The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1882-02-23

To the Edssor Of tie Eagle:
The advantages Of Arst class educational
Institutions to the communities in which
they are located can scarcely be over esti-
mated.
Normal schools confer many benefits in
common with colleges and seminaries which
are exclusively literary in their character;
while In certain respects their local effects
are Of Gar greater importance than Of any
other class Of schools.
The time has passed when those who have
consjdered qualified for the responsible trust
Of training the minds OF the young-a work,
upon which the intelligent and conscientious
performance Of which, depend not only the
destinies Of these instructed. but also the
moral, social and intellectual forces which
make civilized society possible and free gov
eminent secure.
The demand that the people receive the
greatest possible equivalent for the princely
sums SO freely expended upon the public
schools Is one cause Of the large attendance
at Normal schools, wherever they have been
properly organized and SO conducted as to
meet the needs OF that progressive class Of
young teachers, who are not content to be
mcdiocres in their profession, but who eag-
erly avail themselves of every opportunity
to become worthy of their chooses field of la
Dor.
A second reason for the rapid and perma-
nent growth OF Normal schools Is to be found
in the fact that they are literary as well as
| professional in their character. That is,
aside IRON the specially Of the training OF
teachers, they very properly do n great
amount of valuable academic work, and can
be attended by the student preparing for the
| University, for a profession or a business,
with equally good results as by the one who
expects to teach.
| A third aud powerful reason for the pop
ular favor Of Normol schools Is the practical
nature of the instruction. The pcrceptive
and reflective faculties, the memory and the
judgement, the Imagination and the taste
are all carefully trained and the methods of
mind developement thoroughly taught.
The entirely practical character Of the sys-
TEN is obvious throughout. 1t views every
subject on the practical side, and in refer
ence to Its adaptedness to use. The dry,
technical, abstract parts Of science are not
those first presented; but the system pro-
ceeds in the only way which nasure ever
pointed out, from practice to theory. from
facts to demonstrations. 1t has often been
q complaint in respect TO some systems OF
education, that the more man studied, the
less he knew of the ACTUAL business Of life.
Such complaint cannot be made in refer
ence to this system, for, being intended to
educate for the actual business OF HE, this
object is never for moment lost sight of.
A good scho oil becomes great centre from
which raIiatps tho cearest light and truest
life which society can possibly possess. The
darkness, of superstition, the errors Of igno-
rance, and the corruption Of vice, must van
ish before the dissemination OF intelligence
and the true culture ofthe masses.
A good school is an attractive power
drawing to itself the brightest intellects aud
the best specimens Of young manhood and
womanhood within the radius of its infu.
ence. 1t vitalizes society, places knowledge
J and brains at premium, Ignorance and
bigOtry at discount and proves q sure
guarantee of present enterprise and the fu.
ture success and permanance Of all that IL
best aud poblest in the community. Its in
f!uence Is sont in powerful pulses all oyel
that AGRA of country from which 1t draws it,
support, and the town or city in which it /.
located becomes known as an Athens o
learning.
Aside from the intellectual and moral adj
yantages OF educational institutions of higl
{ grade, there arc certain material points no
, to be overlooked. Students away from
, for clothing, boarding, books, tuition and va
, rious necessary incidentals. The averag,
yearly expenditure of a student Is certainly
not less than $3.50 to $500. This money i,
, spent with boarding house keepers, will
f the grocers aud the general merchant. Al
commencement times and during term.
parents visit their sons and daughters ant
and hotels. More persons to feed makes !
better market for produce and thus garden
ing is stimulated and farmers are always at
tracted to the best markets. Thus it will b
seen that school Of one hundred boarding
students will distribute and couse to be dis
tributed not less than $4,000 every twelve
months.
That section of n state which IL without
educational institutions of u high grade
must constantly contribute to the prosperity
of the more fortunate or more epterprisins
localities; while many of the most worthy
young men and young women are deprived
OF the advantages of liberal education or
account OF the expense of going from home.
No better advertisement of county oil
city can be given than the excellence Of it;
public schools, and that it is the seat Of an
Institution of higher grade. So universally
is this fact recognized that immediate adj
vancement In tho value OF property attends
the location of a College or Normal school
and the citizens Of educational towns inva-
riably mention Their institutions OF learning
as their most import INT attractions.
w. F. HARPER.