The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-11-09


State Normal School and CouIse OF
Instruction.
An act of the Legislature, passed in the
Session of 1853, directed the Governor to
appoint q NORMAL BOARD OF INsTRuc-
TON, consisting ola Director, in each of the
six Judicial districts Of the State, to whom
was intrusted, under certain restrictions, the
establishment of three State Normal
Schools. By reason Of the financial depres>
sion, caused by the revulsion of 1857, the
Normal Board did not convene until Aug.
16, 1859. At that meeting, held at the
Capitol, the six judicial districts, according
to the provision of the statute, were formed
into three Normal Districts, uniting in the
formation Of the irst, two contiguous judi
cial districts; of the second, two; and
of the third, two. By this arrangement the
third and fifth judicial districts were consti-
tuted into the First Normal District, em.
bracing large portion of Southern Mime.
sofa. The statute provided that:
There shall be established within five years,
after the passage OF this Act, an Institution, to
common schools of this State, to be called q
State Normal School, and also within ten ears,
asecond Normal School, and within fifteen years
third, provided, that there shall be no obliga-
ton, to establish either Of the three schools, I'M.
til the sum of five thousand dollars is donated
to the State in money and lands, or in money
alone, for the erection of the necessary build.
teachers in such institutions; but when such sum
is donated for such purpose, like sum of five
thousand dollars is appropriated by the State,
for the use and benefit of such institutions.
At this first meeting of the Board, the
citizens of Winona offered. through the Di-
rector of that district,a subscription of about
$1,000 to the State, provided, that State
Normal School should be located there.
This liberal proffer was accepted by the
Board, and the First State Normal School
was located at Winona, on condition the
subscription was satisfactorily made over to
the State, for the use contemplated in the
act. A committee was appointed to secure
this donation, and to report at a subsequent
meeting. At the next meeting of the Board,
held Nov. 9, 1859, this committee reported
that they had secured this donation of $5,~
600 and upwards, and on account of the
urgent need of such institution, immediate
steps were taken to organize the school. The
Legislature Of 1880, passed an act de-
ferring the opening Of the two other schools
for period of five years. A variety of cir
cumstances prevented the employment of a
principal until the summer of 1860.
At an adjourned meeting of the Board,
held June, 1860, Prof. John Ogden of Co.
lumbus, Ohio, was employed as Principal of
the School for one year from July l, 1850.
The months of July and August, were
employed by the Principal, by direction Of
the Board, in visiting as many important
localities as possible in the State, and pre-
senting the necessity Of Normal Schools to
the permanent prosperity Of the State, and
the desirableness of citizens demanding COM
petent teachers for their children. The
school was opened for the admission of pu.
pills on the FIRST Monday of last September.
A Teachers Institute, the first ever held in
this State, was made the commencement of
the term. A goodly number of teachers,
from various parts of the State were pres
ent, and number of distinguished gentle
men, including the Rev. E. D. Neill, Chan.
cellor Of the University, ex-oficio, Superin-
tendent of Public Instruction of Minnesota,
Elk 1t. Gov. Holcombe, J. w. Taylor, Esq,
Rev. Mr.. Strong, and many others. A large
number of letters were received and read,
from the Principals of other Normal Schools
and other noted educators, throughout the
country. On the evening of the first day
Prof. Ogden gave bis Inaugural Discourse.
On the evening of the second day, Superin.
tendent Neill delivered an address on educa.
ton, intended to have been the opening ad-
dress, both of which were Listened to BY
Jorge and apprecistive audiences. The
proceedings of the Institute in BRIEF and the
addresses, will be found in this pamphlet and
will we'll repay most attentive perusal.
OPENING OF THE SCHOOL.
The school opened with q much laroer
number of pupils, than had been expected.
The names, ages and residences, will be
found appended. The city of Winona, for
the purpose of accommodating the school
erected hall in central and convenient
part OF the city, containing one large school
room, one recitation DOM, q library room
and q suitable cloak room, and offered the