STATE COLLEGE OF KENTUCKY. 41 ` _
5— THE NORMAL SCHOOL, ITS WORK AND AIM. H'
V The question is often asked what is a Normal School? A
1 Normal School is a training school for teachers, that is, a
T school in which the pupils are trained for the more efficient
I I  discharge of their professional duties, when they shall in turn
T take their place in the school-room. The Normal School has
, for its object, more especially, the preparation of teachers for
H the graded schools—the Primary, Intermediate and Grammar,
t with the High School at their head—of our cities and towns, _
V and for the thousands of district schools scattered through-
_ out the Commonwealth. The training of such a school is- A
. ‘ F/r.s·i.—Academic. The pupil is required to know thor¥
T oughly and scientifically the subjects, a knowledge of which he
. is expected to impart to others. These subjects, Arithmetic,
T Grammar, Geography, History, etc., are embraced in the cur-
riculum appointed by law to be taught in the common schools
~ of the State. Other subjects, the Languages, ancient and mod-
ern, the Mathematics up to a point within the limit demanded
j by practical life, the Physical Sciences, Psychology, etc., are
included in a higher scheme of study, and are intended to
qualify the young man for a more advanced place, as well as T
j to satisfy the wants of the High School and the Academy.
Y Scc0ncZZy.—But a knowledge of these matters only, however _
' comprehensive and accurate it may be, falls short of what the
position of the teacher calls for. The teacher should be made
l as thoroughly and profoundly acquainted with the child to
whom this knowledge is to be communicated, as his talents and
H opportunities will permit. XVhat Anatomy and Physiology are J-
to the art of the Physician, Psychology and Ethics are to the
art of the teacher.
_ T/tircZZy.——Derived from an analysis of the mental and moral
` powers, and from Logic, are these principles which underlie the i
` teachers art. The teacher’s skill is best shown in the proper
adjustment of the subjects taught to the mind instructed. He
should be familiar with the best methods of bringing knowledge
to the intelligent apprehension of the child, and, in order to do {