II. GIRLS' HIGH AND NORMAL SCHOOL, AT CHARLESTON, S. CAROLINA. THE PUBLIC HIGH AND NORMAL SCHOOL FOR GIRLS in the City of Charleston, South Carolina, was established in 1858 and opened in the new building erected for its accommodation in 1860. The Commissioners of Free Schools, of which C. S. Memminger was chairman, thus set forth the purpose of this institution.

The purpose of this School is two-fold. First, it proposes to add to the advantages of primary instruction given by the various Public Schools of lower grade, all the advantages of higher education which are offered by the best schools for girls. From the great advantages which a large public school, with ample resources, can always command over private schools, it is safe to say that in all the elements necessary to insure success, this school must be without a rival in our community, in furnishing that education which cultivated parents desire for their daughters. Its second purpose is the education of young ladies for the profession of teachers. It is proposed to form into a special class all those whose purpose it is to devote themselves to this honorable work, and whose qualifications admit of their receiving the proper course of instruction, and to devote as much time and labor to such exercises as will be of value to them in their future duties. These exercises will be such as would be of high value to any pupils sufficiently advanced to engage in them-to those who propose to teach they are indispensable. The power of teaching well comes not by intuition; the best kind of education would probably give it to most men, but most of even the well-educated men and women are without it, though to no person of average ability is its acquisition impossible. It comes, however, only as other arts come; by special training, by well-directed efforts, and by patient labor. By no means a secondary purpose in importance is that of furnishing to our city and State a corps of well-educated and intelligent young ladies, who will train, in their turn, the minds and hearts of the thousands who will be committed to their charge. The School is supplied with teachers of tried ability and large reputation, in all its departments. The several congressional districts of the State have a right to send fifteen pupils each to this school, to enter the Normal department.

I. BUILDING AND FURNITURE.

The building erected for the accomodation of this school, of which we furnish illustrations, has one School Room on the second floor 40 by 40 feet, with four class-rooms, each 18 by 23 feet; and a large Lecture Room on the third floor 40 by 63 feet, with two class-rooms, each 18 by 28 feet; and a Play Room 25 by 40 feet and Library on the first floor, and a room for the Commissioners on the Dome floor.

COMMISSIONERS

ROOM

STAIRCASE
MALL

DOME STORY

VERMONT STATE NORMAL SCHOOLS,

THE Board of Education of Vermont in their report to the Legislature in 1866, stated that a favorable opportunity was presented to establish a Normal school, the Trustees of Randoph Academy having offered the use of their school property for a term of years for such a purpose. The Legislature accepted the proposition, and passed an act which was approved November 16th, 1866, by which the academy known as the "Orange County Grammar School," at Randolph, was constituted and established a "Normal School for the State of Vermont," for the term of five years, and the trustees of the Grammar school and their successors were constituted trustees of the Normal School.

The State Board of Education nominate the principal, arrange the courses of study, control the examinations for admission and graduation, grant certificates of qualification, and report the conditions of the school annually, to the Legislature. One section of the act also provided that the Board might consider similar proposals from other academies in the State, and establish not exceeding one Normal School in each congressional district, and arrange courses of study, conduct examinations, nominate teachers, and generally exercise the same supervision as provided in the act for the Normal School at Randolph.

The trustees of such academies as were designated State Normal Schools, were to be respectively trustees of these schools, and have the same powers and rights as the trustees of the Normal School established by this act, provided that either or all of said Normal Schools should be established and maintained without any expense to the State excepting the payment of the Board of Education for their services.

In accordance with the provisions of the Normal School act, the Board of Education have established a Normal School in each of the three congressional districts, as follows: First District, at Castleton, in Rutland county; Second District, at Randolph, in Orange county; Third District, at Johnson, in Lamville county, with two courses of study, and the following regulations.

COURSE OF STUDY.

1st, Elementary Course. Arithmetic, Geography, History and Constitution of Vermont and the United States. Interpretation of sentences, including parsing, analysis, paraphrasing, and the definition of words; Book-keeping through single entry, and Reading. Examination to be in writing in all except reading.

2d, Advanced Course. Candidates having passed a satisfactory examination in the first course, must be examined in Book-keeping by double

entry, Algebra, Physical Geography, Physiology, Botany, Natural Philosophy, Analysis of one book of Cowper or Thompson, Exposition of Milton's Paradise Lost or Bacon's Essays, and in some two of the following: Geometry, Astronomy, Chemistry, Geology, Surveying, Zoology, Evidences of Christianity, Rhetoric, Intellectual and Moral Philosophy.

REGULATIONS.

Classes exhibiting the qualifications required to pass an examination for admission, may be admitted at the beginning of each spring and fall term. Individuals may be admitted at any time, upon evincing qualifications corresponding to the attainments of existing classes. Examinations of such as have completed the courses of study shall be held at the close of each spring and fall term. Candidates for graduation must be examined through the entire course in which they wish to graduate.

The certificates of graduation must be signed by the president of the Board of Trustees, the principal of the school, and by the secretary and visiting member of the Board of Education.

Pupils will not be permitted to study branches in the higher course until at least six of the subjects of the first course have been completed to the satisfaction of the teachers of the school; nor then to the neglect of the subjects not so completed. No studies not laid down in the two courses of study, shall be pursued in the Normal Schools.

STATE NORMAL SCHOOL AT RANDOLPH.

This Normal School, which is the first organized under the Statute, was formally opened on the 26th day of February, 1867. The building is well situated in a quiet community; is nearly new and well adapted to the purposes for which it is now used. The former principal of the Grammar school, Mr. Edward Conant, was appointed principal of the Normal School. The number of candidates examined for admission in the spring term of 1867, was thirty-seven, of whom thirty-two were admitted. The whole number of pupils in the summer term was one hundred, and the whole number during the year, one hundred and twenty-five. Six passed the examination for graduation.

STATE NORMAL SCHOOL AT JOHNSON.

The Normal School at Johnson was opened in 1867. The building is new and spacious, having been erected with reference to the health, convenience and comfort of those who may occupy it; the apparatus is in good condition, and well adapted to the wants of the institution; and an excellent library of valuable standard works is provided. Mr. S. H. Pearl was appointed principal of this school. Forty-three students were admitted the first or spring term, six during the summer term, and twenty-four in the autumn term; whole number connected with the school the first three terms, according to the report of the principal, eighty-seven. A class of five young ladies graduated at the close of the spring term.

NEBRASKA STATE NORMAL SCHOOL

AT PERU, NEMEHA COUNTY.

HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT

THE friends of education in this State had for some years felt the need of an institution for the training of teachers, but no feasible plan was presented till 1867, when the trustees of the Seminary at Peru, Nemeha County, offered the Seminary building to the State for Normal School purposes. The liberal offer was accepted by the State, and the Legisla ture, by an act passed June, 1867, established the Normal School and located it at Peru. The School is placed under the supervision of a Board of Education which consists of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, the State Treasurer, and five other persons appointed by the Governor.

The site for the Normal School includes sixty acres of land on high rolling ground, in view of the Missouri River for sixteen miles. The building is of brick, eighty feet long, forty feet wide, and three stories high. Though not completely finished and arranged for the use of the School, it was in such a state of progress as to be occupied at the commencement of the term. The estimated value of the site and the building complete is $25,000. The Legislature at its last session appropriated three thousand dollars to aid in fitting up the building, and also twenty sections of land for an endowment fund.

Prof. J. M. McKensie was elected Principal. Two assistants were also appointed, and the School was opened Oct. 24th, 1867.

TERMS OF ADMISSION.

The Board of Education apportion two pupils from each State Senatorial District, who are permitted to attend the Normal School at half tuition, upon presenting to the Principal a certificate of their appointment by the Senator in the proper District, and conforming to the requirements of admission.

Students desiring to enter the Normal Department are required—

1st. To be, if males, not less than 17, if females, not less than 16 years of age. 2d. To give satisfactory evidence of good moral character.

3d. To sign a declaration of their intention to devote themselves to school teaching in this State, in form as follows: "I hereby declare my intention to become a teacher in the schools in this State, and agree that for three years after leaving the Normal School, I will report in writing to the Principal of said School, in June and December of each year, where have been and how employed."

4th. To pass a satisfactory examination before the Principal, in arithmetic, through common fractions; geography, through United States and general questions; English grammar, to syntax; reading, writing and spelling.

The Institution will be open to all persons wishing to attend who will conform to the regulations adopted by the Board of Education.

Tuition in the Normal Department, $8,00, in the Model School, $6,00, and in the Seminary, $8.00 per term; Latin, extra, 2,00; Music on melodeon, $10,00; Ornamental branches at usual rates.