Birmingham state herald., 1896-06-14
AIABAMA's PRIDE.
The State Normal College at Florence-l
 Remarkable Development.

Xle StaG0 IN Ofma1 OOlleB6 h1 HAoAoASo AeS
 Remarkable Development.
 The development of this institution within the past few years has been a source of wonder to the people Of Ala bama. under whose eyes the growth has taken place. But a short while ago school of local repute only, the normal college has now. become known to every nook and corner of the state. But that is not all. It's fame has spread beyond our boundaries to other southern states and even to remote parts Of the country: Florence is better known as the seat of the normal college than in any other way.
 A careful analysis of the causes that have led to this development is interest ing. Briefly summarized, they are:
 l. A strong directory. Not one Of Ala bama's institutions has a more able or devoted board of control than the nor nal. They are carefully selected py the governor from all parts of the state. Having succeeded in their own affairs, they are we'll equipped for this work. When they meet they have single puf- pose to subserve, and that IS the gooo of the college. It is as follows: George P. Jones of Florence, Gen. J: D. haIner of Tuscumbia, Hon. W. l. Bullock Of Rus sellville, Hon. J. K. Jackson Of Mont gomery, Capt s. H. Dent of Eufauia, John F. Proctor, Esq, of Scottsboro ana Superintendent John O. Turner, ex-oI- nicio. ,, ing This, as do most of the others, grows out of the first consideration. The board of directors select the very pest talent to be had, wherever found Presl- dent James K. Powers was educated aI the University of Alabama; Prof. M '. Wilson of the scientific department, at the University of Virginia; Prof. c. 5. VanWie of the chair of pedagoglcs, at Courtland, N. Y., Normal college; PfoI. w H. Magruder of the department or language and literature, at Randolpn- Macon and the Johns Hopkins Miss Mc- Lellan of the model training department, at the Bridgewater, Mass, Normal; Mrs. Mann of drawing, vocal music and physl- cal culture, at the Albany, N. Y., Normal college; Miss Simpson, assistant Tn ian guage and literature, at the normal col lege itself, while Mrs. Erskine, instru- mental music, is pupil or RoDyn. lhese are all specialists.
 We understand that there will be teacher of common branches selected at an early day. The list above is guaran- tee that she will be strong woman. The value of faculty that represents such a variety of training can scarcely be over estimated. Each brings to the Normal whatever was most striking at his alma mater After all, an institution does its work in the departments MT: Powers fully recognizes this fact ana never inGerferes in the slightest with the plans or purposes of his colaborers. But if there be a weak point anywhere he Is sure to find out, and the directors are at once apprised of the fact. Having been connected with the Normal college since its inauguration, he is thoroughly famii- jar with its history and knows all about the lines along which it's success has been wrought. When he went into the facul- ty as professor of mathematics in l8I3, not member of the present ooard or faculty was connected with the colege. He knows personally every graduate and former student. In this his position IS unique. What institution in all the land 2S years old, with hundreds of graduates and thousands of ex-s!udents, has pres ident that has had hand in the tralning of them all?
 3. Confining the work of the college to the lines laid down for 1t, the tralnihg bama. Every other consideration is made subservient to that by the faculty under direction of the board. The WIS dom of this course, not to speak of. US propriety, has been demonstrated by the results. No one agency has contributed more to the progress that has been made in education in Alabama within the past two decades than the Normal college. lis undergraduates are teaching in every section Its graduates fill the places of responsibility in the schools of our lead ing cities. as well as in the rural districts. Wherever found these are centers of dis turbance in the interest of advancement. Together with the faculty these have had a leading part in all the institute and as- sociation work of the state.
 4. The loyalty and devotion or the grad uates and former students to the college. It is a subject of remark frequently that one never finds one of these but he finds staunch supporter of his alma mater and all of it's plans and purposes. The late Dr. Solomon Palmer, who ap- preciated the value of this at its full worth, was frequently heard to remark upon this feature. Such a band as these ex-students now number is power Tor good when they work together toward such an end.
 5. Work. Few people have. any idea of the vast amount of thought and effort required to do all this. Many think that such an institution runs of it's own force. Such imagine that the president has an easy time and a long rest in summer. But such is not the case. He covers the entire state with his correspondence. He knows the state and its leading people as do few others.
 Last year the attendance reached near ly $50, as the catalogue shows The fac ulty was worked up to it's full capacity. In May a class of thirty-three graduates was turned out. These will step at once into positions sOr usefulness ana reSpon- sibility.-
 All-this has been accomplished with a small appropriation by the state, aided by an annual donation from the Peabody education fund All told, the revenues of the college are not much more than one-third of what similar institutions in older parts of the country receive. Are not the children of Alabama as deserv- ing as those of other sections? Should not our teachers be as well trained as any? The time has come when the nor mai college must broaden it's lines in or der to support the reputation it has earn ed. If so much has been done with so small an appropriation, what might we expect if reasonable provisions were made for it's support?
 Within the past few years President Powers has been invited many times to go elsewhere at increased salary. But he has invariably declined. Few can realize his interest in the work of an in- stitution in which he has spent nearly a quarter of century of the best years of his life. It is his ambition to build the normal college up to an attendance of 800 students. and his friends have no doubt of his doing it if he can have the teach ing force so increased as to accommodate