St. Paul weekly Minnesotian. (St. Paul) 1860-1861, 1860-11-09
Normal school hoard.

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Normal school Hoard.
ST.. PAUL, Nov. /, 1860.
Board met pursuant to call of the
Secretary, at the Office Of Public Instruc-
tion in the Capitol, at Ii A. M.
Present DR.. A. e. Ames, of Hennepin
county; DR.. Bray, of Carver county; DR..
I'D Ford, of Winona county; James w.
Taylor, of Ramsey county; Edward D.
Neill, Secretary &c o6icio.
Minutes of last meeting read and APP
proved The office of President being
vacant by the expiration Of the term of
office of the late President, 1t. Gov. Hol
combe, Dr. j. D. Ford was called to the
chair.
On motion of DR.. Ames, Dr. j. D. Ford
was elected President to I'll the vacancy
caused by the expiration Of the late Presi-
uCilt lcItu Vi OlliCC.
E. d. Neil offered the following pre-
amble and resolution, which were adopted:
Whereas, The Board has been informed
that the Rev. j. A. Russell, of Saltwater,
elected as director from the First Judicial
District, has removed from the State,
Resoloed, That Vim. Holcolnbe, of said
District, be appointed to ill the vacancy
occasioned by the removal from the State
of j. A. Russell.
On motion Of Dr. Ames,
Resolced, That the text books of the
Normal School be the same as those re-
commended by the State Superintendent
of Public instruction.
VIM. Holcombe, of the First Judicial
District, being informed of his election, APP
peared and took his seat.
Recess until three and half o clock, Pm
THREE AND HALF O'clock, Pm.
Board met pursuant to adjournment
The report uf the Committee on organiza-
ton of the Normal School and course of
instruction was read and accepted.
REPORT
OF THE ORGANIZATION OF THE STATE NORMAL
SCHOOL AND COURSE OF INSTRUCTION.
An act Of the Legislature passed in the
Session of 1858, directed the Governor to
appoint a Normal Board of Instruction,
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 de-
preston, caused by the revulsion of 1857,
the Normal Board did not convene until
August l6, 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 first, two
contiguous judicial districts ; of the second,
two; aud of the third, two. By this ar
rangement the third and fifth judicial dis
tricts were constituted into the First Nor
NAL District, EN- bsacing large portion Of
Southern Minnesota. The statute pro-
vided
There shall be established within fl I've
years, after the passage Of this act, an in
stitution to educate and prepare teachers
for teaching in the common schools of this
State, to be called State Normal School,
and also within ten years second Normal
School. and within fifteen years third,
provided that there shall be no obligation
to establish either Of the three schools, IN
til the sum OF five thousand dollars is do
mated TO the State in money and lands, or
in money alone, for the erection of the nee
essary buildings, and for the support Of
the professors or teachers in such institu-
tons but when such sum is donated for
such purpose, like sum of five thousand
dollars is appropriated by the State for
the use an d benefit of such institutions.
AT this first meeting of the Board, the
citizens of Winona az :, through the
Director of that district, subscription of
about ST 900 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 condi-
ton the subscription was satisfactorily
made over to the State, for the use contem-
plated in the act A committee was ap
pointed to secure this donation, and to re-
port at a subsequent meeting. At the
next meeting Of the Board, held Nov. 8,
1869, this committee reported that they
had secured this donation of $4,000 and
upwards, and on account of the urgent
need Of such institution, immediate steps
were taken to organize the school. The
Legislature of 1S59-e0, passed an act de.
ferring the opening of the two other schools
for a period of five years. A variety Of
circumstances prevented the employment
Of principal until the summer Of 1860.
AT tan 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 J.,
1860.
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
competent 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-officio, Superin.
tendent ofPublic Instruction of Minnesota,
Elk 1t. Gov. Holcombe,J. w. Taylor, Esq,
Rev. Mr.. Strong,and muny other. A large
number of letters were received and read
from the Principals of ether Normal Schools
and other noted educators throughout the
country. On the evening of the first day
Prof. Ogden gave his Inaugural Discourse,
On the evening of the second day, Superin-
tendent Neil delivered an address on edu-
cation, intended to have been the opening
address, both of which were listened to by