The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-02-18
NORMAL SCHOOLS.
suggestions Looking to n Thorough
Inquiry Into the Whole Subject.

To the Editor Of the Indianapolis Journal:
That very large vote in the Senate in ia
vor of establishing a second state normal
school at Muncie means much more than
appears on the surface; it indicates a
wholesome unrest on the general ques-
ton of education, which forbodes radical
changes In more than one depart
ment of our ill-adjusted system Of
education 1t is not to be won
dered at that the Legislature of more than
third of century ago Numbered In it's
plan tor normal schools. The whole sys-
tenn OF normal schools was then in Its
infancy, the oldest then in the United
States being less than thirty years old
and then even not more than a dozen in
the whole United States, with so divided
an opinion among educators as to their
utility that our constitutional convention
In 1901 promptly refused to provide for one
in the new constitution as a state insti-
tuition. The State of New York had been
wrestling with one at Albany for ten or
had not been favorably impressed with
it. partly because. like ours, it was located
at one side of the State. To remedy this
other. until there were twelve state nor
mails. These were very expensive, and yet
they did not supply the demands of the
State. With the growth of the opinion
that teachers should be trained to teach
ing most of the large cities established
training schools of their own and all the
principal colleges had department of
pedagogy, the opinion prevailing that, un-
like at their Cornell University, the bes T,
results were not dependent upon large
classes. These facts led to a radical change
OF the system, resulting in the present law,
which provides that any individual or asso-
cation or Individuals any town or city or
any college may conduct a normal school,
furnishing its own plant and meeting all
expenses, and II the curriculum and in
structions are up to the required standard
out OF the State funds for every student,
amounting almost to the cost of tuition
To this grade all of the dozen State schools
were reduced. Under this regime New
ton in normal schools than any other
State at less than half the expense per
capita to the State than formerly, and at
no greater cost to the student, and in
many cases less than under the former
system.
To substantially this system we must
come at last, but we are not ready for II
yet. Instead of learning from others we
must have an experience of our own, hence
we must take that Muncie normal, then the
Danvilie, then the Valparaiso, then the
lions with little to show for il. Our preseI,
excellent normal is well up in it's second
million; and each of these new normals Is
entitled TO as much. Valparaiso graduates
| as many annually our million-doliar
State Normal without any cost to the
State and at no more cost to the graduates
| and no one will claim that they are infer
ior TO the graduates of the State Normal
| IL any particular.
The large vote in the Senate is indicative
| OF the prevailing dissatisfaction with ex.
| listing conditions in our entire school sys-
| tenn. But is it best to take upon us more
| trouble of the same kind? More than once
New York has committed the whole schoo
| question to an intelligent commission and
| the present highly satisfactory system /:
| the result. It's university system is more
than hundred years old and it can easily
| be transplanted to Indiana soil and made 8
| success, Notwithstanding Governor Hen.
/ dricks's resolution in the convention to for.
| funds to colleges. We have the foundation
of the equal of their Cornell Universit,
| in our own Purdue if it could be Olsen.
| tangled from embarrassing alliances anl
school can equal any in the Nation t 4
taken out Of the hands of the lobby tina
has controlled it from the beginning. VIII,
| portance Of the occasion? Why may not {
joint commission of senators and repre-
ssentatiDes: Sqp I,tsa if need be by
| not connected with any college take tim,
| to study the situation? The real interest.
| of the whole State can never be providet
| for amidst the thousand and one questions
| before a Legislature that can devote les
than 800 hours, once in two years. to ia,
various wants of the State. 1t may cos
1 several thousand dollars, but Ii would hay,
saved millions If such a commission has
| looked into matters thirty years ago in
| tead of allowing a lobby to dictate: AM
we are just beginning to spend money o,
institutions foisted upon US by that lobb,
| In perennial session. If the present com
mittees on education Were constitutes
| such a commission We would have goos
| men and none too many of them. II Al
| obvious to every thinking man that witt
| the conviction almost universal that tn
| State has no right under the present Con
| legiate purposes, and the growing convic
| tion that the New York system of norma
instruction and university management i
| better than ours. there never can be tn
harmonious action in school affairs tina
| will win success, and It is equally NANTES
ha5 the these LOBBY anas sS brought
fish purposes will never lead u
out. That $4,000 donation to tn
Haute has given more than $4,000 to tn
State Normal, yet the State has supple
| mented 1t every year for more than thirt
years by an average OF about $1,000 with
| single dollar. We are certainly at tn
| forks of the road Can we afford to TIA k
on a half dozen more State normals? /
is only one now. but unless We change on
4 policy others must follow, and the pace Sc
for the first must be kept up for air T
this wise? Let US have wise commission
| that can steal away from the perennial
| lobby and devise wise system in the ligh
| OF our own expensive experience and IN
experience Of other States. / am not plead
| ing for a cheap system i want no cheese
raring policy. The best system is none to
good for Indiana, and we are able an
J willing TO pay it's prices. If the preser,
Constitution viii not allow this let "a
amend the Constitution. At all events. lie
us call TO our aid dozen or more com
| petent, unselfish men. who shall have tw
years TO study the whole system, and IL
Us not be mean or penurious in providin
for them. One OF the fastest New Yor
commissions. after agreeing upon the pro
pcseu notifications. printed their repo.
| many months before the Legislature me
and scattered 1t through the State that TIN
peopls might study 1t deliberately WI
may we not do the same? Colleges. hig
| schools, district schools. normal school
and a State university. all so interlocke
that no one can properly be consdere
alone. hence the necessity, so to speai