﻿ix. d. 2 Cain: History of the Spanish Normal School 127 



THE COURSE OF STUDY 



During the first four years after the opening of the normal 

 school, the course of study was to cover a period of two years. 

 Thereafter, the time was to be increased to three years. For 

 the purpose of perfecting their studies, graduates were to be 

 permitted to return to the school for a year of postgraduate work, 

 in case this did not interfere with the work of the undergraduate 

 students. 



The decrees provided that the course of study should comprise 

 the following subjects : Reading, writing, arithmetic, music, rules 

 of courtesy, religion, morals, sacred history, Spanish geography 

 and history, practical agriculture, physical and natural science, 

 geometry, the Spanish language, and the elements of pedagogy. 



The director of the normal school was to select a list of books' 

 for use in the school. Upon the approval of the superior civil 

 government, these were to become the textbooks of pupils and 

 were to be used as the basis of the explanations given in the 

 schools. When necessary, these texts were to be revised in 

 such a way as better to meet educational conditions. 



In the same locality as the normal school, but separated 

 therefrom, was to be a primary school composed of nonresident 

 boys. This was to be under the supervision of a teacher of 

 the normal school, and was to be used as a training school 

 for the students. As a requisite fo.r graduation, each student 

 was to be required to do at least six months of practice teaching. 5 



Provision was made for a private examination at the end 

 of each month in each of the classes of the normal school and 

 also for an examination at the close of the first semester, cover- 

 ing all of the subjects studied up to that time. As a reward 

 for deportment, application, and progress, as well as a mark 

 of punishment for bad manners, laziness, and a lack of interest, 

 the ratings of all pupils were to be read monthly in the presence 

 of the students, the instructors, and the director. At the close 

 of each year, public examinations were to be held in the presence 

 of the government officials and other distinguished persons 

 of the capital. At the close of the examinations, the results 

 were to be announced and prizes were to be awarded. 



WHO WERE TO BE ADMITTED AS STUDENTS 



The decrees provided for regular resident students, who were 

 to be selected from the several provinces in proportion to the 



6 For a description of the manner in which the practice school was con- 

 ducted, see pages 147 to 149. 



