The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-12-16
JACKSONVILLE'S GREAT SCHOOL;
 THE SPLENDID WORK 1T IS DOING.

 educational history, to the remarkable growth of the Jacksonville Normal School. In my experience and in my knowledge of the educational history of the State have never known of any growth that matches it." ! A distinguished teacher of Alabama had this to say of the now famous Nor nal School at Jacksonville of which Professor c. w Daugette is the head. His words drew attention to an achieve ment. which, while it has not passed unnoticed. had not had it's due share of interest The records of the school for the past seven years bear out the words of the Alabama teacher. They reveal an astonishing growth.
 Here Is a table. which shows how the school has grown:
 In 1889, 25 in Normal so in school.
 In 1900, 57 in Normal, 176 in school.
 In 1901, 100 in Normal, 2s2 in school.
 In 1909, POT in Normal. 353 in school.
 In 1903. PA in Normal. sss in school -forty-five counties
 In 1904. 290 in Normal, 4o2 in school forty mine counties.
 In 1905, 322 In ormal. 436 in school -1fty-two counties.
 In 1906,~-330 in Normal--fifty-five counties and five States represented. a00 boarders.
 We'll might the Alabama teacher voice his astonishment at this remark able development The school is es- sentia1ly a normal scnooI, as a school for training teachers. The figures which are from the Normal Department and not from the training school are therefore the most significant. When the period of seven years began there were in the Normal Department only 25 students, while in the same department for the year which closed with last May the enrolment had expanded to s30. This growth is astonishing enough to attract the attention of all educational Alabama.
 Due to Efficiency.
 An enrolment no matter how large, and no matter from how wide a terri tory 1t may come is not in itself proof of the efficiency of school. And af- ter all, efficiency is quite as important as the size of the matriculation list. Still if there had been weakness in the curriculum of the Jacksonville school, if there had been deficiency of any of It's departments seven years would have furnished ample time for It's discovery The rolls. might have swollen for two or three years but they would have .subsided when 1t was discovered that the school fell short of reaching, the claims 1t publicly made
 But the school invites an investiga- ton of it's claims of eficieucve It's thoroughness its efficiency, 50 the school authorities claim form the basis of it's unusual development. The clear aim of the school Is to make it's stu dents efficient teachers. This purpse, this aim is set forth in President Dau- gettes message to his teachers and to his students, utterances that are made The prime rule of government for the school faculty and student body. To
 tudents and teachers President says
 Efficiency is called for in every field of human endeavor. The super intendents of Alabama. call on the President of this school for efficient teachers. Every teacher, man or wo- man, who will prepare for his work in assured of a place suited for his capac- ity in the educational fieId'
 The school therefore moves forward with Efficiency as It's goal
 Meeting Conditions.
 The jacksonville Normal School in short is an institution for the purpose of meeting the increased and increas- 1 ing demands throughout Alabama for l trained, efficient teachers. It is not | place for "cramming'' for the States | of applicants for teachers | license, Tor that would be a circum- scrfbed field of endeavor. The require ments of the State Board of Examin- ers-the regular examination is how ever, made the basis of the course of study at Jacksonville. The State ex- animation is only a guide, not a limit | to the curriculum of Jacksonville.
 In fact years study beyond the State examination Is required of stu dents. It is an iron clad rule of the institution that no teacher can enter the senior class without holding a first grade certificate from the State Board of Examiners.
 That is to say, that even though A Normal student has stood his State and has his certificate for life, he can not become q graduate of the school until he has put in a years extra study. And this makes grad nate of the Normal School which sig aifies that the teacher not only holds a first grade certificate but that he has years extra training for his profession.
 While we make the State examina- ton the basis of our work. we by no means confiue ourselves to it." said President Daugette Naturally being ! Normal School, Jacksonville makes he requirements of the State Board of Examiners the basis of its work But We broaden the course of our instruc- | . dea that the only aim of a student is o get through with the State examina- ion. For instance a student is not permitted to "cram" with arithmetic 70 that he can take the State examina- lion on that subject. On the other land he is so thoroughly instructed in that it is our purpose that ne be qualified not only to stand the State examination in arithmetic but that he can stand any other examina- ion on the subject, Our students are n addition required to have a frat grade certificate before they can even become a member of the senior class ,f the school"
 The School Spirit.
 Another aim of the school is the ere. f ltion of that indefinable and intangible clement so necessary to the success of , ,f the school, which for want of a bet , er name is called atmosphere" The , jort of esprit du corps a school has { jhows the sort of school 1t is. "Atmos- 1here" to a school Is the same as in- i iividuality to a man. It distinguishes md dinerentiates it even as individ- iality distinguishes and dinerentiates me man from another. The naturc Of ( lis individuality distinguishes a man , wen as the atmosphere of a school ( iifferentiates the school. The atmos 1here of a school is dependent upon its ( deals and upon earnestness of the fac i llty and students In attending those deals.
 At Jacksonville faith Is placed in in industry and in reIIg- Ous influence. A spirit of fellowship