The log cabin Democrat., 1917-01-06
NEEDS OF NORMAL
SHOWN IN REPORT
BY PRES. J. J. D0YNE
Facts and Figures About Institution
at Conway Presented to Members
of General Assembly.

at Conway Presented to Members
of General Assembly.
A sketch of the progress of the Ar
kansas State Normal School and brief
outline of the needs of the institution
are set forth in a report by President
j. }. Doyne, copies Of which have been
forwarded to members of the Arkan-
sas legislature, which cOnvenes at
Little Rock Monday A recommenda-
ton that a main building be erected
and that four additional teachers be
provided to take care of the growing
attendance at the school is made by
President Doyne, who shows by sta
tistics of other institutions how little
comparatively has been spent by the
state upon it's Normal School in the
nine years Of its history The report
in part is as follows:
ITO the Members of the General AS
scmhly, State Of Arkansas:
"Gentlemen-l am submitting for
your consideration brief report con
corning the progress and needs of the
State Normal School, since matters
relating to it will come up for your
cons Iteration during the session of
the legislature, This school was es-
tablished by act of the general as
sembly of 1907 and began its work
in September. 1908. with an enroll
ment of 154 The enrolment last
year, including the summer school
enrolment, was 512.
Buildings.
The building now used for school
purposes was erected with funds do
mated by the citizens of Conway and
cost approximately $4,000 1t can
accommodate comfortably and con
veniently 200 students. We have
now (December PSI on the roll 353,
and this number will be increased to
at least 400 at the beginning of the
January term. The original plans
provide for a main building, and its
erection is now absolutely necessary
if the school is to meet the growing
needs being made upon it.
There is one dormtory for young
ladies, costing about $4,000 and ca
pable of accommodating 100. There
is no dormitory for young men,
Board in the dormitory costs $3.50
per month; students who cannot be
received there pay from $1,000 to
$500 per month board in private
homes.
The other buildings are a train
ing school building, costing $4,000,
small farm house, a model dairy barn,
and a large hay barn. In addition to
these, there is a heating plant, cost
ing about $1,000 and located with
reference to the future development
of the Normal School. 1t furnishes
heat for the school buildings and its
capacity can be increased at but little
cost, 50 as to furnish heat for other
buildings that may be erected.
Cost to State.
This is the ninth year Of the
school. During this time the state
has spent less than 100000 for build
ings, the other expense for this pur-
pose having been met by donations
from the citizens of Conway and by
appropriations from the Peabody
fund Thus the state is in possession
of a plant valued conservatively at
$150,000 and costing the state less
than half this amount.
Additional Teachers.
"There are at present Is teachers
employed in the school, but its rapid
growth requires the addition of at
least four others, if the teaching IS
to be done to the best advantage. An
additional teacher is needed in the
department of education, another IN
the training school, another in the de
partment of cooking and sewing, and
the school should have a manual
training department. The entire
course of study in the school is ar
ranged primarily with a view Of pre-
pairing teachers for the rural schools,
and this is kept constantly in mind.
If 50 per cent of our population IS
rural, then it behooves us to look
after their educational needs more
than we should that of the remaining
urban population Of Is per cent.
Strengthening the departments above
named will aid us in doing this.
Value to State.
THE Normal School is for the en-
tire state and provision should be
made for its enlargement in keeping
with is Importance to the state. 1t
should nave the hearty support and
cooperation Of all who realize the