The Normal College of New York City.

of Education, who are required to attend until they have had two years' experience in the schools. They are formed in classes for practice, and each in turn becomes class teacher, subject to the criticism of her associates the professors, and the instructors.

As we have stated, the boon of conversation is granted during the five-minute intervals between recitations, and we half suspect that to some of the students — only the feather-brained ones, of course — these are the great events of the normal school day. A whirl of small-talk is compressed into the brief space, and an eavesdropper would be deafened by the variety of verbal nothingness that flows from tongues which a few moments previously have bravely enunciated "electric, chemic laws and all the rest." The appearance and history of the "distinguished visitors" who have been on the platform, the dress and subjects of the quotation-makers, the temper of the instructors, the state of the weather, amid much besides, are discussed with a volubility that amazes. But before the last second of the five minutes has expired the girls are as demure and silent as ever, and ready to resume their studies. Half an hour is allowed for luncheon, and that makes another interesting sight, though it is one upon which a modest visitor will not intrude. Time purveyor is a woman, whose counter is weighted with sandwiches, pies, and fruit, but candy is excluded on account of the president's reasonable consideration for his pupils' health — another regulation which proves how thorough an alma mater the Normal College is.

A covered passage, which is known among the girls as the "Bridge of Sighs," connects the college with the training schools. The latter consist of a female grammar and a mixed primary department, with a Kindergarten attached. They are perfect in their appointments, and wonderfully cheery in their appearance. In many places the Commissioners of Education have been compelled to abandon training schools connected with normal colleges, because the parents would not permit their children to be experimented upon by young and inexperienced teachers; but in the New York college this difficulty is avoided, each class being presided over by a veteran, who instructs the children three-quarters of the time. The other quarter is given to the pupil-teacher for practice, though the critic-teacher is always present and responsible; and the variety arising from the instruction under the former affords some relaxation to time wearied little ones.