Nebraska advertiser., 1868-12-31
.ota NORMAN School 7; Doll

,0UR NORMAL SCHOOL.
M, Editor ~ propose, with your
consent, compiling q short account Of
the establishment Of every Normal
scRUutin the Nation hoping thereby
60 awaken1n our State a deeper inter
est in the support Of our school. I
extract largely from the report OF the
Educational Bureau at Washington,
~ Secretary Barnard.
1.-THE 0rst Normal School at Farm
fngton, Mass, the frst Normal School
under State auspices in America, was
opened 80 Lexington, with g formal
uaddresS, by Cow Everett, dnly3 1899"
Its first Principal was Rev. Cyrus
Pierce. Three young ladies were all
that presented themselves as Camdi-
dates for examination The school
aoommeneed with these, and the num-
Der increased in a few weeks to
twelve"
The school continued st Lexington
for five years, until "having quite out
grown its accommodations, Mr.. May,
the Principal at that time,D urged
upon the citzeRsp at that time ''the
Necessity Of pIoYidiDg more ample
ones, IL they would retain it."
"But a EpiritzOf apathy had fallen
upon the people, or possibly they felt
t00BuEe Of zretaining the school with
out exertiOn on their part, and moth
ing was done. Finding there was no
hope at Lexington, Mr.. May visited
several other Towns in the vicinity,
and succeeded in finding, in the then
secluded village of West Newton, q
suitable Building and grounds, and q
vmGDtfest desire on the part Of citizens
for the SCHOOL,
1.-THE premises originally cost $1,000,
but were greatly out of repair, and
Wonen0W offered for $500. But how
% raise the sum was the question the
prosperous school bid fair to die Of
poverty. In This strait, Nj. Mann, to
whom this school was dear as the APP
pie Of his eye, had recourse 70 an old.
Well-tried personal friend, az well as a.
friend OF popular education, who had
stood by his side in defense of Normal
Schools, when they were q novelty
cnthis side the waters, and ignorance,
bigotry, economy and ridicule were
Nafrayed arafnst them"
"ShOuld IL die for want Of $500?
no wonder that Nj. Mann, in his
anxiety 70 seize the golden opportu-
nifty, exclaimined, in the hgTrative
language which he was. perhaps, more
sHkelytO use than approve: Quincy,
do you know of any one who wants
the highest seat in the Kingdom Of
= HeaVen2 for 1t is TO be bought for
&I500.sU
'sME. Quincy at once drew his check
for the amount, direetiag Nj. Mann
20 buy the building and take the deed
81 his own name. Mr.. Mann sold his
private library and stocks, and expen-
ded $i500Uf his own money. The cit
ffxens Of West Newton gave $500 more,
the State added something the broad
sal Of permanancy was affixed, and
success was written over against ex-
lpefimsnG"
tsThus far the enterprise had been
carried on by priVate means; but in
1s45 the Legislature resolved that the
schO0ls heretofore known as Normal
Schools, shall be hereafter known as
State Normal Sch0ols.n
ION May 18th, 1852, the Legislature
appropriated 5000 to defray the ex-
pehses Of providing q more eOmmOdi-
ous site and building, and the neces.
8ary appurtenancee and apparatus for
accomm0datlon of the State Normal
School, at West Newton the Board
OlEdueation were directed to take
pIOPositions from towns and individ
lnals maid OF these objects, and after
WaEdS % make such selection IS would
best subserve the interests and wants
Of said school. Propositions 1901 be-
Ran to come In. Salem offered to pro-
vide such building as the Board would
direct, and meet the expense. West
mT-wwk~a go kk. N-~rA IFkn~,n Tha
peOule had believed the school to be
permanently located on the side of
GheifbleRsant hills: fhey didn't like
II away They did not believe that
the oDulent and liberal State Of Mas
aachusetts really wanted their money,
OF cared for more than q testimonial of
, agoOd will. they did not realize, that
@ahder providence, the Normal School
and the influence brought whit, and
attendant upon It, had raised their
village from cOmparative Obscurity 70
uotaFiety. In short, the effort Of West
Newton to retain the school was too
feeble 20 retain It. The Beard there
fore transferred the school to Farm
ingtnn Centre" where the people
Gbpwed an interest worthy such an
-outsrpFise.
This has been the custom In very
many 6tatessince, and We consider IL
but falr 70 both State and people. The
locatky displaying the greatest enter
prise, and doing the most for the
echool, Otherthings being equal, should
have the school.
Bince its commencement this Nor
nal School, Exclusively for ladies'
hns received 1,64l pupils, and graduR-
ted 1,O82. 10 is now under the crOn-
troll Of Mics Annie i. johnson as
Principal, and has q regular attend
ance Of over $50 students. In addi-
ton 70 receiving free tuition, the State
appropriates 5000 annually to each
OF lie Normal Schools, TO be distribu-
ted among those students who are not
able 70 bearthe other expenses, If they
are not able TO bear the other expenses.
81 they show q good degree Of prof.
cheney in their studies.
The State Normal School at West
field was opened in 1889, but suspend
90 IN l64l till 1874. From that time
~ al 1881, 1858 students had received
the benefit Of the school.
The Normal School al Bridgetown
went into operation In 1910. with IS
pupils. Number admitted between
$50 % 1860 1s4e5. Number gradua-
ted, 958.
On account Of an earnest demand
made BY the people In the northeast
ern part Of the State in 1853. the Leg
fnlAfure established q fourth Normal
School The liberal offer Of the 3
pie Of Salem was accepted, and the
school Was located there.
About 81, 900 wasexpended in erect
Ing buiidingsan properly fitting them
I'M and the school was opened In
esDtemb6r 81 1854. Sixty-tWo young
ladias wers admitted the hnt day,
since that time, l,O4l students re-
Celved instruction there.
siI inns Massachusetts, has four Nor.
mal Schools in successful operation,
having an aggregate attendance o.
$50 pupils annually, most OF whom
rHscefyld tuition free. Besides 1000 Il
snnually appropriated 20 aslist In de-
fFsytnk the expenses 81 beard, room