Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-01-15
NO NEW NORMAL SCHOOL.
Report Of the Special Commission Regard d.
ing Another Maine Normal School.

To the Honorable Senate and House OF
| Representatives in Legislature Ass, m
| bled
| The undersigned, members of the COM
| mission appointed by the governor under
| an order of the Legislature passed A. d.
1885. to inquire as to the propriety of es-
| tablishing additional normal schools in
| Central or Eastern Maine and to report
! the result of their Investigations to the
next Legislature. have the honor to sub
nit the following report:
The commission has pursued two lines
of investigation; First. into the capacity
of the existing normal schools to accom-
modate more students: second. into the
needs of better normal school privileges,
IN eastern ana centfal Maine.
The State has three normal schools
each equipped at an expense of about $40
! 600: each maintained at an annual ex-
pense OF about $4,000 By the expenditure
of S20O0 for the enlargement OF the as
sembly hall at Castine. and the annual
expenditure of Sl0G0 for an additional in
structor at Pennington and $1,000 for an
additional instructor at Gorham. these
three schools could accommodate 200 sd-
ditional students without crowding and
without Impairment of their present eftic-
iency
Furthermore. many of the students now
| in these schools are not properly prepared
TO take up the work of normal school.
They belong in the high school or the
academy. The standard of admission to
the normal schools ought to be raised.
gradually and steadily until the cquiva-
lent of Il high school or academy course
shall be required for admission to tbs
normal schools. The normal school should
|, be Il supplement to the high schools and
academies: not Il substitute for them.
on the other hand, these schools are
remote and not easily accessible from
Central and Eastern Maine The time and
expense required to reach these schools
Is Il burden and Inconvenience to students
in Central Maine: and TO students in por-
lions OF Washington and Aroostook coun-
ties amounts to positive hardship and
priVation- Eastern and Central Maine
have a just claim to more available nor
NAL school privileges than they now en-
joy.
The commission cannot ignore the claim
OF these Eastern and Central sections of
the State. Neither in view of the fact
that the existing schools are not filled bv
properly qualified Students.can we recon-
mend 1T present the establishment of new
normal schools. If il seems best to at
tempt TO equalize the availability of nor
mai schools privileges III present we
recommend that. until the existing schools
are Hlled. and a new school shall be es-
tabliShed. mileage for one round trip each
term to be allowed to normal school stu
dents residing in the State. to be paid
out of the State treasury. This would
bring normal school instruction within
the reach of all sections of the State at
very much less expense than would be in
VoVed in the erection and maintenance
of one or more new normal schools
inasmuch as the commission does not
recommend the Immediate establishment
VI new normal SCHOOLS. IT seems best to
make no specific recommendation of suit
able locations. There are. however two
general principles, which the commiss on
commends to the consideration OF those
who may hereafter be called upon to de
terminc the location of II new normal
school
First. The location should be central
to the entire section of the State not
otherwise provided with normal schools.
The extremely unfortunate location of the
existing schools ought to stand as ii per
petuai warning against the attempt to
consider merely local claims in the loca-
lion of State institutions.
Second. The next normal school should
be established in Il city of sufficient size
tc afford three hundred students album
dant opportunity for practice work in all
the grades of an efficient and progressive
public school system.
In conclusion. the members of the COM
mission desire to express their thanks to
the principals of the normal schools the
state superintendent of common schools
and the representatives of Pressure Isle
Houlton. Lee Calais. Bangor. Dexter
and Newport. for kind assistance and
valuable information.
Respectfully submitted
WIN. DEW. HYDE.
s. ID. LEAvITT.
EDMUND F. WEBB.
January 6. 1897.