The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1869-01-01

constantly increasing number Of students
and their greater distribution by classes
throughout the three years course Of study.
make the present corps of instructors mad
equate to the instruction Of all the classes,
A greater teaching force has become imper-
alive. Reference WIS made, IN the report
of your Executive Committee, last year. to
the small number of teachers in the Normal
Sehool-when compared with other institn-
uons-upon whom the work and reSpouSi-
bility of instruction rested This year the
want Of more help has been felt more seri-
ously than then; while. for the coming year.
the present Faculty. already OverWo ked.
could not, with justice to the pupils, per-
form the labor required.
Without desiring to be obtrlsive in this
matter, beg leave TO recommend for the
position OF I'd female teacher in the Institu-
ton, Miss Mary j. Watson. graduate of
the class of 1867. Her accurate scholar
ship, enthusiastic devotion tn the teaching
profession, skill and Judgment as an instruct
or, and her experience in the school during
the last term as extra teacher unite in COM
mending her fitness for the place.
2. desire to renew my statements of
last year respecting the need of q bookcase.
The books constituting the library are now
in rough. open cases in the large assembly
room. They were constructed for tempo
rary use in the district school-houSe of En-
pOria. Not only are they out of place in
the new building with its otherwise neat and
tasteful furnishing, but they are entirely in
sufficient To accommodate the books. AS it
now is, they are piled IN, behind. and on
top of the cases in necessarily promiscu-
Gus way, so that reference TO given text
books. which is often necessary by an en-
tire class, can only be accomplished by
much handling and re-handling Ofbooks not
wanted before the proper ones can be found.
Besides. much damage is done TO the books
by reason of their exposed condition, and
the constant accumulation of dust settling
upon them from the daily sweeping of the
room. Neat cases with closed doors and
| glass fronts. and with provision made upon
the tops for busts of distinguished charac-
tiers. and statuette, swould supply this want,
and add greatly to the appearance OF the as
Sembly hall.
1t would also he desirable TO have small
bookcases provided for the model school
room, and each of the recitation rooms; so
that, in addition to the general library, the
books of each special department. AS Natural
Science, Mathematics, etc might be kept
seP prn,i'ely9; Do..o. 49,. oo,.o.oa -,
lection of specimens in Natural History,
mostly Geologic and Botanical. This is
nucleus of the intended museum for the
benefit OF the Normal students. The spec
linens are now in a rude box, which, being
too small for the purpose. has specimens Oh
its top and lying loosely around it. A cab
met. which might be made in connection
with the bookcase, is needed,
3. Respecting the Improvement of the
Normal School site, the following sentences
were written in my last annual report:
1.-The building is enclosed by neat and
durable fence. but the ground within the
| Enclosure is still unbroken prairie. 1t should
| be plowed and trees. shrubbery and vines
planted, and walks and summer houses ar
ranged at as early date as practicable. No
investment will yield a richer return to the
| State than that needed TO do the work have
I indicated, provided good taste and judgment
| lend their aid in its prosecution
| Regrettlng that, in attempting to supply
the wants of the school last year, il became
| necessary to let the improvements under
this head lie over, l beg permission TO
| again invite your attention to the subject.
Repeatedly. during the year, have visitors
from abroad and citizens from other parts of
| the State commented III on the seeming
neglect which suffers the grounds to remain
| in their present condition. Viewing the
otherwise neat condition of things at the
/ Normal School. it has been pronounced a
| disgrace to the State that trees have not been
| set ont, and other things done to relieve the
baroness of large. handsome building stand
ing upon the open prairie.
4. When the building was constructed the
wood work received a coating of paint which
was intended as ground for finish of
be done during the coming year. since the
| first paint is becoming worn off in many
places, and the interior of the building still
! presents an unfinished appearance.
5. In consequence of leakage of the roof,
the plasterlng in the assembly hall has been
seriously injured. portion of 1t having fall
en- from the ceiling. Considerable repairs
are needed here.
| BOARDING HOUSE .-IMPROyEMENTS.
The boarding house, provided by the
| corporation known as the Normal School
Boarding House Association, was opened
| for the use of students at the beginning of
| the fall term. Twenty-Five students and
the family having it in charge are living in
it. The students are somewhat crowded,
but still find their accommodations reason
ably comfortable. The method thus far
adopted in the management of the boarding
house has been to place it in charge of a
kind, jndiciOus family. who exercise gem
eral control over the building and its in
mates, see to its safety. and the comfort and
| quietneSs of the students. furnish meals to
such of the students as do not care to board
| themselves. etc. The rooms are rented to
the students ut low rates, in some cases not
| exceeding % cents per week for each per-
son. and in none exceeding 30 cents. The
students usually club together, two, four,
| or six ladies, or gentlemen in the same way +,
forming a family, - and board themselves,
| which is done at small cost.
| Notwithstanding the limited size of the
boarding house, it has already proved a
great benefit to the school. 1t would be
very desirable If another boarding house
could be built.
Additions and improvements have been
made during the year as follows:
A pipe top organ, of the Peloubet man.
ufacture, was purchased of Foster and Cook
. of Lawrence with money raised by the stu
dents at public meeting of the literary So
! ciety. and floral festival:
a set of AppletOn's New American Cy-
clopedia with accompanying annual volumes
and a new supply of Webster large quartO
Dictionaries and Lippincott's Gazetteers
have been added to the library.
I Three additional stoves, completing the
whole number required in the building,
have been put up.
!. A large chandelier and lamps. for the light
ing of the assembly hall, dressing rooms,
and entrance halls have been procured.
The Catalogue for the year, is now in the
hands of the printer, and will be out in a
few days,
RELATION OF THE NORMAL SCHOOL. TO COMMON
SCHOOLS AND TO COLLEGES.
The true place of the Normal School in
our educational system does not seem to he
clearly apprehended by many of its friends.
1t is. by some, classed in the college or uni
versity system. The Normal School is thus
thought of as an institution similar to the
universities at Lawrence. Baldwin. and
other places. In the minds of others, the
Normal School occupies something of an
intermediate place between the common
ehools and the college, higher thanthe one {,
not so high as the other. 1t is looked upon
as an academy or preparatory school where
! Young men and women can be fitted to en-
! ter college.
/ Neither of these is correct. The Normal
! School occupies a position distinct from that
State. 1t Is neither an academy nor col
iege. and ought not to be COMPOUNDED with
either. Its aims and aspirations are entirely
different. Its course of study has little in
common with either grade of institutions.
the classics finding no place in its curriculum
the methods of instruction differ widely.
Its design is. not to prepare its students for
general business. but for special Ycca-
ton. that of teaching.