The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1905-04-22
JORDAN SAYS NORMAL
DEPARTMENT is FAKE
Members of State High School
Board Score Branch of Ed.
ucationaI System

George B. Alton. state high school in
spector. regrets to report that normal
departments in state high schools have
not been the success he had proudly hoped
for them.
DR.. c. NJ. Jordan. superintendent of the
Minneapolis city schools. a member of
the state high school board. declares that
the normal departments are the rankest
fake in the state educational system
The state board yesterday. however to
expend a legislative appropriation of
$500. recommended a list of seven
schools for inspection as to their COM
pliance with the terms by which they are
eligible 10 receive a state appropriation of
$3.50 for maintaining a normal department
Sentiment in the board seemed to be al
most unanimous that the experiment of
installing normal training departments in
state high schools had proven a failure.
Inspector Alton was an indifferent apol-
ogist for the system. And Dr. Jordan
asked embarrassing questions.
Is il profitable to the state? Is il not
true that multiplicity of this kind of
department work lowers the standard of
the school work and makes less effective
the work done?" DIR. Jordan asked Prof.
Alton.
The inspectors defense was not very
valiant. and DR. Jordan said that any sys-
tenn that required open recruiting to Sc
cure the pupils for the department was at
fault somewhere.
All After Appropriation
DR.. Cyrus Northrop. president of the
state university. also a member of the
high school board said that some of the
schools that were asking for the appro-
priation were having difficulty in securing
a sufficient number of pupils To meet the
terms OF the law. He intimated that the
schools were more anxious to get the APP
law. 'r'-'' u '''e
A list OF fifteen schools was submitted
py the inspector as having been bene-
nclaries In the past of the appropriation
Tor maintaining normal departments. He
submitted supplementary list of nine
schools that had asked TO be considered
as candidates for next years appropria-
ton. Mr.. Alton said that there was
small balance from the last legislative an
preparation TO be added to the appropria-
tion made by the 1905 legislature and
that thirteen schools could be named to
snare In the appropriation for next year
at $3.50 each.
He recommended the schools of Aitl<in.
Albert Lea. Crookston. Hastings. Owa-
tonna. Red Wing. Sank Center St Paul
and Spring Valley for inspection in view
remaining schools on the two lists will be
considered at an adjourned meeting of the
board to be held May 8. These schools
are Browns Valley Dodge Center, Monte
Fergus Fails, Kenyon, Morris and Whea-
ton.
Olsen to Distribute
Supt. Olsen will make distribution Aug
] OF the deficiency appropriation of $50
900 for state aid TO high schools made by
the last legislature. The original appro-
prlatlon contemplated to each school was
$1,000. but because the fund would not
permit of the full amount pro rata dis
tribution was made. Nearly 80 per cent
OF the schools will receive $395 from the
distribution OF the sac. 900 appropriate
A limited number of schools did not COM
ply with all the regula tions relating to
state aid and on the first distribution of
to under the law. These will not share i'm
the deficiency appropriation. Between
$4,000 and $4,000 of the $4,000 will not be
appropriation. amounting to S245. 900 for
the next two years.