The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1876-03-03

seat InlB year. 1QOS0 UomDoES
from Southen Kansas who are lend
ing themselves to this business
will regret their action at no dis
tant day.
One of the arguments for this
course is that these schools are
merely local. We know not how it
is with the other Normal schools,
but no just or fair man can use such
an argument against the Emporia
school. There are to-day over three
hundred students in the Normal
school, representing thirty three
counties of the State. Some of these
counties, outside of Lyon, have
from fifteen to twenty-five students.
We do not oppose the action Of the
Legislature on local grounds. We
trust we rise above such considers
lions. The mere local interests of
Emporia are nothing to the people
of Kansas. They are of the least
consideration in this matter. 1t is
the good name OF the State-yea,
the Educational interests of the peo-
pie of Kansas that suffer. This is,
above ali other State institutions,
the Peoples college. The matter
ought to be weighed well before it
is stricken down. The giving of
thirteen thousand dollars is not q
drop in the bucket in the argument
of this questi IN, in the estimation
of the public. This school is doing
not only a noble work, but is doing
it well. 1t has awakened more in.
terest in the cause of Education
throughout Kansas, and especially
throughout Central and Southern
Kansas, where its work and in.
huence have been observed and felt
than all other things combined. 1T
graduates, and those who have at.
tended its sessions, are sought fal
and wide by the common schoo
authorities, and there is hardly &
teacher who knows what the Nor
NAL school really is, but that aspirel
to attend and receive its benefits
1t has been only two or three year.
since the accommodations woulC
warrant a large attendance. Thu
growth has been so rapid that, b.
next year, there will probably b,
fifty of the counties of tie Stat
represented in the school.
The theory advanced by som
men opposing the school is that W
should rally to the University an,
make q Normal department there
and thus build up a great centrs
school. We agree that the Univer
sity should be strengthened all i
our power, but the work of tn
Normal is separate and distinct fror
that of the University. 1t cannC
be made tail to the Universit
kite and do the State the good
can as q separate institution. A
educators agree in this. We al
surprised that gentlemen will thu
argue after the experiments of Illir
OILS, Iowa and Michigan. The BEL
University in the West is that j
: Michigan. Why has not that Stat
hitched its Normal school to i
University? Why has Iowa, whiC
o has tried this way of running i
= institutions, concluded to separa
;, them.
This theory has grown out of tt
demagogue cry of two or thrt
> newspapers that the estate institv
$ ton ring" is running the State, ar
- robbing its treasury. Let as 81
here and now that no State instit
ton ring ever did any thing that i
. jured the State half 30 much as IL
= "ring" which struck down the No
NAL schools on "black Friday" "
have always believed that the Sta
institutions should be scattered ov
the State. They can be run mo
cheaply by being so scattered. E
cry western State has pursued &
/ policy of diffusing the State patro
age among the people. Kansas b
followed tie wise example, and v
= believe it is right. There is not hs
- so much danger of rings and &C
:. ruption as if the institutions al
D, State patronage were all conce
D. trated on one point. We have h,
- pretty good opportunity of Q
D, serving, and we never knew, in
., single instance, of any combinatit
9, between the State institutions
- selfish purposes. 1t has only ext
e. ed in the jealous and perverted il
h. aginations of those who have ma
g, such charges.
~ We do trust, for the credit of t
State, that the better judgment
~ the House of Representatives "
l. prevail, and that the necessary q
Of preparations for the support of NJ
OF NAL schools will be made if they {
~ found to be doing good work
A. the State. If they are not we sh
II, make no objections to their bel
n, discontinued. If they are the Lit
o islature cannot afford to take
position of last Friday. No 10
-. jealousies, or false notions of ecC
"a omy, should be allowed to le
~ them into leaving such q record.
The Normal school Bills.
On Whatever reasons may have
m Grated to produce the practical
'es lection ofthe Normal School app
Driation bills by the House of r.