The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1869-03-05
REPORT OF THE JOINT COMMITTEE
ON THE STATE NORMAL SCHOOL.


To THE HONORABLE SENATE AND HOUSE
OF REPRESENTATIVES,; The Committee
to whom was eonfided the duty of Wis.,
iting, examining and reporting upon
the condition of the State Normal
School. are gratified to be able truthful
ly'tO make that report which is alike
creditable TO the Institution and the
State.
There are now in the institution more
than one hundred and twenty-five pu-
pills.
Your Committee witnessed with pleas
ure the Rotations and exercises of the
school for two days. The Principal.
l.. Is. Kellogg, formerly of the Normal
School of IllinOiR.) possesses i'm a high
degree those rare faculties of the mind
which fit him alike for the duty. of gov
ernor and instructor, without eulogy
upon the Institution, its Professors,
Teachers, or Pupils.
Your Committee in Difference to truth
and justice, NAV be permitted to OBJ
serve that the Principal is by nature
adapted to govern. Mild and urbane
in his manner, but firm, determined and
just in his purpose. The school under
his directions in IFS order, decorun and
dicipline, challenges the respect and adj
miration of all. And while in the Prin-
cipal are found those qualities which
justly entitle him to the respect of all.
The profound and erudite Associate
Principal, H. B. Norton, with his fine
scholastic attainments, and his peculiar
faculty of imparting instruction, is
equally indispensable to the Institution
and State.
The lady teachers. Mrs. j. II. Gorham,
Miss n. j. Watson, of the Normal
School, and Miss Ellen Plumb, of the
model department, in their respective
stations, aid in no small degree in Civ
ing to the school, character, permanent
cy and utility.
| So long as the present corps of teach
ers retain their respective positions, so
long will we retain school that shall be
our reward at home aud our pride
abroad.
| The special purposes and designs of
] this school, this natural. this normal
/ training. is well understood to be, to
teach the science of teaching. or tn teach
how 10 teach. While this is both its re-
al and ostensible purpose, your Com
mittee cannot refrain from the Obser-
walton and belief, (engendered by their
examination of the working of this In
stitution.) That the tearing here acquir-
ed may not be as varied, but the drill is
more thorough. All the dormant ele-
ments of the mind are aroused into pre-
ternatural activity. The learning here
stamped and impressed upon the youth
| tul mind leaN es such incredible brands
that in ordinary cases their durability is
GOeval with life. Besides, this learning
! fits the student for all the practical du-
ties of life, and only omits such as at
best can be objects of pleasure rather
than use.
Your Committee, having never visit
ed this school. but well understanding
and anticipating the scanty endowment
OF the lnstitutiOn-the fact that it is on
ly in an inchoate condition-the addi-
tiOnal fact that as a State we are on the
Threshold of our existece, and that In
SIitutiOns of this character were wholly
unknown in all the older States until
they had reached all age and population
more than six times greater than ours,
and the further fact that in a new and
sparsely settled country like this, the
friends of the school could hardly an
ticipate much patronage, or any consid-
cradle attendance. and the supposed I'M
calmly rawness in the material to be
taught, all, united logically TO lead your
Committee 10 expect but little of those
elements which so peculiarly distinguish
these schools in old. wealthy and pOpu-
lOus cOmmunities-guess the agreeable
and happy surprise of your Committee
in the lace of these fOrebodings and
gloomy anticipations, when they found
a school comparing favOrably with the
beat Eastern schools of the kind.
Your Committee, after making their
examination of the internal working OF
the school, and hearing with pleasure
and delight. the classes in English liter
allure and other branches, with their
hopes buOyant in feeling that Kansas
possessed one among the finest Normal
Schools in the country, turned TO exam
inc, first, the buildings and inclOsed
grounds; second, the salaries of the
Principal, Professor, Teachers, and the
incidental expenses, necessarily incur
red and to be incurred in the progress
ofthe Institution.
Your Committee in entering upor
these duties were forcibly remined by
analogy, that there is but one step from
the sublime to the ridiculous" The
financial condition is anything but fiat
} tering. The observatory, cupalO, of thu
building is Wretchediy constructed
There is no way of reaching it; the as
cent and decent to and from this, shoult
be easy TO all. 1t is lily constructed, Of
rather so badly finished that its four face
where should be four neat window
r with shades-have four light inieriO
r window blinds that prove very made
quate as a protection against severe raj
!, and snow storms, as the rain and snow
. beats through this pretense for window
b shutters. and thus entering, is conveye'
to the Ceiling of the assembly room
which is composed of ordinary plaster
ing. with stuccO work in the center
r. The result has been, substantially, to de
stroy the plastering. One half the stuC
co work having already fallen, and tn
plastering is broken, cracked, and grad
ualIy falling of. Under these circun
stances it is Indispensable that the OF
servatory should be Immediately re
l. paired, and the room receiled with fin
e pine lumber or plastering. Every day
delay in this work must make the cas-
!. worse.
y The railing, and wainscotting, door
i &c, of the building must also be re
! painted, as Il work if not of necessit!
Mt least of decency, taste and ecOnom!
:, The expense OF painting will be ligh
I. The enclosed grounds around tn
building are fine prairie land, but hav
never left their natural state. 1t cor
; tains no trees or shrubbery, or anythin
It to ornament or beautify il, and the re
Y suit is, il looks cold barren, cherries
: and uncomfortable. 1t should be plant
ed in forest aud evergreen trees, an
such shrubbery as will give it cheer
tui, homelike appearance, for teache
and pupil. This work, as IT require
time, should be commenced immediate
ly-that work so cheap and yet so es
L sential. should have been SO long neg
= lected. is unaccountable.
In view OF the financial condition G
J. the State, your committee made rigl
inquiries into every item of expense
with the view of cutting down at ever
+ point possible. But, alter thoroug
= examination, your committee feel CON
20 PEELED to recommend the following ap
II preparations, amounting IN the aggrs
l. gate to SS,S30,O0, tO-wit:
= II p Norfon dedeienev in salary. 8 800