The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1876-03-10
NORMAL SCHOOLS.

From Topeka Commonwealth, March Sd.
We are not going to write an es-
say on the advantages of Normal
NAL Schools. We assume it to be
an agreed manner that Normal
Schools rightly conducted are a
necessity of the times and that the
common school system cannot be
carried out and made TO accomplish
what it is intended to without the
Normal department. We assume
also that Kansas is able to support
and all agree that there should be
one good Normal school in the
State. Without saying what our
views might be, if no such school
had been established, on the subject
of combining it with the university,
we do say, that in the present con-
dition of affairs the school should be
at Emporia. The question now
comes up how and why have the
State Normal Schools been defeated
by the present Legislature
Mainly we think to break up q
combination that could hot be, de-
stroyed in any way, except to
slaughter them all for the time
being.
Bills had been introduced to es-
tablish one or more schools in adj
dition to the three In existence.
The feeling has become strong that
an error had been committed in es-
tablishing the Leavenworth and
Concordia schools. 1t was doubt
ful whether 9 combination could be
made to defeat them. 1t was evil
dent that if they were not defeated,
it would be because they would
combine with the friends of the
billie establishing other schools.
If this was done and three Or four
Normal Schools established, it wac
believed that their strength Ia the
future would be such that the State
would be in the hands of ring that
would suck its life blood. Believ.
ing these things, superhumau efforts
were made to defeat the Concordia
school first, because it was the
weakest. This was accomplished,
and when the wedge was once en-
tered it was easier to destroy the
others. We do not believe that at
first was the intention to kill the
Emporia school. It was, however,
we Judge, the aim to force that
school to stop its plan of making Q
university of it, and also to force It
to change its operations so ee to
make it truly q Normal School, and
nothing but that. The conviction
wac strong (whether right or wrong
we do not say), that the Emporia
school like the others, Wes being run
too much for the benefit or the place
in which il was located. II, after
the defeat of the Concordia and
LeavenwoFth schools, Emporis had
had representative who was popu-
lar in the hoHse, and was capable of
graphing with the facts that stared
everyone in the face the school At
Empori8 might have been saved
by promptly submitting bill
to recognize the school and make
it what it's name indicates it should
be. Unfortunately for Emporis and
we believe for the State, the proper
course was not taken. The RepTes-
entatiYe of Emporia had by his
course made himself extremely un.
popular. He was unpopular not
only personally, but had made EN-
poria so by writing editorials on
the subject of moving the capitol,
which he and every one who read
them knew was for demag0gieal
purposes. He followed this up by
introducing resolutions on the sub
subject that on their face showed
the man to be demagogue. Then
his course on other subjects had
given him such q reputation that
for him to be in favor of q measure
was almost q guarantee Of its defeat
We acknowledge that members |
should not oppose good measures
merely because an unpopular menu |
Der favored them, and We are glad |
to know that the Topeka member |
on every occasion voted with Gnd |
for Emporis. But human nature is |
as it is, and the result is that the
Normal school at Emporia will be
closed for . year. We have no
doubt bat that il will be reoFgeniz-
ed another year, and placed on .
lust basis, and become &c it should,
an Institution that the whole State
will be pEoad Of