New-York tribune., 1906-11-26
NORMAL COLLEGE PLEA.
President of Its Ahamne Assoo'
alton Argues for Autonomy.

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: At a meeting of the executive COMMITTEES of
the Associate Alurnnse OF the Normal College held
on November %. the following resolution was car
ried by a very large majority;
Resolved That though we recognize the desiraoil-
fly Of placing the higher educationad ~ @
of this city In more oglcaI we are strongly
opposed to any plan Of consohdauon WIiicn N N
ciudes or more of the following oo,eouonaole
First-Ioss Of the autonomy Of the Normal Col
Standardization of the separate efics Of presi-
dent of the Normal College. -.,o,, -. ~.
Normal College before it has been shown that the The
sgPpY Of Ru4fs for he neess @ the coiege
Fourth-Co-educatou In any Phase, or even the
necessitated by the occupation OF buildings
on the campus. , c-,,.-
Fifth-The inyalidation Of the Normal College
basis by the adoption Of course OF study unao-
ceptable to the regents as leading to the A. B.
degree.
It would be we'll perhaps for some Of the argu-
ments advanced In support OF this resolution to
be here stated.
In reference to item one, would say that the
use of the word autonomy not intended to
preclude the idea OF placing the Normal College
under the board Of trustees as the College Of
the City of New York, although that board might,
under the circumstances. have to be reconstructed
Surely no friend of the higher education OF
woman doubt the advisability OF retaining the
separate Office OF president of the Normal College
The institution which educates a large proportion
of the women teachers OF the city needs the un-
divided care of It's president, and that presi-
dent should be one OF the ablest in the land.
In reference TO the third Objectionable feature
we would point out the fact that many colleges
maintain either directly indirectly, their pre-
paratory schools. This is especially true in the
West. Why should position, then. in this re-
gard be thought anomalous? Our preparatory de-
partment Is needed feeder for the college,
since the city high schools have not yet fur
nshed the requisite number OF pupils for
rying on college department The break at the
end OF the four years of work in city high
schools swings many into commercial pursuits,
who IN own preparatory Department. are car
ried by their Intellectual momentum Into COL
lcge
1t is matter Of pride in this big democratic city
of ours the free colleges draw from all phases
Of the citys life. We at the Normal College have.
in consequence, many problems to deal with whioh
entirely absent from institutions sucn as
Barnard College. Why multiply and complcats
these problems by adopting anything IN the re-
motest degree resembling co-education?
This last point as to our degree Is one upon
which there is much honest difference of opinion.
The Normal College stands for the principle that
mi the studies of college
course is far better able TO handle the problems
Of pedagogy than one with a pedagogical training
based upon merely high school education. We
believe that If the total OF teachers value to
the city estimated It would be to the ad-
other, during the first few weeks or even months,
may f1t into the schooroOm work with more ease.
The versatility and grasp Of mind which come
from the higher training viii tell tel In the long run
President Associate Alumna. Normal College
New York, Nov. "a, 1906