The Saint Paul globe., 1899-02-26
CHANGE THE NORMALS|
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
THINKS SOME IMPROVEMENT
CAN BE MADE
GOV. LIND MADE SHORT TALK
Normals, and Only Wants to See
Them ImprOved-NO Star Cham
Morey Now Wants Even the Press
idents to Attend.

For the first time In several years
|, the state normal school board held a
meeting yesterday that was not of IA
star chamber nature. Gov. Lind's five
new appointees being in the majority
! there was no chance for the cid Inem-
bers of the board - parpetuate amy Of
the cid star chamber traditions Of the
board, where business Of public ma
| ture was under discussion.
/ There was no inclination on the part
| os the new members to shield any
thing from publicity, and it being the
| initial meeting the best of fesling exist
| ell and several of the members greeted
each other for the first time. The board
is going to make some changes in the
| Eormals and the process began before
| the board adjourned. 1t will probably
not be completed until there IS d COM
| plete revision of the course Of study
in these schools.
Preliminary steps were taken to put
this in effect and committee consist
ing of Supt. Lewis. w. S. Hammond,
st. James. and E. J. Phelps. 81. Paul,
were appointed to confer with the pres
idents of the Winona and Mankato
schools with a view to bringing about
the desired changes.
The appointment of the committee
was prompted by, a resolution offered
Gov. Lind. who expressed himself very
candIdlv upon the subject.
Supt. Lewis resolution provided for
the abolishment Of the c classes at the
Winona and Mankato institutions from
date. except those already entered and
the discontinuance Of the B classes Of
both schools after Sept. l, 1900. Mr.
Lewis -prefaced his resolution with
preamble to the effect that the acad-
eu,ic work done in the two schools was
duplicated in the seventh and eighth
grades of the grammer schools. and the
207 high schools of the state.
Mr.. Phelps at first understood Supt.
Lewis resolutions to cut out the ele-
mentary feature of the normal work
in its entirety. Supt. Lewis explained
that this was not the case, as it was
merely intended to raise the standard
Of admission to these schools and in
crease their usefulness. It was inn
possible to get an education and a pro-
fessional scholastic training at the
same time. Supt. Lewis said that In
his opinion, the normal school should
be supplementary to the high school,
and that a person entering the normal
school with the intention Of taking up
teaching as a profession should have
as a basis a good grammar and high
school education. Being thus equip
ped, except for review Of the instruc-
ton given in the grammar and high
schools. the prospective teacher could
give all of his or her time to the study
Of child training and it's kindred sub
jects.
Gov Lind spoke cordially of the
normal schools and said If any false
impression had gained circulation that
he was not a friend to the normals,
he hoped it would not go far. The
suggestions made in his message to
the legislature had been made with the
welfare of the schools at heart. He
expressed himself as thoroughly In
sympathy with the change proposed
by Supt. Lewis, and said the state
could not afford to make any duplica-
ton in any part of it's school system
which was so near the hearts Of the
people.
After hearing Gov. Lind's address,
the subject was dropped and the COM
mittee authorized to investigate and
make a report to President Ankeny
of the board will be called just as soon
as the committee has completed its
labors
The proposed change only applies to
the two normals in the southern part
Of the state, as the same conditions are
not applicable to the -Moorhead and
St. Cloud institutions, as the latter are
Va
high schools as are located around
Mankato and Winona, an older and
more populated part Of Minnesota.
suggestion was made by Director
Morey that the presidents of the four
schools be invited to sit with the board
during it's meetings. 'fhe matter, with
the revision of the rules Of the board,
was referred to special committee
on rules, consisting of Messrs Ankeny,
Phelps and Lewis.
A resolution abolishing elementary
diplomas, except for the present Sc
nior class in that department, was Ia
vorably regarded and referred to the
first committee appointed to invest1-
gate the feasibility of making a change
in the course.
An extra science teacher for the
Moorhead normal was authorized for
the spring term. Director Nye was
elected treasurer of the institution at