The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1898-11-04

choosing a head.
The Free Press can say, and say
frankly, that it has keen interest in
in the institutions future as it has
had in its past. 1t has watched with
much pleasure the progress made
from year to year in the work of the
school, and has noted the splendid
growth in attendance that has come
as the fruit of it's labors. 1t knows, as
do all of our people, and as every pupil
will testify, that no educational in
stiLution in the northwest possesses a
higher grade of educators than COM
poses the present faculty. They have
been selected from time TO time with
especial care as to their peculiar fit
ness for the particular work assigned
them.
There is one member of the faculty
whom the faculty itself seems to have
great confidence in, having elected
him as their chairman, and that Is
Prof. Chas. f. Koehler, successor
to Prof. j. T. McCleary as state
institute conductor and teacher of
Civics and Psychology, whose splen
did executive ability, coupled with his
thorough knowledge Of the Normal
school work, would make most
worthy, successful and altogether &C
ceptable successor to the late Presl-
dent Soaring. He came to the school
here six years ago, and warm friend
ship between himself and President
Soaring soon sprang up and ever con-
tinued. For several years he was the
Presidents right hand assistant.
During Mr.. Searing's absence he took
charge of the Presidents duties and
conducted all matters in a most
thorough and intelligent manner. He
is in close touch and sympathy with
the work of the institution and is
held in high esteem by faculty and
students alike. His institute work
throughout the state has been most
thorough, and his modern methods Of
educational work have resulted in
gaining for him the high regard Of
the educators of the Northwest. He
has an educational career that would
do credit to any institution. When a
young man he attended the Mt.
Union College of Ohio, an institution
of which President Mckinley has
long been trustee where he COM
pleted a thorough course in book.
keeping and commercial law. He
afterwards attended several terms at
Prof. John Ogden's private normal
school near Columbus, Ohio, and also
several terms at the Normal Univer-
sity, Lebanon. Ohio. He later served
as principal of three different village
schools, after which he was called to
the University of Wooster as tutor Of
mathematics in academic department,
and VIII ere he completed the philo.
sophical course in the college. and re-
ceived his diploma.
After this, Mr.. Koehler was called
to the chair of pedagogy and princi-
palship Of the Normal department of
Baldwin University, near Cleveland,
Ohio. While in Ohio, and previous
to coming to Mankato, he conducted
summer schools and Institutes much
the same as he has done during his
connection with the Mankato
Normal.
He holds a professional certificate
for life of the highest grade from his
native state of Ohio. He also bsars
the title of M. A. conferred upon him
by the University of Wooster, at which
Institution he did years post gradu-
ate work. Mr.. Koehler has been a
member of the National association
as well as State teachers and local
associations for professional study and
has always been known to take
lively interest and advanced stand in
the cause of education. His whole
life, in fact, has been devoted to edu-
cational work, and he stands ripe as
a scholar, thorough as an educator,
and strong as disciplinarian.
Every feature of the State Normal
school work is known to him. By
education and training, by associa-
tions and experience Mr.. Koehler is
peculiarly fitted to take up the work
of President of the noble institution
with which he has been connected
for the past six years and
carry forward the work sue
cessfully. In the prime of vigorous
manhood possessed of strong mental
qualities, dignifed and courteous In
his bearing, it would seem that the
Normal board could do no more grace
full act nor one that would meet the re-
quirements of the situation more fully
and satisfactorily than to choose Prof.
Koehler for president OF the Mankato
Normal when, in their judgment, the
time shall come for action to fill the
present vacancy.
The Free Press is sure that this
community feels that such a pro-