River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1912-02-15
President Crabtree's Report

In his first report to the board OF
regents President Crabtree shows
pride in the school and takes a
hopeful view as to its future. His
report has a common sense and en-
terprising ring to it throughout.
Among his requests and recon-
mendations are the following:
Purchasing land for an athletic
field and for agricultural work; es-
tablishing a rural practice school;
establishing special department
of agriculture; modelling the train
ing school more nearly after the
pattern of the public schools; allow
ing no one to remain in school who
is not getting value received out of
the work; protecting the children of
the model school from clumsy and
over rude hands; increasing the
number in the faculty; paying much
better salaries to teachers; increas-
ing the summer school TO nine
weeks; providing a physical train
ing director for men; providing two
thousand dollars for equipment for
the college course; installing gas
machine for the laboratories.
He mentions in a fitting manner:
the regret that is felt over the resig-
nation of Regent Freeman H. Lord;
the return from his leave of absence
of Prof. L H. Clark and the well
come accorded to him; and the ex-
cellent work during the year of
Prof. E. w. Castle who has returned
to Princeton University.
He acknowledges with pride the
excellent condition" in which he
found the school on November l
He says that the year opened with
a substantial increase in attend
ance, and that Acting President
Ames and the faculty had settled
the years hardest problems. He
refers especially to the Importance
of constructive work started by
Prof. Ames and the faculty as fol-
lows:
l, Arranging for the appoint
ment of committees and for the
participation of the faculty in the
conduct and management of the
school and for extending the
authority and responsibility of
heads of departments.
2. Limiting student programs
more closely than before to twenty
hours solid work in order to insure
more thorough and efficient work in
every subject pursued.
8. Segregating the sexes in the
physical training classes, thus put
ting an end to the practice of having
men and women taking gymnasium
work side by side in their gymnas.
ium suits in the same classes.
4 Organizing the faculty to pro-
mote the welfare of individual
students at their boarding places
and in the community.
5. Changing from the ten weeks
term to the semester plan, the plan
in general use in high schools, col
leges, normal schools and univers-
tiles, and improving the course of
study"
He says that: 1.-THE character of
the work to be done in this school
must largely be determined by con-
ditions in this part of the state. A
large portion of Western Wisconsin
is tributary in a way to ST. Paul
and Minneapolis. The people find
it more convenient to do their trad
ing in the Twin Cities than in Mil
waukee. They read the St. Paul
and Minneapolis papers. The
merchants make their purchases
largely of statesmen from the
western cities. River Falls has the
only state normal school in this
section. There are no colleges here.
Our institution must supply the
educational needs of all this section
which the twin cities are attempt
ing to pull away from Wisconsin.
We desire to make River Falls the
educational center for Wisconsin
educational influences in this part
of the state
In reference to the training school
he says: River Falls has been
getting along with only four train
ing teachers, placing an over heavy
burden on the supervisor of practice
and her associates. Handicapped
as these teachers are, they have
sent out into the public schools 6
| finished product of which the school