Decorah-posten., 1901-07-16
New Principals of the Valdez
Business College and Normal
School at DEBORAH, Iowa,
Chosen.

froI. ". n. talQer mas CompictcQ MS
faculty for the coming year. II is com
posed Of experienced educators who
have won an enviable reputation for
thorough and efficient work in the
school-room. II is a ~weli-known fact
that Prof. Valdez make il a point to en-
ploy only skillful instructors. that is one
reason why the Valdez schools are ia
vorable known throughout the middle
West and Northwest. Prof. Valdez has
served as an instructor in this city for
twenty five years. Whatever he under
takes he does well, and that is the secret
OF his success.
A short sketch of the new principals
is as follows:
H. L. COFFEEN. PRINCIPAL OF
NORMAL SCHOOL.
Professor II. l.. Coffeen, who has
been id .ntlfed with the educational in
terests Of Northeastern Iowa for nearly
tw nty years has been chosen principal
of he Valdez Normal School. The Pro-
fessor is an energetic. all round school
mar whose long and successful career
as a teacher has qualified him to as
sumo charge of the Valdez Normal
School. He has been City S%uperinten.
dent of the DEBORAH Public Schools for
a period of eight years, and County Su-
perintendent of Winnesheik County, SIX
years. In Addition to this he has served
as Principal # Graded Schools for seve-
raj years. He never fails to create gen.
nu ne educational enthusiasm among his
pupils, and his former experience as
County Superintendent will be an in
valuable aid and inspiration to teachers
az d student teachers, because it will en-
able him to point out defects in regard 20
Qualification, and make students strong
in subjects wherein they are now weak.
in the shortest possible time.
T. S. THOMPSON PRINCIPAL OF
BUSINESS COLLEGE.
Prof. T. S. Thompson. principal of
Valdez Business College, graduated
from that institution in 1880. He then
pursued the Normal Scientific Course in
the Valdez Normal School for nearly
two years. and after that period he was
installed as Principal of the Office Prac-
tice Department OF Valdez Bus ness Col
lege where he remained one year. Re-
signing this position he entered Minnea-
polls Academy and completed the four
years Scientific Course. Being DESTROYS
to engage in the profession of teaching,
he decided TO enter the I'm versity of
Minnesota, where he graduated the Two
Years Teach RS Course. He is. with
out doubt the best qaliied Commercial
Teacher in the Northwest. He has hid
two years experience in Normal work
as a teacher and three Of Commercial,
and is therefore familiar with all the de-
tails of Advanced Modern Business Col
lege work. To accept the work here
Prof. Thompson resigned the Principal
ship of the Sank Center Academy and
Business College. He is 81 years of age,
and is a teacher of marked ability.
MISS ANNA SLACK. PRINCIPAL
OF SHORTHAND DEPARTMENT.
Who should teach shorthandl Ans
wer: A teacher who has had PRACTICAL
experience as a ST nographer In General
Oficework and Reporting. 1t is estl-
mated that fully thirty per cent Of the
shorthand graduates fail to read their
notes when the enter office as stenogra-
ghers. Why is this? Because the
average shorthand teachers have no
know edge of the requ rements Of Office
work, and have never realized the i'm
portence Of grounding the student in
correct theory. the basis of speed. In
giving instruction they are solely guided
by the textbook, and very often fail to
equip students for correct shorthand
work. Uron reflection it must be con
ceeded, without extended argument.
that an experienced. practical Steno-
grapher and Reporter who has the abb
Iitv to teach, such as has Miss Anna
Slack. the Principal of the Shorthand
Department, and who is suffic emily ac-
curate and possesses the requisite speed
to perform all the requirements in a sa-
tisfactory manner, in a first-class law of
flee, that such an instructor has a de
clded adv Vantage over the merely text
b~nok-teacher, cannot be questioned.
The most reliable shorthand indstruc-
ton is given by the teacher who com
bines theory with intelligent Office prac-
tice. This kind of instruction will en-
able students to Rad their notes readily,
and pave the way 10 a high rate of
speed.
Miss Slack acquired her pract cal
training as stenographer in the Office of
a leading attorney IN Barab o. Wis,
and is thoroughly prepared TO enter the
Shorthand Department of Valdez Bust