Normal School Curriculum

This page includes examples of the way students at the Superior State Normal School were taught during the Great War era. Education for teachers in rural communities was one goal of the school, but teaching about the new idea of kindergarten was another important focus. Below are portions of several different publications from the Normal School.

As the war began to hold the attention of Americans, school gardens gained new meaning and importance, and patriotism weighed heavily on the minds of school officials and students alike, as can be seen by the creation of courses or work regarding patriotism.

 

Hoping to inspire more students to enroll, the Superior Normal School wrote at length about the good points about the city. (June 1913 Bulletin of the State Normal School. University Archives, UW-Superior Special Collections.)

Hoping to inspire more students to enroll, the Superior Normal School wrote at length about the good points of the city.1

 

History Games and Devices Handbook November 1917, State Normal School of Superior Bulletin

A book detailing the teaching of history at the Normal School shows how important the author felt it was that history be real to the teacher so it would be real to the students being taught. 2

 

First Page of History Games and Devices Handbook

The first page of the history-teaching handbook focused on instructing the teacher to be enthused about the topic of history so that the children would have the same respect for the topic. 3

 

At the end of the History Games brochure, there is a section called "Patriotism." It is interesting to note that the German Club disappeared from the school bulletins after 1916, though the German was still taught as a course.

At the end of the history-teaching publication was a section entitled Patriotism. It is interesting to note that the German Club disappeared from the Normal School bulletins after 1916, though the German language was still taught as a course.4

 

kindergarten 1917 p 39

This page from the 1917 yearbook is an explanation on the idea of kindergarten for young children. 5

 

The quarterly bulletin included various requirements for those who attended the Normal School.

The quarterly Normal School bulletin included various requirements for those who attended the Normal School. 6

 

In 1918, a new section was included in the school bulletin; War Service Work.

In 1918, a new section was included in the school bulletin: War Service Work. This involved courses in nursing, conservation and other war time necessities. 7

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1 “General Information,” Bulletin of the State Normal School, June 1913. University Archives, UW-Superior Special Collections.
2 Gillett, A.D.S. “History Games and Devices.” Bulletin of the State Normal School. 13, no. 50 (November 1917), front cover. University Archives, UW-Superior Special Collections.
3 Gillett, A.D.S. “History Games and Devices.” Bulletin of the State Normal School. 13, no. 50 (November 1917), 1. University Archives, UW-Superior Special Collections.
4 Gillett, A.D.S. “History Games and Devices.” Bulletin of the State Normal School. 13, no. 50 (November 1917), 18. University Archives, UW-Superior Special Collections.
5 “What Kindergarten Education Means.” Gitche Gumee, 1917, 39. University Archives, UW-Superior Special Collections.
6 “Quarterly Bulletin,” Bulletin of the State Normal School, June 1917, 18. University Archives, UW-Superior Special Collections.
7 “War Service Work,” Bulletin of the State Normal School, June 1918. University Archives, UW-Superior Special Collections.