The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1902-07-05
THE STATE NORMAL SCHOOL.
Result of the Legislative Committees
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Criticism of
the Management of the School.

Result OF Jno Legislative OOmIulJLe0 .
Investigate Criticism of
the Management of the School.
The special committee appointed by the last
Legislature to investigate the affairs of the
State Normal School has completed that duty
and submitted its report-a very lengthy docu-
ment-to Governor Smith. After reviewing
the testimony and commenting thereon, the
committee makes the following recommended
tons:
"That the present board of trustees be re-
placed by new board. consisting of members
who are conversant with the subject of educa-
ton and who are able and willing to devote
themselves to the interests OF the Normal
''That the Normal School should be organized
under a new head. Its principal should be
progressive educator, OF acknowledged emil
hence in the science of pedagogics and from 30
to 80 years the junior OF the present principal
of the school.
"a training school should be incorporated in
the Normal School, in which the students of
that institution should be required to observe
and practice the art of teaching and in accord
ance with established standards of normal edu-
cation.
STANDARD OF ADMISSION.
"a definitely ascertained standard of ad-
mission to the Normal School should be estab-
lished by law, whose requirements should be the
equivalent of our average high school educa-
"The academic courses of instruction at the
school should be advanced so as to rid the cur
riculum of its elementary character
"The curriculum of the school should be sup
plemented by the addition of department in
the science of education or pedagogics. We re-
commend that the classr0Oms of the school be
increased in number, its quarters enlarged and
a library and reading room added. This may in
great part be easily accomplished. inasmuch as
the principal now occupies without charge
considerable part, namely, the west wing OF the
I'VE recommend that the Normal School be
f1r0xyidQd with q dOrmif0rv gvgfQm 70
administered under the supervision of the au-
thorities of the school, or that such accommoda-
the school with comfortable and economical
abodes under effective and responsible super
Properly managed the Normal School may be
the means of elevating and improving the whole
of our educational system; sunk in neglect, it
people and, worse still, the time and opportu-
mites OF the rising generation.
COUNTRY GIRLS UNPROTECTED.
In speaking of the desirabiity and need of
dormotories. the report says: There is one
phase of the subject to which we deem it proper
to more particularly call attention. We refer
to the protection which it is the duty of the
state to throw about the young women who
come to Baltimore city from the counties, and
have no relatives in that city with whom
they may reside while attending the Normal
School.
that there is no supervision whatsoever exer-
cised by the Normal School authorities over the
boarding places of such young women. These
girls, coming 10 large CITY from Jne SeCluSlOn
of their country homes, between the ages of
Is and 10, inexperienced and unsophisticated,
are without attention or protection of any sort.
"TO the circumstance that such protection
has not been afforded in the past is to be as
cribed the fact that a number of the students
of the Normal School have been the victims of
sad misfortune in recent years. The testimony
reveals extremely distressing incidents of this
nature. Some of these incidents were proved
by the dispositions of witnesses-eyewitnesSes
having personal knowledge of the matters of
which they spoke and others of them by hear
ing testimony more or less authentic"
"DISCORD IN FACULTY"
The committee says that the work of the
school is embarrassed by discord in the faculty.
This lack of harmony was admitted by almost
all the instructors. There is rivalry and jeal
ousy among the two cliques in the school, of
which majority of the faculty are on one side
and opposed to Professor Hammell. Miss Ed
wards and Professor Gaul on the other.
1.-The minutes of the meetings of the faculty
of the institution says the report, READS like
1 sTd oOns
Unconscious humor of these assemblies would
be shining mark for the pen of Dickens or
the school. The general atmosphere is laxity.
There are no formal reports rendered by the
principal to the trustees of the school.
1.-The conditions exemplified in the evidence
show that the existing board is either incompe
tent or derelict in the performance of it's duties
Possibly it is both. In this connection, it is re-
commended that no one be appointed upon the
board of trustees who is engaged in the business
of selling books, stationery or school supplies
The principal OF the school should not be
member of its board of trustees. The Governor,
because of the multiplicity of his official duties
should not be president of the board.
POPULATION CHARGED.
1.-THE administration of the finances of the
school the committee found to be in very I'M
toward condition. The testimony shows, first,
peculation; second, loose methods; third, the
want of proper bookkeeping; fourth no detailed
and adequate report to the board of trustees of
its finances; fifth, no definition of responsibility
in the management of its business affairs
''DOuOtleSS, 1t was consequence of these
conditions that the trustees of the school deter
mined not to permit its pecuniary accounts to
be inspected and made public. The committee
found that for some time prior to January l.
1902, populations had been practiced by former
employe at the Normal School. These pecua-
tions amount to several hundred dollars, and, so
far as the committee was advised, were never
made good, and were not reported to the trus-
tees of the school by its principal, the secretary
and treasurer or the trustees.
'IT Is INFERIOR"
1T is indisputably Plain says the committee
work of a normal school and that its students do
not receive normal education.
THE Normal School is doing the work of
high school. and rather of a second-rate than a
first-rate high school. This is shown by the in
ferior requirements for admission the elemen-
tary character of its courses of instruction that
it is inferior in the scope or degree of advance
ment of its work to the city high school, and in
many essential respects to other high schools in
CHARGE OF IMPROPERLY.
ny our committee feels constrained to COM
TOO upon the tacf as 70 ny MISS
other sources, that the books, stationery and
supplies used at the Normal School are required
to be purchased from Mr.. Joseph M. Cushing,
member of the board of trustees of the school.
This is regarded as a marked improperly.
1t is condition opposed to sound public policy,
and as well as to the ordinary rules of business
obtaining between persons occupying fiduciary
and confidential relation.
mo maxim of ordinary equity is better set
tied than that trustee should not deal with his
cestui qui trust nor avail himself of his fiduciary
relation for his own profit. Public money de-
observed and enforced in the business Of public
departments"