Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1897-02-08

SIn connection with the college there
ID an experimental station. To carry on
this station the government appropri-
ates $4,000. This is not intended to be,
as is enormously supposed, model farm,
but is for the purpose of making scien-
tific Investigations. AS these investiga-
tions are only valuable in 80 for as they
are thoroughly and accurately done, the
very best grade of scientific workers
must be employed. In the investigation
of and naming scale insects, we are ahead
Of any school in the United States. The
chemical department. is recognized for
it's thoroughness of work by the depart
ment at Washington to the extent of be-
ing employed to do much government
work.
~ consider the future prospects bright
Interest IN the school among the people
is growing, and look for a largely in
creased attendance next year.
NORMAL SCHOOL.
The Territorial Normal school, located
at Silver City, is under the Management
of Prof. @. M. Light, who gave the follow
ing information concerning the school
and the work it is doing:
"This has been the most prosperous
year the institution ever had, the pupils
numbering fiftysfive, an increase of nine
over the entire enrolment of last year
and that number will be increased during
the spring months. For school not
running preparatory department., no
one being admitted unless qualified to en-
ter the normal classes, consider this
good showing. The school is, as every
one knows, dependent upon territorial
appropriations for support, the only
charge for tuition being $40 per year,
and we endeavor to make the most of the
funds allowed US, and considering the
limited amount at our disposal we are
certainly successful.
"The course of study consists OF three
and four years. work, one elementary, the
other advanced. Last years work has all
been professional, the same as is given IN
all normal schools, consisting of history
of education, school systems of the world,
child study, psychology, special and gen.
eral methods of instruction, and school
management. The practical work con-
sists of illustrative teaching before the
normal classes, and observation and
practice in teaching, the latter is done in
the public schools of Silver City, under
the direction of the normal principal.
We graduated six last year and the pres
emit graduating class numbers eleven, all
of whom are to go into the public schools
of the territory.
"Next year, if the school is properly
supported, the number of students will
reach 100. There is a growing interest
in the normal school and the feeling
among the teachers of New Mexico is
strongly in favor of normal training,
They are much concerned in the pros.
perity of the school and all recommend
their pupils to take the normal course, if
possible. There is no other institution
in the territory SO closely associated with
the public schools as is the normal. The
training given in our classes fits teachers
for better and more intelligent work, and
this means Improvement in methods of
teaching in the public schools, greater
advancement ON the part of the pupils
all over the territory. I believe the peo-
pie generally recognize this fact now
more than ever before. Because of the
i'm portance of the normal school to the
sducoAie....,, ~ =. .e.ccsts of New Mexico, the
great good it is accomplishing, our legis-
lators should provide for the growth of
the normal school that its influence may
reach every school in the territory"