Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1902-07-04
LRGISLATYTE COMMITTEE MAKES
SERIOUS CHARGES.

Monday. The committee is composed OF
Messrs. Straus, Watts, Bggs and Kerr. As
matter OF public interest we give the fol.
lowing synopsis Of their findings;
The report is a severe arraignment Of the
conduct Of the Normal School both by the
State Board OF Education and the principal
and faculty. The methods OF both are Sc
verely criticised. The report covers 100
pages of typewriter matter
The report embraces a thorough investi
CATION OF the subject of normal education in
It's various branches and subjects, the organ.
izatlon, management and curriculum Of the
Maryland State Normal School,
The committee has examined a large mum.
Der of witnesses, including all the members
OF the faculty of the School and leading
school examiners and officials from various
parts of the State. Besides this, IL has in.
spected the buildings and classrooms of the
Normal School, its library, Laboratories and
other accommodations; has visited the classes
and examined great many OF the examina.
ton papers assigned to the respective classes
and the answers Of members OF each class TO
such examinations.
A careful investigation was also made by
the committee Of the organization and ad.
ministration OF normal schools in the United
States. The report is comprehensive and
thorough. Every feature OF the School has
been fully explored. The investigation GOV.
ers the plan of the School, its standard of
admission, its curriculum, the proceedings
Of the faculty, the degree of care and super
vision exercised over II by the State Board
OF Education, which is, by law, its Board of
Trustees; the finances, discipline, and, espe.
cially, the pedagogic features of the School.
Ill nNNI A. l..
arraignment of the School.
The indictment made against 1t by the
committee embraces counts upon all the
points mentioned. The main charge in the
report Is that the Normal School is not a
normal school at all that II Is not perform
ing the functions OF normal education, as
prescribed by the statute and as established
by the usage of normal schools elsewhere.
Ii points out that the School is not fulfill
ing the purposes for which il was created.
This Is shown at length by the Inferior
standard OF education In the institution and
the comparatively elementary scope and
character of its curriculum, by its want Of
q training or practice school and depart
ment Of the science Of education and peda-
gogics.
The report says that the School has been
so characterized by many members OF its
faculty, and by virtually all Of the exam
liners who have testified before the commit
tee.
The report then discusses extensively the
scope and functions Of a training, or prac.
tice school for the pupils of normal school
this subject is extensively treated, and it is
shown that the failure of the Maryland Nor
NAL School 10 embrace a training or prac-
lice school deprives 1t of the character of
normal institution. The want of depart
ment in the science OF pedagogics, including
courses in the philosophy and psychology OF
education, the art of school government and
discipline and chld.study, is next pointed
out. The report then, on this point, con
tinues as follows:
"In the light of the facts above set forth
namely, that the State Normal School, as
now administered and conducted, has
First-No training or practice school.
Second-A school, nominally, for obser
walton, but, In reality, worthless in that
respect
TRId-No department in the science of
education, including;
(a) The psycology OF education.
(b) The philosophy of education.
icj The history 81 education.
(d) Child-study, and
ley The art Of governing classes; but en-
bracing, In lieu of all these important re
l I'll
conducted under exceedingly untoward con
ditions, and unaided by any Of the above
adjuncts.
Ii is, therefore, claimed that the State Nor
NAL School is not doing the work Of nor
maj school, and that its students do not re.
ceive normal education"
A comparison Is then entered into with
work of other normal schools and testimony
is arranged and set out at large. The next
proposition contained In the report of the |
committee Ia that the School is simply a
high school, and not a flrst-class high school |
at that In this connection, the courses of
instruction are carefully examined and ana.
lyzed and compared with the courses OF in
struction In various high schools in Mary
land, In which II ia shown more advanced |
studies are pursued than In the Normal
School.
The requirements and standards for al
mission have been put decidedly toe low,
and the proof Is very coplously set forth
upon this subject 1t ia shown that marked
Improvement and advancement are needed
In the curriculum Of the School, the discus
sion upon this subject ending with the con
clusion that the present senior year of the
School should be made the junior year, and
that the requirements attendant 10 an aver.
age high-school course should be established
unanimity of opinion among the witnesses
examined upon this subject ia next indi.
Gated.
The equipment of the School Is next taken
up, aud II is shown that its library is greatly
Inadequate and very badly located in the
ONCE oil the principal OF the School; ex
posed 10 the constant intrusion OF persons
visiting him. 1t is also pointed out that the
school really has no reading room. It's quar-
ters are contracted, the class rooms are not
sutiiciently spacious and not numerous
enough " accommoda,o iIs needs The
laboratories are SHOWN . y without suff
Client equipment ~
The finances OF the School lorti,- Inc hext
subject Of consideration in the report. These
are shown To be In q confused and chaotic
state because Of the lax and improper meth
DDS. The want Of business standards il
pointed out in detail. The report says the
committee also found that populations had
taken place, the guilty party being former
employee OF the Normal school, aud that
these peculatons had never been reported
70 the trustees OF the School.
"The refusal OF the trustees TO permit the
committee 10 inspect the books aud accounts
OF the Normal School is causlically com.
mented upon 10 this connection the report
contains many other incidents of conspicu.
Gus shortcomings 10 the conduct oi the bust
ness affairs OF the School and consists OF the
failure OF lis principal 10 render proper and
detailed reports 10 the board of trustees as
70 It's financial condition. The only account.
ing upon the part Of the principal 70 the
board consists in the mere production To an
auditing committee of receipted bills aud the
checks wherewith they were paid. Such
proceeding clearly gives the board no def
mite Information OF the state OF the finances
u kQhnnl moi ah.A.. 49,.
II awes or how much is owing 10 IL. II il has
any debts, II Is not revealed whether they
are JUS. ones; II debts are due to IL, IL is not
disclosed whether they are separate or des
perate. The books of the School do not bal
Hnee, and have never been balanced, no that
they show nothing as 10 the financial con
ditiOD OF the school,