The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1896-03-26
the State appropriations.

This should be an assurance to the
Legislature of the Commonwealth that
money appropriated to Normal Schools
will be honestly used for the purpose
for which it has been appropriated.
| 8. That they keep in advance OF
the growth of the public school system
1t will not do for the Normal Schools
to fall behind or even only to keep
pace with the march of progress in the
public schools.
These schools must be leaders and
not followers in the great work of pub
lie education. These schools will
always be looked to to supply large
proportion of the leading teachers in
the State, and they can only do this
by keeping the schools themselves in
the very front rank of advancement.
Just as the medical profession looks
to the medical schools of the country
for the latest ideas concerning the
treatment Of diseases, so will the
teaching profession come more and
more to look to the Normal Schools
for the latest and best ideas concern.
ing teaching.
In order that this position of ad d.
vancement may be held by the Nor
NAL Schools they can never become
cheap schools. Strong men and
women must be employed on the fac .
ulties of these schools, the equipment
must be in every respect superior, and
conditions arranged for in order that
new suggestions and ideas may be
tested satisfactorily. This means not
a cheap school but school wherein
Sufficient outlay of money has been
made to meet all requireme nts of a
first class training school.
4. That they encourage their grad.
yates to continue their studies, when
possible, beyond the Normal School
requirements.
Whilst the Normal School student
has usually finished the studies of the
Normal School course with a degree
of thoroughness not met with in many
educational institutions of the State,
he must not, however, be imbued
with the idea that his education is
finished. He will be all the more
useful to the State if he builds higher
upon the foundation he has already so
well laid. The colleges and univers-
/ tiles are beginning to recognize the
value Of a Normal School diploma,
and to offer to the graduates of these
schools favorable conditions for en-
trance upon college and university
work.
Never before in the history of the
State have SO many Normal School
graduates been found in the colleges
and universities of the State as are to
be found in them at present. This is
due partly to the encouragement they
have received from these higher insti-
tutions, but more largely to the stim-
ulus given them in the Normal Schools
in which they have received their
training. This is movement in har-
mony with progress, and the Normal
Schools should do everything they can
to encourage their students to take
advantage of the many excellent op-
portunit;es offered them by the higher
institutions of learning in the country
to continue their education.
S. That they send out no gradu
ateS who are not morally as we'll as
intellectually qualified for the profess
ion of teaching.
1t is good indication that the
Normal Schools are growing in use
fulness to the State, when they begin
TO lay more stress upon the moral fit
ness of their graduates, than upon any
other qualifications they may receive
at the hands of these schools
The State has right to expect the
Normal Schools to protect her by
sending out into her schools as teach.
ers none but those who are fit exam
pies in point of character for her youth
to initiate.
So long as the State shows no signs
of a growing weakness in the character
Of her citizens she is safe. Anarchy
cannot gain a foot-hold on her soil,
nor can oppression live within her
borders.
The State has perfect right to in
quire into the moral as we'll as the
intellectual standing of those who are
to receive life certificates from Normal
Schools to teach The Normal Schools
are ready to meet this demand on the
part of the State, and to recommend
to the State Board for final examina-
ton none but those who have sound
characters.
| A Normal School which shirks this
responsibility is not true to its trust.
To send out into the State evc.y year
a thousand men and women of strong
character, approved scholarship, and
1 ann1nna1 xutfh L. -