New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1894-02-21
SCHOOL HISTORY OF NIX,
In order to Correct Mistaken Impression
About Prof. Nix which is Intended
to Injure Him.

In order to correct a Mistaken Impression
About Prof. Nix which is Intended
to Injure Him.
The Review Undertakes to Give Sketch
of his Relations with New Ulm SCHOOL,
Affairs to, date.
After seven years experience as a
teacher in the New Ulm public schools,
Mr.. Nix left for Europe in 1881; return
ing IN 1883, he was elected supcrintend-
ent. Three rooms of Turner Hall were
at the time occupied by classes number
ing respectively 108, 96, and rs pupils,
about one half of the total enrolment.
Our main building contained four rooms
of less than 5000 Gu. it. capacity each.
Supt. Nix insisted on the erection of an
eight-room building with looms contain
ing at least $4,000 Gu. #. each. The
Lutheran minister (Rev. c.. J. Albrecht),
who claims that the earth does not turn on
its axis(cf. Joshua, x, 12 13)and that the
people should not be taxed for more
than six years. public school course,
was intent on openinga Luthern paro-
chial school. AS overcrowded public
school rooms would evidently tend to
increase the attendance in the proposed
parochial school, and ''Dr. Martin Luther
College," just opened, was willing to
admit pupils who might desire to take
deeper draughts at the fountain of ex-
purgated science, the friends of the Rev.
C.J>Albrecht did all they could to prevent
the erection of new public school
building. They were defeated, however,
and bonds in the amount of $50, 1000 were
voted for the erection of new building.
A second meeting. which was entirely
free from the parochlal school element,
voted an additional $4,000 for equipping
the new building with heating plant,
furniture, apparatus, a library, and other
appliances.
In August, 1883, a high school class
Of five had been organized &C" gra1e).
One-half of the superintendent's time
was given to instruction in this class.
This ''high school' was placed on the
State list. In September, 1884, there
were two highschool classes(''C'' and"B'')
Additional teaching force was required
for the high school. The new building
was completed, and classes we're reduced
to not more than 60 pupils each. It
thus became necessary to employ three
additional teachers. In the school meet
ing of 1885, the opposition were present
in full force. Their war-cry was, "Down
with the high schoolp' The Rev. G. J..
Aibrec chit claimed that secondary instruc-
ton should be left to private institutions.
Rev. G. E. Hitler (Methodist) made a
most eloquent and spiritedreply, defend
ing the American public school system
in general and our high school in parti-
cular. But the opposition had their
ballots in their pockets; they could have
elected two members to the board of
education had they not nominated three
candidates for two positions. AS it was,
they elected only one member. When
the chairman announced the result of
the election, the meeting became tumul-
tuous. Somebody moved adjournment,
the motion was oarrled, the meeting was
declared adjourned, and the friends of
the public schools left. Upon recover
ing from their surprise, the enemies of
the high school continued the meeting
under three rival chairmen and without
secretary. Then and there they ssabol-
lshed', the high school, two of the pres.
ent members of our board of education,
81. .Schapekahm and Prof. A. F. REIN OF
s.Dr. Martin Luther College, taking
prominent parts in the proceedings.
August nth, 1885, theLutherans opened
parochial school. Fearing that there
would be increased opposition to the
high school at the next annual school
meeting, and that the control of our
pnblic school system might thus eventu-
ally pass into the hands of its enemies,
members of the board requested Supt.
Nix, in the spring of 1886, to devise a
plan for reducing the expenses of the
high school. Mr.. Nix was not in favor
of sucha compromise but finally y complied
with the request. The three high school
classes were then taught BY the high
school instructor, 25 hours per week
(his entire time) land the superintendent,
10 hours per week. On account Of the
objections made By parents against in
struction in Latin, the board dropped
Latin from the course. Several other