STATE NORMAL SCHOOL, FITCHBURG.

JOHN G. THOMPSON, PRINCIPAL.

INSTRUCTORS.

JOHN G. THOMPSON, A.M., Pedagogy, School Management, School Law and English; EMILY H. LEONARD, Psychology and English Composition; HELEN M. HUMPHREY, Mathematics; HARRIET A. LUDDINGTON, History and Geography; PRESTON SMITH, Natural Science and Manual Training; ANNETTE J. WARNER, Drawing and Nature Study; CHARLES E. BOYD, Vocal Music; MARY G. CANNON, Physical Culture.

Practice Schools: CHARLES S. ALEXANDER, Principal; NELLIE ALLEN, MARY I. CHAPIN, MATTIE A. COLE, Supervisors.

Model Schools: L. FRANCES JONES, Grade 1; IDA M. AUSTIN, Grade 2; teachers for Grades 3, 4 and 8 not yet appointed.

Practice and Model Schools: ANNETTE J. WARNER, Supervisor of Drawing and Nature Study; CHARLES E. BOYD, Supervisor of Music; MARY G. CANNON, Supervisor of Physical Culture.

IN GENERAL.

It was hoped that, with the opening of the school year in September, 1896, the new normal school building would be ready for occupancy. There were some special reasons why this was desired. The success of the first year was such as to warrant the belief that the entering class would be large and that the school would need more room. This was found to be the fact. The class which entered last fall numbers more than sixty and the full enrolment is something over a hundred. In addition to this, it was felt that the city had great need of the old high school building, and that the State could not, in justice, keep it a day longer than was absolutely necessary. For these and other reasons, the work was urged as much as possible. Still, with all the haste that could be made the building was not occupied until December 2. Although the year closes with the school in its new quarters, some of the rooms have only a part of the furniture which has been designed for them. It is expected that the building will be dedicated some time in January.

The building itself was wisely planned and has been thoroughly built. The rooms are large, attractive and admirably adapted for the work of the school. It would be hard to find a building better fitted for its purpose. It is worthy of the State and of the cause for which it was erected.

WORK OF THE YEAR.

It is understood that this report is not to cover details, for in the nature of the case only a general statement can be made. The fact that this school, organized in September, 1895, and not to graduate its first class until next June, has already a membership of one hundred and eight, is a sufficient proof both that it came to a field prepared to receive it and that it has been doing its work well. The work of the teachers and the diligence of the pupils are both heartily commended. Some changes in the list of instructors have been made and new teachers have been added, to meet the demands arising from an increase in the number of students. Of course this school still lacks much of the equipment and apparatus which a normal school should have. Some of these will be supplied with the furnishings of the new building, but the library, where this need is most felt, must, in the nature of the case, be very largely a growth. It ought not to be expected that these new schools will be able to gather at once what the older schools have been years in securing. Still, so far as it goes, we believe that the Fitchburg school has one of the best selected libraries to be found in any normal school of the State.

The pupils are full of energy, zeal and enthusiasm; they are willing workers and ready to second the efforts of the teachers. With a knowledge of methods and principles, we believe that these pupils are, also, acquiring the true professional spirit. This, it must be admitted, is of the greatest importance.

TRAINING AND MODEL SCHOOLS.

In the Fitchburg Normal School the model and training schools are separate. We believe that this is the only way of securing the very best results. Last September, in accordance with the terms of the agreement, the city of Fitchburg placed one of its grammar schools under the control of the State, to be used as a training or practice school. The city pays the

same per pupil for the education of the children attending this school as for the same service in the other schools, and the State agrees that the work in this school shall be as good as that in the other schools of the city. In this school are thirteen rooms, where the members of the graduating class teach under close supervision. Each member of the class is expected to have charge of a room for ten or twelve weeks, is a regularly appointed teacher, and does the work of that grade as such. The classes in the normal school are so divided and the work so arranged as to meet these requirements. Four permanent teachers are employed in the training school. These teachers were selected both because the visitors were furnished with evidence of their successful experience and because they were believed to have special ability and fitness for this work. They are expected to do all that skill and energy can accomplish, to aid, instruct, encourage and strengthen these young teachers, and to make sure that the work is maintained on a high level. The first division of the graduating class has just finished its practice work, and a second division is now taking its place. We invite special attention to this part of the work. We believe that its importance can hardly be overestimated. It has been successful so far, certainly, and promises most excellent results for the future. The young women who have been teaching in the training school have constantly gained in confidence, skill and power; they have learned to do by doing; they have received helpful instruction at the time and upon the subjects when and where such instruction would do the most good, and as a result they will enter upon their work under most favorable conditions. No effort will be spared to make this part of the work increasingly helpful.

After January, 1897, we expect to have five model schools, one in each of the four lowest grades and one in the eighth. grade. These schools are for observation and illustration, but the pupils will not teach in these schools. The two lowest grades are for the present in the normal school building; the others are in a building furnished by the city, according to agreement. In the training school there is, also, one ungraded room, which will be kept as a model school of this class. As many of the graduates may be called to begin their work in ungraded schools, it is thought that this room will prove a most