The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1883-06-22
The Mankato State Normal School.

From the LIE Sucar county Netss we
CLEAN the following in regard to our
State Normal School, every word OF
which is sustained by living evidence :
There have lately appeared in.scvcral
of the catch-pcnny papers of the State,
articles cOndemning the officers of our
Normal Schools and their management.
Were 1t not that they had, without IN
ycstigation, been copied i'll some OF the
more reliable sheets, we would have
paid no attention to them. But as the
matter now stands we have endeavorcd
to obtain facts from impartial sources
that our readers may know the truth in
regard to their schools of which We are
SO Justly proud. Our remarks only re.
fer to the Mankato school in which We
are most interested and which has fur
nished this part of the State with many
excellent teachers.
The charges briefly are general in
competency of Ofiicers-especially local
directors, Ovcrbearing presidents, mis-
appropriation of funds, and the training
of young people as ornaments instead OF
teachers.
In regard to the first, our local dircc-
tor Mr.. J. II. Ray is too well known as
one of the most Independent, careful
business men of MankatO To need
further comment and no sane person ac-
auainted with him would ever place
sextravagancc" among his failings. The
same care with which he manages the
Citizens National Bank is shown in the
disbursements of public funds. The
expensive" furniture and Brussels
CARPET" said to adorn the Presidents
office turn out to be very plain furni-
ture that a second class hotel would
hardly place in its parlor. Many of
the fine pictures on the walls are the
riffs OF the schools friends or its sOcie-
ties. A large number being the work
of its own pupils-and excellent work,
10y the way. Further specification on
this point is unnecessary the accounts
are annually examined by Il committee
appointed by the board and published
in pamphlet form for the inspection Of
any who desire to write for them or call
and take one. President Searing's repu
tation places him above the influence OF
such criticism. A teacher in the com.
mon schools and colleges of Wisconsin
and tor tour years its State Superinten-
dent of Public Instruction which placed
him at the head of this school and its
grand success during the past three
wears demonstrated the wisdom OF the
choice and reflect much honor on him
for leaving higher position in which
he gave universal satisfaction Cor the
sake of engaging in work where he
considered he could do more good and
which he SO much loved. During his
control the school has more than doub-
led its attendance without to any great
extent increasing its expenses, and 1t
now numbers more students than any
other school in the State. Its standard
has been raised, its course heightened.
thirty four weeks. and where its reputa
ton may in the past have been poor,
the demand for its graduates to fill good
positions now far exceeds the supply.
But very few OF its Alumni have failed
to teach the allotted two years, and many
have taught from 90 to 30 terms in the
State. A number of the gentlemen are
principals in this and neighboring
States. Our city for the past several
wears, GAINESVILLE, Madelia, Currie, Man
kato, and La Crosse, Wis, are among
those who Can testify to their good
work. The ladies are filling prominent
places in our schools, several teaching