Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1913-10-27

state NORMAL school,
San Jose, Cal, July 25, 1913.
Alumni Association, s. o. S. N. S.:
Referring to your letter of July %,
/ shall be glad to give you any data
from this normal school that will be
of any assistance to you in your ef-
forts to secure what the state nor
NAL schools of Oregon really require.
The San Jose State Normal School,
the oldest in California, was estab-
lished in 1862.
AS the state developed a second
normal school was located at Los
Angeles, and third at Chico.
For a good many years it was
thought that these three, one for the
southern section of the state, one for
the central section and one for the
northern section of the state, would
be all that should ever be needed.
However, about fifteen years ago
there began policy of expansion,
and since then five more state nor
NAL schools have been established.
The San Jose State Normal School
has been favorable to the establish
ment of these new normal schools.
A few years ago, 1, as president Of
this state normal school, went before
the various committees of the state
legislature and worked with COM
mittee of Fresno citizens and urged
that a state normal school be estab-
lished in Fresno.
The San Jose State Normal School
now has an enrolment of over 900
regular normal school students Of
college grade.
In my opinion, in order to do the
best work no normal school should
have over 600 students-500 would
| be more desirable.
During the past year we have grad
uated from this state normal school
about 400 students. 1t is impossible
for any faculty to become acquainted
with so large a plumber.
If we were sending out only 100
or $50 teachers each year it would
be possible to know all of them per-
sonally.
The policy of my own native state,
Indiana, has been to build up one
very large, well-equipped state nor
NAL school, but 1 much prefer the
policy of Massachusetts, which has
been to have large number of small
schools.
Personal contact in the training Of
teachers is of far more Importance
than large and expensive equipment.
This point is frequently lost sight of.
Universities need expensive equip
ment, large Libraries, well-equipped
laboratories, etc., but in a state nor
NAL school it is not so necessary.
l.. - II
schools in Oregon, it seems to me, is
the large extent of territory which
you have. Five or six normal
schools there would certainly not be
too many.
/ shall be glad to write more at
any time you desire further informa-
ytion. Yours very truly,
M. e. DALEY, -
President State Normal School,
San Jose, Cal
State Superintendent Hyatt an
swered the Alumni's QUESTIONABLE as
| follows:
Number of state normal schools in
California. Eight.
What percentage OF your public
school teachers have had normal
school training?
Eighty-five per cent.
What percentage of your public
school teachers in country districts
are normal trained?
About rs. Guess.
What percentage of teachers in
cities and larger towns are normal
trained.
About 80, l should say. This
counts all normal graduates-this
state and other states.
What proportion of the students
attending your state normals come
from nearby territory?
Ninety per cent.
What proportion of your normal
students find employment in nearby
counties?
Ninety per cent.