Page:Japan by the Japanese (1904).djvu/271
writing, music, gymnastics and drill. In addition, a foreign language, agriculture, commerce, or manual work, may be included. The subjects of study for females are morals, pedagogics, Japanese, Chinese, history, geography, mathematics, sciences, household management, writing, drawing, music, and gymnastics. A simpler or preparatory normal course to train regular teachers for ordinary primary schools may be added to the regular course.
Candidates for admission to the ordinary normal schools must be between fifteen and twenty years of age, and possess attainments at least equivalent to those who are qualified to serve as assistant teachers in ordinary primary schools.
The pupils’ expenses, including board and lodging, are supplied by the local treasury, and in return for this help the pupils are required to give their services at one or another primary school for ten years in the case of men, and five years in the case of women, from the date of their graduation.
In connection with each ordinary normal school a primary school provides practical experience in teaching for normal students.
The directors are officials of the State, and the teachers enjoy the same treatment as those of secondary schools. As regards the number of students in one school there are no special regulations. In the majority of schools there are about 200 students, while in some are more than 400, all of whom live in the dormitories. The number in one class must be less than 40; the number of teachers is the same as in secondary schools.
In 1902 the number of ordinary normal schools was 54; male students, 11,900; female students, 2,000; male graduates, 2,215; female graduates, 503. It is anticipated that the yearly average of graduates will be at least 3,600. In 1902 the number of teachers was 1,032, of whom 216 were not licensed. The total expenses for the ordinary normal schools in the same year amounted to £302,104.
Higher normal schools are designed to train students as teachers of ordinary normal schools, secondary schools, and girls’ high schools. There are two higher normal schools in Japan—one at Tokyo, the other at Hiroshima—the expense of both being defrayed out of the national Treasury.
The scheme of the school is the division of its courses into preparatory, principal, post-graduate, and special. The period of study extends over one year in the preparatory, three in the principal, and one in the post-graduate course. The preparatory course includes the following subjects, namely: morals, the Japanese language, Chinese literature, English, mathematics, logic, drawing, music, gymnastics and drill. The principal course is divided into five sections—of Japanese