New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-08-23
SELECTIONS FROM THE MAIL
DR. BLAKEMAN,s EDUCATIONAL WORK.
AN EPISODE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE
NORMAL COLLEGE.

AN EPISODE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE
NORMAL COLLEGE.
Tothe Editor of The Tribune ,-.
Sir. There was an episode in the life OF Dr. ba"e
man. whose death occurred in this city recently ""
In the light OF the history OF that institu'ioh' o
ties him TO be called" The Father Of the Norman Wy
leces For nearly twenty years resident Oh ''o ~
teenb Ward he was for large part of that time non
orcd by the citizens a school trustee, ana inc uu"
OF this Office were labor Of pleasure ana love !" NM
Tho Board having determined TO meet the Increasing
demands of the district, adopted decioeu ihi'o'"
al that time in the plan of "a new school eAci"sNos
for girls the curriculum and standard OF WHICH sn'.
be of the highest. The only available site Tor t ~
stitution was be the property In Twelt'h-e
belonging to the Tucker estate, the oolaiihe
which the trustees knew would be attended with dl
Guilty unless prosecuted with great cantlol' W
Blakeman was accordingly appointed to Negotiate a''u
report.
After several quiet interviews the owner conseh'cu
10 put his Willingness to SELL with the price, III WITH
ing that II might be presented to the full Boaru' anu
Dr. Brakeman Immediately had 1t recorded ana Ill 'i'
condition IL was acted upon. This gave inc mo'o
ment publicity and aroused the opposition on 'ho o
tire neghborhood which, banded together, ehdc"oieu
to have the owner withdraw; sought to influence "o
trustees TO abandon the scheme, and even thiel'enc
TO- or actually did seek the intervention Of the courts
The agitation waxcd warm that some oi the .'"'
tees thought II better to abandon the plan for te
than TO antagonze many of the best citlzchs Vi ''
ward but Dr. Brakeman said ' No. that the heso','
ton had been carried in good faith the site was to
only one available In the Judgment Of the Board IL
had been secured and could not be diverted the Time
WAS oppor.une and their duty to the citizens a. Gus
todans of the educational interests Of their children
fur outweighcd the objections of few residents al
though they were prominent and influential
These counscs brought the Board TO Ia full froho'
fhar nlau IN
tees had failed finally gave up the contest, with tho
gracious and gallant remark: THAT seeing II was
going to be girls school, they would withdraw their
opposition
The erection Of the building. opening Of the school
and subsequent development received the Constant
supervision OF the trustees, and DR. Brakeman was
among the most active and unring In his efforts tne
wisdom Of the plan being proved by great success "u
4 lew years before this time there arrived in this
country young Irshman Of fine presence ana educa
Inc suggestion Of the late John l. Doanc. then prncl
pal he secured "A trial with the lowest class III uc
boys department Of the Thrccntlst' sch"'i'
subsequently Grammar School No. % Dr. l'lahcihah
Immediately Ia bin rare qualifications as an 10.
strnctor. and unknown to hm wa, M osri.
continually advocating his advancement. which passed
him through nearly an the grades OF the school t ne
reached what then known a. section Il; thc th'Io
class from the highest From ms class ne SEM 10 10
the Free Academy. now the College OF The Cty Of
New York, for examination ana had chtcrcu Wlt ue
highest marks four boys. This feat unheari oi
at the time and without parallel in the annals OF
the public schools. and IL Immediately stamped IhOnas
Hunter a. an instructor OF the first rank
When the expansion Of the school INTO the colesc'
which seemed The perfectly natural growth. was de-
termnel upon by The Board Of Education. the man
for rs head az hand and In The selection ~ Mr.
Hunter as president il not that ne was moro
thoroughly equipped furnished than Others but uiat
he possessed In remarkable degree the rr' idculty Oh
impartng knowledge. to which his previous successes
weTo undoubtedly due. .
These incidents. while in themselves insignihcant
yet In the light Of subsequent Developments We're %
the utmost importance. and the Board Of Trustees
arknow lodged IN the most generous manner thai but
for the quict and successful negotiation. the wise
foresight in making the prclminares matter ~
record and the persistent advocacy on Tho part OF
Dr. Blabeman II what he thought 10 be right and
the duty Of the trustees. the scheme would have nm
d0nb,cdly lave been defeated such the decrIina
ton and influence OF the Directors. and thus the
foundaon OF the school and IL subsequent develop
vcarg FIFTEENTH WARD.
New-York, Aug 20. 1880.