Page:A history of the Michigan state normal school (now Normal college) at Ypsilanti, Michigan, 1849-1899 (IA historyofmichiga00putniala).pdf/130



This relation between the Normal School and the city schools continued only two years. Various catses conspired to render the plan but moderately successful. Among these were the distance between the schools, the difficulty of securing proper supervision of pupil teaching, and especially the aversion of many parents to the idea that their children were being “‘practiced upon'’ by inexperienced teachers. While this experiment was going on the old ‘‘Model’’ or practice school, consisting of primary and grammar grades, had ceased toexist. The work of organizing and building up a school for observation and practice was necessarily begun anew. At first, in 1872, the primary grades only were organized. ‘These were placed under the charge of a single teacher who was aided in the instruction, as far as necessary, by pupil teachers. The work of these teachers was largely voluntary and the supervision and criticism of their teaching were very limited. In 1874, upon the earnest recommendation of the Principal and the Director, the school was enlarged by the organization of the grammar grades. ‘These were put in charge of a single regular instructor whose work was supplemented by pupil teaching. The supervision of practice teaching was increased to some extent, but was still very inadequate from the ‘fact that the regular teachers were occupied most of the time in the instruction of classes. The grading of the primary and grammar departments was made to conform to that of the public schools of the State and a full course of studies was arranged and published. ‘To render the supervision more satisfactory the Director suggested that ‘‘those who gave instruction in the various branches in the Normal School would most naturally and efficiently do the supervision of the practice teaching in the branches under their charge.”’

In a special report to the Board of Education, in January, 1876, it was stated that proper supervision might be secured in either of two ways:

1. ‘'First, provision may be made so that each teacher of the Normal School shall supervise and criticise the practice teaching done in the branches of study under his especial charge.

2. The other plan is to employ suitable persons to perform the special