The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1867-01-12
THE NORMAL SCHOOL.


Our paper is largely taken up this
week with matters pertaining to the Nor
NAL School in fact, il is sort Of Nor
NAL School paper. On the outside we
print Prof Kellogg's addr ess at the ded-
ication of the new building. In another
place on this page we print few extracts
from President Horner's address, on the
came occasion, and the report of the Ex-
ecutive Committee to the Board Of Direc-
tors, for The year 1866.
These are matters of interest TO the
public, and we hope all will read them
and we desire TO call the especial atlen-
ton of members Of the Legislature to the
facts contained in these addresses, and
IN the report. They will be asked,
at the present session, to appropriate
some SIS, 700 for this institution They
should therefore obtain all the uforma
ton possible in relation to il, in order to
be able to discharge their duties to It in
telligently and conscienoiousy.
That the school is worthy the most
liberal support Of the State, none can
doubt who take the trouble to inform
the mselves of tie progress it has already
made, under many adverse circumstances,
and :he grand results it promises for the
means spent on It. Last winter So 600
were appropriated to erect building.
After mature thought, and with the best
interests of the State 10 view, it was found,
TO limit the building to that amount,
would be TO cripple, if not almost destroy
the usefulness of the institution. The
Board wisely concluded 10 put up the
building at cost of upwards Of $4,000.
A sufficient number of rooms were com
pleted TO start the school in the new
building, with the hope of obtaining an
additional amount this winter necessary
to finish it. In this hope they will not
be disappointed if the members appreci
ate the work the school is doing. The
Legislature need not expect grumJ!ing
from their constituents for money appro-
priated 10 schools, or to the cause of ed.
ucation in any shape. The comfortable
stone school houses which dot our pra-
ries on every hand, aud the alac,ity with
which the people of almost every district
vote upon themselves from 10 to % mills
district school tax attests the fast that
they are in favor of schools. School
houses, are getting plenty. There is no
lack OF energy among the people on the
subject of schools. There is a lack of
good teachers. Thousands Of dollars are
squsndered yearly upon poor ones. The
time has come when teachers must be edu-
Gated for their business, just as doctors and
lawyers and ministers are. The Normal
is = teachers school. Its peculiar mission
is to educate and train teachers for their
profession. To-day, we want one thou
sand good teachers in Kansas. The Nor
NAL proposes to supply the demand as far
as possible; il Is doing its work thoroughly.
This any one knows who has visited the
school, or is acquainted with its workings
Normal schools are comparatively new
thing. but 10 all the Eastern States where
their usefulness has been tested they are
increasing in number at the public ex
penee. They strike right at the root of
our common schools. Their objec is 10
put into every district school house
thorough and competent teacher.
We hOps the present legislature will
consult the interest of every district
school in the State, and appropriate to the
Normal school the amount necessary to
put it upon it's proper basis For yea RS
after this only the amount necessary to
pay the teachers salaries will be asked
for, if the appropriation should be made
to complete and furnish the building thi
winter. Let this be done aud the coming
generations will rise up and call US pub
lie bsnefactors. We believe in economy
as much as anybody. but our educational
institutions should not suffer from want
Ofproper support. 1t will pay better than
any other investment the State can make
to properly provide for them now in .he
days of their weakness.