Page:A history of the Michigan state normal school (now Normal college) at Ypsilanti, Michigan, 1849-1899 (IA historyofmichiga00putniala).pdf/86



The explanation of these courses, found in the catalogue of the school for 1871-2, gives a pretty full account of the professional work included in each course. The “Common School Course” included (1) “a review of the studies taught in the common schools, with special reference to methods of teaching and illustration; (2) a full year of strictly professional instruction and training, embracing the work of observation and practice teaching.” This year of professional instruction included, (1) “the general elementary principles of Psychology in the form of familiar lectures, with references to such books as pupils at this stage of advancement can read with profit; (2) the general principles of elementary teaching; order, laws, and means of developing and training the faculties and powers of children, and the ends to be kept in view and attained in the instruction of the young; (3) general methods of elementary teaching, applicable to all branches of study, and special methods, applicable to particular branches, and to particular classes of pupils; (4) the subject of common school organization, government, discipline, etc.; and (5) the work of observation, practice teaching, criticism, etc.”

The “Full English Course” included all the professional instruction of the common school course, all the English studies taught in any department of the public schools, and one year of higher professional instruction and training. This instruction embraced, (1) “a thorough knowledge of Psychology, with its applications to the work of education in respect both to principles and methods in the higher departments of study and teaching; (2) the principles and methods of school government, grading and classification; (3) school systems and school laws, and the history of education; (4) relations of teachers to pupils, parents, each other, and to society; (5) observation, practice teaching, criticism, etc.” The language courses included the same professional instruction as the full English course.

The Board provided that a diploma from the common school course should serve as a legal certificate for three years, and that such certificate might be renewed, if the holder should present to the Faculty of the normal school satisfactory evidence of success in teaching. A diploma from any one of the higher courses