The Massachusetts Teacher (Volume 13) - Tapa blanda

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1860. Excerpt: ... THE MASSACHUSETTS TEACHER. AUGUST, 1 8 6 0. Volume XIII. B. O. NOBTHBOP, Editor for this month. Number 8. v NORMAL SCHOOLS. Normal, from the Latin normalis, (norma,) originally meant according to the rule or square used by carpenters. Hence it became an expressive term to denote that which was according to established rule, or to well defined principles, or conformed to a pattern. A Normal School is one in which Didactics, or the principles of teaching, are taught, both as a science and an art--in theory and in practice. Teaching here assumes the character of a distinct profession. No profession more imperatively demands a special school for instruction in its appropriate science and methods. The difficulty of the science is equalled only by its importance. It is based on the most comprehensive of all sciences, the philosophy of the mind. It inquires what is the mind? What, more especially, is the juvenile mind? For it is far more difficult to comprehend the mind of the child than of the adult. What are its powers, capacities, and organic laws of growth? These laws are as positive and intelligible as those which regulate the growth of a plant. What is the relation of the mind to the body, and the mutual influence of the highest training and activity of each upon the other? What are the laws of bodily health as to ventilation, posture, school calisthenics and gymnastics? And the conscience--the most important of all our faculties, intel a lectual and moral, designed to harmonize them all--when shall its culture begin, and by what means can it be best secured? What is the primary purpose of all intellectual education, to which all means and methods shall be strictly subservient? What is the order, as to time, in which the different faculties are to be addre...