Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1902-10-15
EDUCATIONAL MATTERS.
Valdez BUSINESS COLLEGE AND NOR.
NAL ENJOYING PROSPEROUS TERM.
Indications for the Best Year in the
Schools History.

The Valdez Business College and
Normal School is enjoying prosper
ous term. The indications are that
this year will be one Of the best IN
the history of the institution. The
remodeling of the school-rooms has
no doubt contributed much towards a
largely increased attendance, but
the chief factor, no doubt, lies in the
employment of an unusually strong
faculty in the Valdez Normal. But
few private schools can measure uI
with this Normal in ability upon
lines relating to the work pursued,
viz: Courses for teachers in the COM
mon schools and those preparing to
teach; courses for admission to law,
pharmaceutical and medical colleges
courses for state certificate courses
for those who desire a thorough mas
terry of the common English branches
or a general education.
Some of the Principal Teachers in the
Normal.
Prof. Clifford, who heads the Nor
NAL, is graduate of Alfred Univer-
sity, New York, holds life diploma
from that state, and is modern edu-
Gator. His past experience in schools
of merit has clothed him with an edu-
cational power that is daily manifest
ing itself in the department over
which he presides. By his clear
statement of facts he is enabled to hold
the attention of students. He is a
success in getting them to think, which
is the basis of effective work and pro-
gress.
Prof. Thompson, principal of Valdez
Business College, has four classes
daily in the Normal. He completed
the four years. Scientific Course in the
Minneapolis Academy preparatory to
entering the University of Minnesota,
where he graduated from the Teachers
Course. Last May he was granted
Life Certificate from the state of Min
nesota. Neither New York nor Mime
sofa grants these credentials unless
positive evidence of ability and
scholarship is given by reliable educa-
tors. Prof. Thompson has taught in
Valdez Schools four years. He lis a
born teacher, modern in his methods
of presenting subjects and a close
student of his pupils.
Miss Ada A. Bulls is a graduate of
Iowa College at Grinell and has taken
a post graduate course in the Univer-
sity of Chicago. For several years
Miss B. was principal of the Decorah
High School, where her marked abili-
ty as teacher enabled her to retain
the position as long as she desired.
Her service as teacher in Valdez Nor
NAL three years ago was of high
order, and students will be gratificd
to know that she again takes up the
work.
The teachers enumerated above re-
turn the second time to Valder's. The
satisfactory work heretofore rendered
by them is a guarantee that they will
not now be an experiment.
Music.
For term of years Mrs. Nora Riley
has made a speciality of teaching
music, ranking with the very best
teachers in Decorah. a special course
in music will be given by Mrs. Riley
free to students of the Valdez Schools.
Scholarship and Ability.
Prof Valdez desires to emphasize
the fact that no teacher is employed
in his Normal who does not possess
scholarship, age and ability to teach.
Students who enter this institution
will obtain the very best instruction
that any unendowed institution can
command. Its policy is to employ
college bred teachers who are experts
in handling the work pursued
Success.
/, To make private school success
in this age of competition and chang
ed conditions, strong educationalists
of extended experience must be called
into requisition or the institution
must suffer financial death. Prof.
Valdez realizes this fact, and as pro-
gressive educator, the courses of study
have been revised by him and skilled
teachers employed in order to meet
the demands of the world. In other
words, the mass of the people, with
courses of study that are somewhat
limited in their scope, in order that
young ladies and gentlemen Of small
means may be permitted to secure an
education which will enable them to
get start in life and place them
selves in a position where they may
become self-reliant and self-sustain-
ing. This institution is doing grand
work. To this fact hundreds OF its
former students would gladly attest.
Valdez Business College and Shorthand
School,
This college is meeting with pro-