The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1877-03-16
The NormnI aet,ooI

There 10 no one interest which af-
fects all classes of citizens, in En-
poria, so directly and strongly, IN
various waye, as does the question
Of the continuance or non continu-
auce of the Normal School. The
question OF home education of a
high grade, for our sons and daugh-
tiers, Is vital one for many citi-
zens. The expense and moral peril
attendant upon sending them abroad
are so great as to make many gar
ents shrink from the choice, even
with the unwelcome alternative of
comparative ignorance. Viewed
from q financial standpoint, 1t IL
difficult to estimate the loss which
Emporia would suffer at this stage
of her growth, by the closing of the
Normal School. We know of sew
eral eStimable citizens, property
holders, who have located at EN-
poria for the purpose of educating
their children, who are likely to
leave as soon as this question Is set
tied adversely to the continuance of
the school. So, without DOUBT, par
ties with children to educate, COM
ing to Kansae, will seek other edu-
cational points for their homes If
Emporia ceases to offer these adj
Vantages. In estimating this ques-
ton, It is to be borne in mind that
the class of citizens attracted to q
town by educational considerations
are always those who give tone and
character to q place. They are .
positive gain in point of social and
moral worth, as well as of numbers.
Still further, the students who aug
ment the population of an educa-
donal center, are, from term to
term, positive source of income ia
all citizens engaged in business. Ii
10 safe calculation to make. that
each student expends 81 per week
in the town where he pursues his
studies. With these and related
truths before US, we do not hesitate
to affirm that the closing of the
Normal School for an indefinite pc.
riod, possibly forever, is q grave
disaster-so serious as to call fol
united, earnest thought on the par
Of all citizens to avert 1t, III such 9
result is now possible. At this
writing we do not see clearly a way
OF escape from the difficulties o.
the situation. The Legislature ad
Journed without making appropria
lions for the continuance of tn,
school. It authorized the sal,
OF the lands at . minimum price o
SO per acre, and virtually told tn
Regents that in tho future they mus
manage the school without furthe
aid from the State. But these lands
unfortunately, are not located in tn,
line Of emigration, and will un
doubleday be slow OF sale, even i
pressed upon the market at thei
lowest figure. Several years mus
elapse before the income from thei
sale can DO reasonably relied upol
for the maintenance OF the school
But in the meantime, our childrel
are losing their golden opportunity
emigration will be drifting by M
and more than likely, a future leg
islature will conclude to conyer
our unoccupied building into q re
form school, or some other institu
ton ofpublic charity. The expert
ment made by Prof Pomeroy 1
conducting the Normal withou
Stale aid, furnishes no encourage
ment, from financial point of view
for the repetition of the effort. w
presume unless the condition of Ia
cal opposition were radically alter
ed, be could not be induced to a
sumo similar responsibilities for th
future.
But IL his knowledge and experi
ence In conducting the school, an