Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-06-24
THE NORMAL SCHOOL
Contest for Location Sternly Fought
. in School Board.
FRANKLIN BUILDING THE VICTOR
How the Board Divided on the
Question.
VINO,
FRANKLIN BUILDING The VICTOR
ARLIAM ENTARY POINTS

present location III tne FRANKLIN DuiluliiS,
and the much agitated plan for its transfer
to the Henry building has been abandoned
for the present, at least. There were pres
ent at the meeting Messrs. Whelpley Gn
the chair. Barnard, Harries. Hazen. Will
son, Wilmer. Cornish, Shadd and Bruce
and Mrs. stowell. Mrs. Terrell was the
only absentee.
Chairman Whelpley explained briefly that
the meeting had been called for the special
purpose of considering the report of the
corning the question of the location Of the
Normal School.
Mr.. Wilson, chairman of the committee
on high and normal schools, reported, YER
bally, that the committee had decided to
recommend that the Normal School be To-
Gated in the Franklin building.
Mr. Barnard moved that the report of the
committee be adopted.
Mr. Harries moved as an amendment
that the Normal School be located in the
Henry building.
Mrs. Stowell seconded Mr.. Barnard's mo-
ton.
For the Henry.
Mr.. Harries spoke of the Importance of
the question at ISSUE and said he regretted
the absence of Mrs. Terrell, who had shown
a deep personal interest in the matter. AL
though the subject had already been fully
discussed, he said he didn't care to have it
come to a vote without reterating some CT
the reasons why it was advantageous TO re-
move the Normal School to the Henry
building.
He then made a strong argument in favor
of the change. and contrasted the facilities
of the two buildings for the purposes of the
school to the decided detriment Of the
Franklin building. To his view the Henry
building was UNNECESSARILY superior in its
in practical methods of instruction. That
building, he said, could be provided with
full schools in all the primary grades,
condition impossible at the Franklin. He
considered the latter building generally I'M
fit for normal school purposes, the rooms
being small and some of them being in
fact insantary on damp, warm days. The
so-called teachers library. in the Franklin
building, was to his mind an unimportant
factor in the matter The slight advantage
it afforded in favor of the Franklin build
ing did not compare with the good TO be
derived from the laboratory and library in
the Henry building, not to mention the
many other advantages of the latter build
ing Mr. Harries said he trusted his
amendment would be carried at that meet
ing and expressed confidence that the
Henry proposition would win in the future
If not at that time.
The Other Side.
Mr.. Barnard said the matter mad already
further discussion. All the points made by
Mr.. Harries In favor Of the Henry building
had been fully considered by the commit
tee before making its report in favor of the
Franklin There were many reasons, he
said, for retaining the school in the Frank
lin building one of the chief of which was
that it enabled the superintendent to give
it his personal attention. While admitting
the deficiencies of the Franklin building,
Mr.. Barnard contended that they were
overbalanced by the disadvantages attend
ing a change. He thought there was ample
room in the Franklin building for the
school, and. moreover, as it was estab-
lished there by the law creating 1t, he was
opposed to putting 1t somewhere else. espe-
cially when such a course would be at
tended by considerable trouble and annoy
ance beyond the compromising benefits.
Taking everything into consideration, Mr.
Barnard concluded that 1t was best to re-
tain the school where it is, and at the same
time accommodate the superintendent, at
least until provision shall be made for
special building for the Normal School.
Further Arguments.
Mr.. Harries replied that the actual pres
ence of the superintendent was not essen
tfal to the conduct Of the Normal School,
and he said further that the fact that the
school had been established in the Frank
lin building many years ago was no argu-
ment against locating it in a better place
He didn't think the proposed change would
cause any special confusion, and If 1t did
1t would be fully compensated for by the
decidedly greater conveniences that would
result therefrom
Mr.. Wilson said that while he had SUBJ
m1tted the report of the committee in his
capacity as its chairman. he desired to
state that he dissented from its conclu-
sions He had no hope of a normal school
building, and he didn't vote with any such
idea. He said he was satisfied that the
Franklin building was not SO well suited
Tor normal school purposes as the Henry
building, and In voting for the proposed
change he would do so believing it to he
permanent. If he considered the buildings
equal he would vote to suit the wishes of
the superintendent, but he did not think
SO: Consequently he would vote. he said,
with Mr.. Harries in favor of the Henry
building.
Mr.. Whelpley said his views on the SUBJ
1ect conceded with those of Mr.. Harries
the Franklin building and the adequacy of
the Henry building, and that his vote
would be based on that belief
Remarks by Mr.. Cornish and Mr. Bruce
showed there was some misunderstanding
as to the views of Superintendent Powell
on this question. and. at The suggestion of
the latter. the superintendent made a brief
statement of his position. He introduced
satisfied with whatever action the board
took In the matter. adding, soto voce, that
he had to be. He then stated it as his
opinion. all things considered, that the
Franklin building was better adapted for
normal school purposes than any other
building.
Among the reasons he gave for this belief
were that 1t was more convenient, more
central, and that it contained a library
bought expressly for normal training. With
the use of four additional rooms, he said.
the Franklin building would give almos,
the same facilities for training as the Hen
ry building. To his mind, the Franklin
building and its surroundings were far SUI
perior to these of the Henry building for
the purposes of the Normal School. He de-
sired to have it distinctly understood. how
eyer, that he had mede no effort to have
the normal schools united and brought to
the Franklin building. and that while he
personally favored the location of the
school in that building. he would not un-
dertake in any way to interfere viii, or. op-
pose the board In any action 1t might take
looking to a change.
Mr.. Shadd said that he would vote for
any resolution that would give the children
as many training schools az they needed.
and from all he had heard ON the subject