The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-01-07

years ago, I got this idea from book
1 read, and with suitable notifications
put it into practice in an Illinois High
School, of which 1 was then principal
The plan briefly stated is the establish
ment of a school postoffice, the adoption
of suitable rules and regulations, and the
election of a postmaster, etc. No pupil
joins the circle except OF his own volt
ton. The members of this circle have
the privilege of mailing letters TO each
other through the school postoffice. The
recipient of a letter makes thorough
search for errors with aid from the chair
of English, and fines the writer certain
fixed sum for each error The plan IS OF
great efficiency in making body of stu
dents accurate in their written express
sions.
1 desire here 70 mention the organiZa-
ton of some Sunday school work carried
on by two of our professors AS mat
ter of principle 1t has seemed to me that
a college town should offer exceptional
advantages for Bible study. With this
end in view, Professor Smith more than
year ago organized q Normal Bible
Class" at the Methodist church. This
class grew to membership OF more than
sixty A short time ago. believing that
the time was ripe, Professor Abbott,
though a Methodist, organized another
Normal Bible Class" in connection with
the CONGREGATIONAL Sunday school The
membership of this class at once passed
sixty in number, and We are looking for
ward to the organization of another Bible
class.
The faculty organization in the North
western will be a matter of some inter
est to you, as it is along lines very differ
ent, if my information is correct. from
those established in the other colleges
of the territory 1t is my belief that the
more freedom I accord the Individual
members of my faculty, the better work
they will do. and the more cheerfully will
they assume individual responsibility. /,
therefore, asked the faculty to organize
themselves as an independent body for
the work in their weekly meetings. They
did this electing as their chairman Pro-
fessor Smith and for their secretary,
Professor Davis. 1 am a privileged Wis
itor in these meetings, il I desire TO at
tend, and may take part in discussion,
but have no vote. Sometimes the faculty
call for my presence for the sake of ad-
vice and discussion I hold the right of
veto over any and all of their acts, but l
have had no occasion to use it, and do
not expect to have as they weigh their
acts with extreme caution.
In many colleges and universities, the
president assumes the power of a supreme
dictator, and L want TO say that this as
sumption may be necessary to the sue
cess Of an institution, owing to the
peculiarities of the individuality of its
executive or the character of the faculty
under him. With us we have found the
more democratic plan to be feasible, the
professors have expressed their keen ap-
probation of it, and 1 trust we may con-
| tinue under it.
The faculty have expressed their desire
to make a limited study of English liter
allure and thorough and exhaustive
study of pedagogy and psychology under
the president But the duties devolving
upon each Of US during this opening term
have been so manifold and arduous, that
a majority have deemed it unwise as yet
to take up this work, which will be sep
arate and distinct from the work il the
faculty meetings.
During the term just closed our faculty
has followed tentative courses of study.
At the close of the term, with thor
ough study of the strength of our pupils,
a knowledge of the conditions about Us,
and the needs of the patrons of the school,
we formulated two regular courses of
study for the Northwestern Normal, syl-
Iabuses of which courses l now hand you.
These courses are the product Of the
work Of the entire faculty and were
| unanimously adopted as best suited to
the conditions we have to confront and
the ends we hope to achieve.
I wish to make to your honorable body
the following recommendations Our in
stitution is in dire need of teacher of
mathematics. This subject is now scat
tered among three Over-worked teachers.
Immediate steps must be taken by you
to insure our water supply. The last OF
the water in our tanks and cisterns has
been used. The cistern is not half large
enough. Ninety per cent of the water
that goes to it overfows into the waste
pipe If some plan can be followed to
supply US through this year, We can get
along all right by making arrangements
next summer to be supplied from the city
waterWorks l am aware that our funds
are numerically short, but l believe that
the board shouts take the matter in hands
and make arrangements at once for our
| campus TO be put in shade trees this
/ spring, and to have Towering shrubs
! planted in proper places. Steps should
/ be taken. too, with the Alva authorities
| to have from the city waterworks an
abundant supply of water on the campus.
The matter II our library would, per-
maps, best lay over. Yet call it 20 your
| attention.
| We have had some minor cases Of disci-
! pine, all of which, however, have termi-
mated happily for the welfare Of the
! school.
/ Our winter term on account OF building
/ higher our smoke stack was ordered to
/ open January Is, by the presiden. OF the
/ board. We had contemplated opening
a week earlier than this.
| In conclusion desire to express my sat
/ isfaction regarding the excellent condi-
/ ton Of the Northwestern. and 10 thank
/ you, not alone in your capacity as Off
/ GERS for the cordial sympathetic and
/ helpful relations you have ever sustained
4 toward me in my official capacity. but u
/ thank you as gentlemen as wei for your
patience. courteous treatment. and fol
/ the excellent advice that has sustained
me in most % my attempts.
/ Certainly, Il any board Of educat ton
ever had reason 70 congratulate them
selves for the accomplishments q a grea;
work in the face OF seemingly unSur-