Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1897-02-27
THE BIENNIAL ATTACK ON THE
STATE NORMAL SCHOOL.

For many years past an attempt
has been made by members of the
state legislature, influenced by par
ties enyious of the State Normal
to discredit the work of that
institution by refusing to issue to its
graduates life diplomas to teach in
the common schools of the state of
Kansas. The same fight on the school
has been renewed again this year by
proposition to require its graduates
to take the state examination, before
the State Board of Education, in five
professional branches, the same as
graduates of other schools. We be-
lieve this is an injustice to the stu
dents who attend the State Normal,
an injury to the cause of education
which is the pride of every intelligent
Kansan, and an insult to the thor
ough, conscientious, painstaking work
which the State Normal has been do
ing for the teachers of Kansas for the
past quarter century.
The annual enrolment Of the State
Normal has been above fifteen hun
Every portion of the state is repre-
sented in the institution. All trans
portation exceeding a limit of one
hundred miles has been paid by the
state thus placing the student living
in distant portion of the state at no
greater expense in reaching the school
than if he lived only a hundred miles
away. Tuition is free. The instruc-
tion is thorough. The instructors
is not excelled by any similar school
in the country. More than thirty
states having similar institutions,
grant life certificates to teach to
those completing prescribed courses.
The certificates of graduates of the
State Normal school of Kansas are ac-
cepted and endorsed by New Mexico,
Colorado, California, New York and
several other states. Then why
should graduates of the greatest and
best teachers school in the state not
be given diploma which is good in
the state?
1t is agreed that other schools have
longer courses of study and give a
higher education. This is very true
The State University, the State Ag-
ricultural college and several other
colleges give higher education, some of
them, too, at the expense of the three
Rs and the Kings English, but these
schools do not have the professional
studies, the training department., nor
the facilities for developing teaching
ability, which are the distinctive and
characteristic features of the State
Normal. A man may be thorough in
Greek, familiar with theology, versed
in veterinary science, and a marvel of
information on NEUROLOGICAL investi-
cations and yet be wholly ignorant of
the elementary principles of teaching.
such as knowledge of temperament,
mind development, the order of
studies making a good common school
course, methods of punishment, pur-
pose of government, and many other
things which it is the special prov
ince of teachers training school to
emphasize.
Personal knowledge of the work be-
ing done by the State Normal School
the state legislature can make no
bigger educational blunder than to
pass House Bill, No. SIS and Senate
Bill No. 40, requiring graduates of
the State Normal to take the exami-
nation prepared by the State Board of
Education.
Graduates of recognized schools of
pharmacy, schools of law, schools of
medicine, ETC., are not required to
pass examinations after completing
prescribed courses in schools designed
for their respective education, then
why make an exception of the gradu-
ateS of the State Normal School in
face of its excellent record and thor
Ough equipment?
H. ~ Let