The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1866-07-10

4 rssdsa. Il thous1sdG u a5IEs5 y lSG
the State and il people to educate The ehit-
dren Of the State, the peoples Repfsssata-
lives, in their wisdom, determiapd that thas
education should be complete, fully eficient,
by giving colspslopcy and thorpeshnes to
our common school teacherE TO this end
it has established lhe Normal Board Of the
Stats University; and il il that Department
that has most importance ard utility TO our
citizens.
II the University proper the sons OF parents
who have sufficient influence to get them ap-
pointed will receive classical education ;
nor will there be many Of theses In the Nor
NAL school teachers are fitted for the proper
training Of all the youth Of the State. Iowa,
certainly, will not be guilty of the stu
pidity of crushing out our Normal school
at time when other and older States. having
learned BY trial their Importance, are foster
ing and extending them.
If the sapient Board of Trustees are max
ing raid on the normal department because
they fear it will overshsdow the university,
because it has graduated nine when the latter
has graduated but one, it shows very large
capacity for narrow mindedness and an mex
cusable jealousy on tAeir part, but very little
good sense or fitness for their duties. They
are official dogberries, and the public will not
mistake to write them dowA ian ass"
1t is our fortune to know Prof WELLS per-
sonally as by reputation. The university had
no better pan in its faculty; the State no
ADLER educator. We do not hesitate to say
that in his department; in the work he was
doing he was doing more for the good of our
people and for the cause of education in
Iowa than any other member of the universi-
ty faculty. If the Board had no other cause
fer his removal than jealousy of the normal
department, then the whole proceeding mer-
its emphatic Reproduction.
The Republican says;
1.-THE Board of Trustees of the State Uni
versity seem to have become jealous of the
Normal Department because it has hereto
fore, occupied so prominent position in the
institution. 1t receives more pupils and turns
proper and, therefore, they seem to think ii
| is overshadowing the University. This year
it graduated nine, the University one
prominent member of the Board remarked
that the University had been s'side show"
TO the Normal Department long enough.
Acting on this idea they abolished the
Model School and dismissed the Prof Of the
Normal Department, and seem determined
that, hereafter, il shall be but a ''side show"
to the University. But what does the promi.
hence Of the Normal Department heretofore
prove? Why, that there are far more young
persons in the State who desire to pursue its
course and fit themselves for teaching than
there are who desire to pursue full college
course.
Can the Board change that state of things
by striking down or GRIPPING the Normal De-
partment? VIII that drive any of the Normal
pupils into the University? 1t will simply
drive them into other institutions.
Suppose they should abolish the Preparnto-
ry Department also, as some have proposed,
as that outranks both the University proper
and the Normal Department in It's ATTENDANCE
and thus overshsddows them both in its
numbers. Would that bring the University
into greater prominence by removing these
side shows? In our estimation when this is
done there will be no ssshow'' at all but of
splendid grounds, noble buildings, full
corps Of wellpaid Professors, with empty class
rooms. The fact is University can not he
forced into existence. 1t must be the growth
of time. There can not be. for long time
to come, full classes in the higher college
courses. Iowa, as yet, has but few who wish
to or can take such course
1t is in the Preparatory and Normal De-
partments and under graduate classes that The
work of the University must be mainly done
for years to come II must furnish ipstruc-
ton in the full course for such as will take II.
as the only way ever to obtain classes. Yet,
if any part of the Institution is to weld to
ECONOMY, it should be those departments
whose labors reach but mere fraction of
those in attendance. OF all departments 10
the University the Normal is, in our estima>
ton, the most practically valuable to the
State, in supplying betteSgrade of teachers
for our public schools. IT we desired to In
jure the University in its most vital part, we
would cripple or abolish its Normal Depart
ment. The law expressly provides for such
department and we believe the Legislature,
fully approaching its importance, intended it
should be . prominent department, and had
no fear of its becoming too prominent We
earnestly hope, for the success and value Of
the University 70 the State, that no attempt
will be made to reduce the Normal DEPART.
ment to the position Of a "side show to any
tbipr -