In early April, "the legislature appropriated $37,000 for a training school building."1 Known as the "Annex," the training school building was completed within the year, featuring a Moorish Renaissance architectural style and a two-story wooden structure that had a slate roof and two towers.1 "The Annex was used for about forty years, during which time the training school enjoyed an excellent reputation."1
The board of trustees held a meeting on July 28 to adopt plans for the training school building as drafted by an architect, F. Lobdell.1
The 1891-1892 Course of Study for Training Department outlines the course of study for Grades 1 through 9 in the Training Department.2
California passed the first law in 1897 "providing for kindergarten departments in state normal schools, with diplomas issued for kindergarten teaching."3
The 1898 Board of Trustees report was the first instance of the creation of a kindergarten being recommended.4
"In September, 1898, a kindergarten course was offered as required by a law passed the previous year. It offered a broad cultural background and specialized training in observation and in practice teaching. A kindergarten room was furnished in the training school at a cost of $215, and Mrs. A.B. Clement was appointed as teacher at a salary of $1,200 for the year. A tuition rate of fifty cents a month for each child was fixed by the trustees. On January 21, 1899, Randall reported that 'the competent director and the work has been auspiciously begun.' However, the department was abandoned at the end of the school year because of insufficient funds."1
As an additional source, the Center for the Study of Child Care Employment, University of California, Berkeley states: "San Jose State Normal School established a kindergarten department in 1898. It was a technical success, but a numerical failure, so it closed at the end of the year. It had special instruction from Boston and demonstration."3
As an additional source, the San Jose State Normal School Teaching Tools Collection includes a Biographical Note in its Finding Aid that mentions the establishment of the Kindergarten:
"In 1898, the Normal School Board of Trustees established a kindergarten training department with a demonstration class. The following year, the San Jose State Normal School kindergarten training school was established, and had a faculty of three, a student body of ten, and a kindergarten group of some seventy children. The kindergarten training school was eventually abandoned the following year due to a Board decision that the expense did not justify the numerical gain, but kindergarten classes continued at the Normal School and enrollment increased throughout the early 1900s."5
"The Normal School has a well-organized Training Department, in which a part of the work of the kindergarten, and all of the work of the primary and grammar grades, is covered. Here the student-teachers, under close but kindly criticism, find ample opportunity to apply to practice the instruction they have received in methods of teaching. None are graduated from the Normal School who do not fully demonstrate to the Faculty that they can teach well.
"The course of study in the Training Department covers nine years, affording exceptional opportunities to observe and teach in every grade included in the public schools of the State, except the High School.
"The purpose of this department is two fold; to provide real practice-teaching for Normal students, and to give its own pupils a symmetrical, nine-year educational training, a training that has proved of greater practical value.
"Pupils who graduate from the Training Department are admitted to the Normal without examination. Copies of the course of study are sent on application. In this department a small tuition fee is charged."2
In 1899, "the San Jose State Normal School kindergarten training school was established, and had a faculty of three, a student body of ten, and a kindergarten group of some seventy children. The kindergarten training school was eventually abandoned the following year due to a Board decision that the expense did not justify the numerical gain, but kindergarten classes continued at the Normal School and enrollment increased throughout the early 1900s.'"5
As of August 30, the current status of the Training Department is as follows: "The training department was divided into primary and secondary departments and a grammar grade with a total enrollment of 170. The training school tuition fee was abolished at this time."1
According to the San Jose State Normal School Pennant 1899-05 (May 1899), "An appropriation has recently been made for the establishing of a cooking school in the Training School. For the first week or two the critic teachers will have charge of this department, but soon a regular teacher will be appointed. Next term this will be as much a part of the regular course as any of the subjects. Many branches of household economy will also be taken up."
There is a section in the San Jose State Normal School Pennant 1901-06 (June 1901) that illustrates the experience of teaching high school students in the Training School.
In March 1900, "the question of correlation between the training school and the city schools of San Jose was discussed informally, a movement which finally led to the ratification of a contract between the normal school and the city schools whereby the training department became a part of the city school system of San Jose.
"Previous to this time there had been some friction between the instructors in the normal school and the teachers in the training school. This was finally adjusted by making the instructors in the normal the supervisors of the work in the training school. Thus theory and practice were brought together. It is interesting to note that there was a lack of harmony on this point within the institution, especially in view of the fact that the main object was to train teachers to teach.
"Another factor was also adjusted at this time. It appears that there had been considerable prejudice against the training department on the part of parents. This was largely dispelled by a well planned program of publicity regarding the work of the school. The advantage which children would have in such a school were put before the parents with the result that the training school was much more respected."6
With the opening of the academic year 1900-1901, the kindergarten was reestablished in 1900.3 Isbel Orr Mackenzie, a normal school student, headed the department until 1928.1
The kindergarten department was discontinued in 1901, but the demonstration kindergarten class was kept open.3
There is a grammar school hall of the "Annex" building, as the day after the 1901 Earthquake, school was resumed on the following Monday in that grammar school hall.1
"The 'Annex' or training school building, was inspected and declared safe, but the main building was deemed dangerous".1
"We have come to recognize the Training School as a vital part of the Normal. It is here that we have the first opportunity to put our theories into practice, and though the experience is not without its difficulties, it is a pleasant culmination of our school work.
"The 'Bridge of Sighs' which was once a barren desolate place, all too worthy of its name, has been converted into an [sic] beautiful attractive spot with clinging vines and flowering plants. The halls and rooms have been transformed from bare neglected places into a harmonious whole. Mrs. George's office adds materially to the charm.
"Across the hall is the kindergarten department which is remarkable for its artistic arrangement. This school recognizes the importance of community training for children before the traditional age of six years. Out of one-hundred and seventy-two State Normal Schools in the United States, seventy-four have already adopted kindergarten training departments. Of five State Normal Schools in California this is the only one where the kindergarten gives the opportunity of practice teaching to the students. As a portion of the time in Primary Methods is given to kindergarten pedagogies the student is, in a way, prepared for the work. After all, the aim of the primary teacher and the kindergartener is the same."
"In 1904 the kindergarten department was abolished in accordance with the action taken by the joint board of the normal school trustees."6
However, the Kindergarten was mentioned in the San Jose State Normal School Pennant 1904-12 (December 1904) and the San Jose State Normal School Pennant 1904-03 (March 1904), so it may have existed during this time.
The San Jose State Normal School Pennant 1904-11 (November 1904) mentions that "The Training School is to be altered and remodeled soon as to fit up a large room as a library for the pupils of the Training School."
The San Jose State Normal School Pennant 1904-06 (June 1904) describes "The Bridge of Sighs …[which] is that part connecting the Normal proper and the Training School." This issue of the Normal School Pennant also discusses the progress of the Training School.
"The kindergarten department, under the supervision of Miss Alice Jordan, reopened on September 25th with an enrollment of fifty children. This is the largest number ever enrolled at the beginning of the fall term. The average daily attendance is forty-five. It is indeed pleasant to peep in at the kindergarten door to see the room full of the happy little people
"The kindergarten gardening has begun in earnest. The children are now weeding and raking the garden and gathering the seeds from the plants they planted last term. They gather these seeds in little baskets made by themselves, and take great delight in distributing the seeds to the nature study teachers, who have school gardens of their own. Nearly all the tools used in gardening, such as trowels, rakes, etc., are made by the children."
The San Jose State Normal School Pennant 1905-06 (June 1905 ), the San Jose State Normal School Pennant 1905-03 (March 1905), and the San Jose State Normal School Pennant 1905-12 (December 1905) state that there was a kindergarten room, so the Kindergarten also existed during this time.
The San Jose State Normal School Pennant 1905-11 (November 1905) also mentions the existence of the Kindergarten. This issue of the Normal School Pennant also gives a breakdown of the Training School in detail.
The San Jose State Normal School Pennant 1905-07 (July 1905) mentions the Kindergarten Training Department. The San Jose State Normal School Pennant 1905-07 (July 1905) also mentions an Experimental Children’s Summer School.
The San Jose State Normal School Pennant 1905-07 (July 1905) also features another description of the Bridge of Sighs: "Our fame spread, but we were startled to learn that only a portion of our necessary armor was girded, our metal was to be tested by going through the fiery furnace (the training school), which is reached by a winding maize called the 'bridge of sighs.' That name, however, proving too formidable, it was later changed to the 'Little Grey Bridge.'"
The SJSU Special Collections & Archives holds a periodical published by the Normal Training School called The Training School Enterprise. It seems to be a monthly publication written by the children enrolled in the Training School. The date ranges are from March 1905 to February 1916, February 1918 to June 1921. It is unclear when the exact start and end dates of this publication are. For those interested, please contact special.collections@sjsu.edu to request to look at the material.
The San Jose State Normal School Pennant 1906-01 (January 1906) and the San Jose State Normal School Pennant 1906-06 (June 1906) mentions the Kindergarten, so it existed during this time.
"This department of nearly 500 children, from the Kindergarten to the High School, affords to the student an opportunity for observation and practice, serving both as model and practice school. It is here that a student's work must be judged. Many may be able to receive high averages in both academic work and theory, and be total failures in the classroom; while some who are slow in acquiring knowledge make the most helpful teachers.
"Children come to the Training Department from all parts of the city, and some from beyond the city limits. The course of study is continuous through the eight grammar grades. Practice teachers are observed, and given professional help and instruction while applying their methods.
"Observation of continuous teaching by critics is made by students from the pedagogy and psychology classes. Observation of model lessons in primary grades is made in connection with courses in primary, literature, and drawing methods. Assistant work in teaching is begun in the Junior year. Each student does regular teaching, forty-five minutes daily, during her Senior year. Each of the hours in the Training Department counts the same as an academic subject, and requires as much time for outside preparation.
"Instead of criticism coming entirely from what are called critics or teachers in charge of the various grades in the school, a large part of it comes from those members of the Normal faculty who are teaching special subjects in the Normal School; e.g., the teacher of history in the Normal School has charge of the history in the Training School.
"The student teacher must outline his work to this professor's satisfaction, and then must teach it in such a way as to obtain the results expected.
"During the hours that history is being taught in the Training School this professor is relieved from Normal School classes and devotes his time to supervision. He also meets his student-teachers at least once every week in conference. By means of general discussions, questions, suggestions as to material, reasons given for failure or success, etc., the young teacher is wisely guided for several weeks by this trained special-ist. This is true of all subjects: drawing, geography, reading, mathe-matics, language, physical training, nature study, etc. Each subject has its own trained teacher, who most carefully looks after his or her own line of work.
"A Kindergarten Department offers opportunity for practice teaching to those students who elect to take it. While a knowledge of child life in all its stages is of value for any teacher, training in the kindergarten is of special benefit to all who intend to teach in the lower grades. The aim of this department is to make conditions as nearly allied as possible to those of the home, and to prepare the child for the primary school. The main kindergarten room is large, bright, and sunny, well equipped, and admirably arranged to accommodate the several groups of children. The department is in charge of a trained kindergartner, who personally supervises and criticises the work and who herself helps to conduct it."2
The 1910 Senior Year Book describes the layout of the New Building, which includes the Training School within it. This was built most likely after the 1906 Earthquake.
The abolishment of the kindergarten department in 1904 was short-lived.6 "The growth of the training school caused the Legislature in 1911 to appropriate $60,000 to erect a new building for this department. It was a two-story concrete structure similar in architecture to the main building to which it was later connected."1 This building would be used as the primary training school building, "especially designed for observation and practice teaching."6
"The training department continued to develop in keeping with the development in the public schools."6
However, there is a section on the Kindergarten Department in the 1911-1912 Course Catalog.2
"A Kindergarten Department offers opportunity for practice teaching to those students who elect to take it. While a knowledge of child life in all its stages is of value for any teacher, training in the kindergarten is of special benefit to all who intend to teach in the lower grades.
"The aim of this department is to make conditions as nearly allied as possible to those of the home, and to prepare the child for the pimary school.
"This department is in charge of two trained specialists, who perseonally supervise and criticise the work, and who themselves help to conduct it.
"Special work in Froebel's educational theory is given in the History of Education; there is offered an optional course in Kindergarten Pedagogics, and the Primary Method classes observe the kindergarten work.
"The Kindergarten and Primary departments have been provided for in the new Normal School, and occupy an entire wing of the building. Much care has been taken to have the rooms hygenic, comfortable, and artistic."2
"The course of study [in the Training Department] is continuous through the eight grammar grades, and an additional year will be added in 1911-1912, covering the ground of the first year in High School. Those taking this work will be able to enter the second year in High School."2
The 1911 Senior Year Book mentions Kindergarten, and has a section written about the Training School.
"Owing to the rapid growth of the Normal Training School, which numbers nearly six hundred boys and girls ranging in grades from the kindergarten to the high school, the present building has become inadequate to meet the needs and requirements of the school. To the delight of Faculty, students and children a bill was passed by our last legislature appropriating sixty thousand dollars to be used in the erection of a new building. The general scheme will be in accordance with the new Normal building. Special improvements have been made meeting the modern conditions of child life at school and the building will contain every modern equipment. There will be departments for the first, second, third and fourth grades found here. Two very large assembly halls will be provided, each with a wide stage for use in dramatization and other exercises. It is specially gratifying to note that there will be ample room in the new building to provide for an increase of attendance.
"A recent innovation in the school curriculum is the addition of one year more of instruction in the Training School. The work to be done this year is that of the first year of High School. The Normal Students will be trained to teach this Ninth-Year Grade, and the work is to be specially well supervised by the Normal School Faculty. It is expected that Dr. Dailey will supervise the Algebra department himself. All of this is in line with the general tendency for enlargement of the Grammar School course."
The kindergarten department reopened in 1913.3 "The kindergarten-primary department became firmly established by 1913."6
"As early as 1913 the boards of trustees of the several state normal schools had been granted authority to establish courses for training teachers on the elementary and secondary levels in drawing, music, and physical culture, as well as in commercial and industrial or technical subjects."1
On May 28, the board of trustees "agreed to ask the next Legislature for appropriations of $7,000 to repair the old training building, $80,000 to add an assembly hall to the main building, and $5,000 to repair the 'Shacks.' In 1913 a temporary building for the intermediate department of the training school was erected at a cost of about $20,000, and an outdoor gymnasium was constructed. However, the manual training and domestic science building and the assembly hall were delayed until the next decade."1
Based on the 1913 Senior Year Book, the Departments of Household and Manual Arts seem to be separate from the Training School/Department, but the "Normal Training School of over six hundred children is used by the department for its practice teaching." The 1913 Senior Year Book also includes a section on Training School.
The 1914 Senior Year Book mentions the Kindergarten and has a section written for the Kindergarten, so it existed during this time.
According to the 1914 Senior Year Book,"The old Training School has been remodeled, a new woodwork building and an outdoor gymnasium built, and a concrete tennis court put in."
Practice Teaching
"The Training School of over 600 children is used by the [Industrial Arts] department for the practice teaching. Teaching in the Industrial Arts subjects is offered in all of the grades. One term of practice teaching each day of the week is required for graduation."
"Although the Kindergarten has long been established in the San Jose Normal School it is just within this last year, beginning with the September, 1914, term, that there has been the kindergarten Training School which makes it possible for students to specialize in the kindergarten work and receive a special diploma the same as in any other line of work.
"The entrance requirements for the kindergarten are the same as those for the general Normal course; that is, the applicant must be a graduate of an accredited high school, with university recommendations for the two-year course or if a University graduate, a Normal graduate or a successful teacher holding a county certificate, she is entitled to a one year's course.
"One finds only a true lover of children taking up this line of work as a love of childhood and sympathetic insight into child nature are the fundamentals of a good kindergartener, therefore the training necessarily comprises two definite lines, the first being designed to give this needed insight into child life, and that of the second to acquaint the student with the technics necessary to reach these results. The first is defined as Kindergarten Theory. The second as Kindergarten Technic.
"Kindergarten Theory includes a study of the interest, activities and capacities of children, and the significance of these in education. Lectures and discussion on Froebel's educational principles and the relation of these to modern theory and practice.
Kindergarten Technic deals with Froebel's gifts and occupations and the constructive occupation material, kindergarten programs, supervisors' conferences and a study of the Montessori methods and materials."Then there is a course in Story Telling which emphasizes the great importance of the story as an educational factor and aims to acquaint the student with the best literature for young people with principles of selection, adaptation and presentation and opportunity for practice in story telling.
"Special courses are arranged to meet the requirements of the kindergarten by the heads of the different departments in literature, physiology, drawing, penmanship, nature study, psychology, biology, history of education, physical education, music, primary methods, primary handwork and primary methods.
"There are twenty-six students enrolled in the kindergarten department, six Normal and four University graduates, and Miss Pratt, a graduate of Dr. Montessori’s methods in Rome.
The remaining number are Juniors who are taking the two years' course and act as assistants to the seniors, relieving them of one of their classes two days a week and observing the other three days."Practice teaching is done by the students in the first and second grades of Miss McCabe's department, the Balbac Kindergarten of which Miss Turner, a graduate of the Los Angeles State Normal, is in charge, and the main kindergarten, which is in the south east wing of the Normal School.
"The San Jose Normal Kindergarten or 'The Home Beautiful' is a wonderful spot which cannot help but inspire the teachers to work for the good and beautiful in their own little kindergartens wherever they may be, and memories of it must surely linger with the children as they pass from its doors.
"There are curtains with appliqued Mother Goose designs, the new blackboard borders and changing of pictures which herald in the seasons, trailing baskets of ferns, the always fresh bouquets of flowers for the center of the circle, the cage of parrakeets, the huge bowl of gold fish, and last of all, little Peter Rabbit, who has made many a friend as he nibbled toast and clover from a child's hands.
"There is only one drawback to this lovely kindergarten, which is that it is fast being outgrown and even now cannot begin to accommodate all the children that apply, as there is a continued waiting list of twenty or more.
"It is hoped that the day may soon come when the kindergarten department will have its own little home out under the trees apart from the Normal building, then the sweet childish voices will not have to be curbed on account of the fear that classes in the nearby rooms may be disturbed."
According to the 1915 Senior Year Book, cadet teaching seems to have showed up as early as 1915. The 1915 Senior Year Book also includes a breakdown of what the Training School offers (orchestra, Mothers’ Club, etc.).
According to the 1916 La Torre, September 1915 was allegedly "the first class to take kindergarten work without taking the regular Normal course, entered school. There were eighteen in this class, who, together with the ten Seniors, composed the Kindergarten class."
There is mention of the Kindergarten Department at the Normal School during the year September 1915 in the 1917 La Torre.
Due to a fire that broke out in the "Shacks," which were temporary buildings erected after the 1906 earthquake, "the manual training department transferred its operations to the basement of the old training school, and the domestic science department was quartered in a rented house on Fifth street. Moreover, the high school furnished some facilities for both departments."1
From the Fern Kilburn Photograph Collection.7 The abstract of the Fern Kilburn Photograph Collection is as follows:
"The Fern Kilburn Photograph Collection consists of 51 photographs taken between 1916-1917. Photos depict San Jose State Normal School students, buildings, Kindergarten Training School faculty and students, members of the Browning Literary Society, and various photos of Kilburn and associates."7
Therefore, the house depicted in this photograph may have been the rented house on Fifth street, however, no identifying information about the photograph was found.
Eventually, the training school "became rather highly organized along the lines of the best city school systems. The school had an attendance of about 600 children at the time of the close of the World War. It was described at that time as 'the heart of the Normal School.' The faculty included 'eight department supervisors, four assistants, librarian and special supervision of domestic science and penmanship.'
"The training school was subject to one of the grave ills of that time. It had an imposing array of subjects in its course of study. The announcement concerning the training school in 1918 states:
'In addition to the regular subjects there are classes in typewriting, printing, home problems, household science and decoration, cooking, sewing, manual training, physical training, including folk dancing and military drill, and primary handwork. Classes in violin and piano give children further musical opportunities, and the Training School Orchestra adds its part.'
"Many of these subjects were given in order to furnish facilities for practice teaching to those students who desired to prepare as teachers of special subjects. The military drill was a reflection of the World War influence."6
In October 1918, an influenza epidemic struck California, to which the normal school "heroically responded to the emergency, and President Dailey offered to set up a hospital in the intermediate training school building."1
According to the 1919 La Torre, there is mention of a Senior Kindergarten and a Junior Kindergarten, so the Kindergarten existed during this time.
1Gilbert, B. F. & Burdick, C. 1980. Washington square, 1857-1979: The history of San Jose State University. San Jose State University.
2San Jose State Normal School and San Jose State Teachers College Course Catalogs Collection, MSS-2010-05-05, San José State University Library Special Collections & Archives.
3Center for the Study of Child Care Employment, University of California, Berkeley. 2022. Association for Childhood Education (ACE) state kindergarten histories. Retrieved from https://cscce.berkeley.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/ECHOES-ACE-Kindergarten-Histories.pdf
4San Jose State Normal School Records, MSS-2010-04-01, San Jose State University Library Special Collections & Archives.
5San Jose State Normal School Teaching Tools Collection, MSS-2009-02-06, San José State University Library Special Collections and Archives.
6Walter, A. 1933. The origin and development of the San Jose State Teachers College [Doctoral dissertation, Stanford University]. San José State University Library, Special Collections & Archives.
7Fern Kilburn Photograph Collection, MSS-2018-08-15, San Jose State University Library, Special Collections & Archives