations were intoduced in 1886, (pages 76 and 78), in 1893 (page 79), and in 1894 (page 85).
In April 1895 the Legislature passed an Act authorizing the increase of the Board of Examiners. The general plan of the examinations under this law is shown on page 96 and 97, and the law is quoted on page 98. The modifications therein set forth were adopted at meetings of the Board of Principals in 1894, 1896, and 1897.
Diplomas and Degrees
The first direct statement in regard to diplo- mas and degrees is found in the Millersville cata- logue for 1861. Following is the text :
DIPLOMAS
A student graduating in the Elementary Course, will receive a diploma, in which will be named the branches he has studied, and by which he will be constituted Bachelor of the Elements ; the Diplomas of those graduating in the Scientific and Classical Courses, will enumerate the distinct- ive branches of these courses, and constitute their
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holders, respectively BACHELORS OF THE SCI- ENCES, and BACHELORS OF THE CLASSICS.
Regular graduates who have continued their studies for two years, who have practiced their pro- fession during two, full, annual terms in the Com- mon Schools of the State, and who have presented to the faculty and Board of Examiners, a certificate of good moral character and skill in the art of teaching from the Board, or Boards of Directors in whose employment they taught, countersigned by the proper County Superintendent, may receive second Diplomas, constituting them MASTERS in the several studies embraced in the courses in which they graduated, and conferring upon them corresponding professional degrees as follows :-
' TEACHERS OF ELEMENTARY DIDACTICS. TEACHERS OF SCIENTIFIC DIDACTICS.
TEACHERS OF CLASSICAL DIDACTICS.
The Diplomas, granted in accordance with these conditions, will contain an enumeration of the branches of study in which the holder is found proficient, and confer upon him the professional degree to which the extent of his knowledge may entitle him.
All the diplomas are authorized and furnished by the State, and exempt those who hold them from any further examination by authorities acting under the provisions of our Common School laws.
The following special notice, taken from the catalogue of the Millersville Normal School for 1863, shows that there may be occasions rendering necessary some very sudden and complete changes in the Normal School Course. All honor to the brave sons of Millersville who so nobly rose to
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the needs of the crisis when the high-water mark of the rebellion was reached :-
"The term of School which would have ended on September 4th was suddenly interrupted by the rebel invasion of the State ; and after the approach of the enemy to the Susquehanna, and the burning of the Columbia Bridge, it was found impossible to keep the school together, and the largest number of students ever assembled in the Normal School scattered-some to seek the security of home, and others to aid in driving back the ruthless invaders of our soil.
The Principal of the School raised a Regi- ment, the 47th P. V. M., in which were two Pro- fessors of the Institution, and a large number of its students. The Regiment, having accomplished the work assigned it, was mustered out of service on the 13th of August.
The Normal School will therefore re-open as us- ual on the second Monday in October. (1863)"
Data kindly furnished by Dr. J. R. Flickinger, from a series of catalogues of the Edinboro State Normal School, give the courses of study in that venerable institution. Recognized as a State Nor- mal School in 1861, the institution sets forth in its first catalogue the following courses :
PREPARATORY COURSE
Designed to fit students for entrance upon the Higher Courses.
NORMAL COURSE
Designed for students who have passed the Preparatory Course, and for those who, upon ex- amination, are found to possess a fair knowledge of
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the branches required by law to be taught in the common schools. The course covers three years, and the studies are as follows :
JUNIOR YEAR
Orthography; Etymology; Reading and Elocu- tion; Writing; Drawing; Geography, Political and Physical; Arithmetic, Mental and Written; English Grammar; Science of Language; and Vocal Music. : MIDDLE YEAR
Reading and Elocution; Drawing of Maps; Ge- ography, Topical and Physical; Higher Arithmetic, Mental and Written; Science of Language; Pencil and Crayon Drawing; Vocal Music; History of the United States; Physiology; Higher Algebra; Book- keeping; and Theory of Teaching.
SENIOR YEAR
Algebra, completed; Geometry; Elements of Natural Philosophy; Grammar and Rhetoric; Ele- ments of Geology; Theory of Teaching; Plane Trigonometry and Surveying; Elements of Chem- istry; Mental Philosophy; Botany or Zoology; Ele- ments of Political Science; and Theory and Prac- tice of Teaching.
An examination of the above course shows that in the Junior year there were no professional studies, and that no Latin was taught in the course. It was intended to prepare teachers for the com- mon schools, and thus corresponded to our present Elementary Course.
A Change in the Normal Course appears in the catalogue of 1865. It is now called the Ele- mentary Course, and extends through two years designated respectively Junior and Senior. Stu- dents are expected to have a fair knowledge of Or- thography, Reading and Elocution, Writing, Draw-
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ing, Mental Arithmetic, Written Arithmetic, Po- litical Geography, Physical Geography, Grammar and Composition, and Vocal Music.
JUNIOR YEAR
A thorough review, with reference to teach- ing them, of the several branches of study required by law to be taught in the Common Schools of Pennsylvania. Also Elementary Algebra, Book- keeping, Physiology, and the Theory of Teaching.
SENIOR YEAR
Elements of Rhetoric; Geometry; Elements of Botany or Geology; Elements of Natural Philoso- phy; History and Constitution of the United States; and Theory and Practice of Teaching, including one-half year in the Model School.
The catalogue of 1868 contains only the Ele- mentary Course extending through two years. The chief difference between it and the present course are the absence of Latin, Physical Culture, and General History and the presence of Solid Geome- try and Ethics.
In this catalogue is found the first reference to State Aid for students. The Legislature of 1867 appropriated $12000 for the education of teachers in Normal Schools during the year beginning June 1, 1868. The conditions on which it was granted were the same as at present. The same Act also . provided for the payment of fifty dollars to each graduate.
Additional light as to the character of the courses of study pursued in the Normal Schools of the State is given by the First Catalogue of the Indiana State Normal School for the year 1875. The Elementary Course at that date is given below :
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[Indiana First Catalogue 1875, Edmund B. Fairfield, D. D., LL. D.]
PREPARATORY
Orthography; Reading and Elocution; Writing; Drawing; Mental Arithmetic; Written Arithmetic; Geography; English Grammar; and Vocal Music.
JUNIOR YEAR
Orthography; Mental Arithmetic; English Grammar; Written Arithmetic; Reading and Elo- cution; Writing; Drawing; Lectures on Anatomy and Physiology; Etymology; History of the United States; Physical Geography; Higher Arithmetic; Elementary Algebra; Vocal Music; Natural Philos- ophy; and English History.
SENIOR YEAR
Algebra, completed; Geometry; Rhetoric; Read- ing and Elocution; School Economy; Physiology; Book-keeping; Chemistry; Science of Government; Constitution of the United States; Botany; General History; Mental Philosophy; Moral Philosophy; Theory of Teaching; and Practice of Teaching.
EXAMINATIONS
The examinations at this time were conducted by a State Board consisting of five members who tested the qualifications of the candidates upon ALL of the branches of the course at the close of the Senior year. Admission to the Senior class was in the hands of the faculty. According to this cat- alogue, special attention was given to the science and art of teaching.
Dr. Edmund B. Fairfield was at that time Principal of the school at Indiana.
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[Indiana Catalogue 1877, David M. Sensenig, M. S. ]. ELEMENTARY COURSE
A thorough knowledge of the branches taught , in common schools as required by law, including higher Arithmetic and higher Grammar ; also,
GEOGRAPHY .- Physical, as much as is found in Warren's ; and Mathematical, as much as is found in Smith's.
ETYMOLOGY .- As much as in Webb's Etymol- ogy.
GEOMETRY .- Plane Geometry.
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 the large common school text-books.
NATURAL PHILOSOPHY .- As found in the or- dinary text-books, with the use of apparatus.
RHETORIC .- As found in the ordinary text- books.
HISTORY of the UNITED STATES and CON- STITUTION .- 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 ordi- nary text-books, and attendance upon daily exer- cises for at least one-third of a year.
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THEORY OF TEACHING .- This embraces three things, namely :
I. A knowledge of the mental and moral powers, and the methods of training them.
2. A knowledge of the methods of teach- ing the different branches of study. .
3. A knowledge of the methods of organ- · izing and managing public schools.
THE PRACTICE OF TEACHING .- This includes forty-five minutes of daily practice in the Model School for at least one-half of a school year, and two meetings each week for the discussion of the Practice of Teaching.
. The THEORY of TEACHING must be com- menced the second half of the junior year, and continued during the entire course.
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.
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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. Tlie 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 theadoption 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.
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