The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1897-08-14
The History of Wisconsin Normals

The History of Wisconsin Normals
The following item, which we quote
from the n. +. A. souvenir of the meet
ing at Milwaukee in July, will be of in
terest to MANY of our readers
In 1850 the state had received, by
grant from the general government,
large amount Of swamp and oyer
flowed lands, the proceeds from the
sale of which was to constitute drain
age fund" The lands thus conveyed
proved to be much less swampy and
more valuable than had been supposed
Only a moderate share of the proceeds
woald ever be needed for drainage pur-
poses; and the fund was becoming the
prey of all sorts of plundering schemes.
Local grabs" and "steals" were con-
tinually being worked up against it. To
save it from dissipation By such means,
onehalf of this Drainage + md was set
apart by the Legislature, in 1865, as a
Normal School Fund. The permanent
fund thus derived amounts, at the pres
ent time, to something over 81 $50 900;
and there are Still l62 900 acres of I'M
sold lands. To this important and al
most accidental windfall of a superfuous
drainage fund.-" the state owes, in a
measure. the Inauguration and develop
ment of its superb normal school sys-
tenn.
npf h. ,h ncf1 IA 1ISl,
permanent normal school fund set aside
all previous plans and provided for the
opening of bona tide normal schools,
disconnected from all compromising
alliances and dependencies. The first
school was opened at Platteyille on the
9th Of October, 1866, having superseded
and absorbed into itself the old Platte
vile Academy. All the other schools
have been planted on new ground and
in new buildings. 1t was the original
design to locate a Normal school at
each congressional district of the state;
but this mode of geographical distribu
ton has not been closely adhered to in
later years.
The second Normal school was opened
at Whitewater, April 81, 1868; the third
at Oshkosh, Sept. IA, 1871; the fourth,
at River Falls. Sept. ,, 1873; the fifth, at
Milwaukee, Sept. IA, 1883; the sixth, at
Stevens Point, Sept. II, 1894, and the
seventh, at Superior, Sept. s, 1896.
The Wisconsin Normal schools do not
claim to exhibit any novelties" in the
way of administration or policy. They
are not erratic nor sensational, but aim
to be alert and wisely progressive.
Their chief reason for existence is to
meet the practical needs and demands
of the commonwealth to which they
belong. Their work has been adjusted
to the practical demands upon them
rather than to any abstract ideal Of
what normal school should be; though
theoretical ideals have by no means
been forgotten or ignored.
The schools are all under the control
of one governing body, the Board of
Regents, with whose administration of
the schools no other authority. local or
general, has any right of interference.
They are all supported from one fund,
each according 70 Its need, as that need
appears to the board. There are no
stated annual appropriations to tho
several schools; and each school Is
financially independent of the commun-
ity in which it is located.
The courses Of study, being established
in their general outlines by the central
authority, are practically the same for
all the schools; though individual vari-
alton in minor details is quite freely al
lowed. Standards for admission and
graduation are established by the board
and are supervised and maintained by
the visitation and inspection Of commit
tees.
Model Schools, or Training Depart
ments, are connected with all the
schools, and much stress is laid upon
the work of practlCe-teaching undo.
careful supervision and criticism. While
thorough and accurate scholarship is
recognized az an essential condition of
success in teaching, for which the Nor
NAL school cannot evade or disclaim
responsibility. it IS held that the school
of practice furnishes the final and cru
ccal test to the students ability to cope
with the actual conditions of the school
room.
The membership of the schools is, in
each case, of both sexes. Wisconsin is
thoroughly committed to the policy OF
co-education; and its Normal Schools
are not girls schools. Though women
are quite largely in the majority, men
are numerous enough not to lose their
identity, constituting over thirty per
cent Of the whole enrolment, and
still greater proportion OF the graduate
body.
The Board of Regents Of Normal
schools was constituted by act of Legis-
lature in 1857, though its duties were Of
a measre sort until after the Inaugural
ton of the present system Of 1850. 1t
is composed of the Governor and State
Superinte ndent. ex-otficio, and nine APP
pointed members, who are appointed
in groups of three, for term OF three
wears. Il is customary 10 appoint one