The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1921-01-28
Quarterly SessionWas Held
In St. Paul Today
GOV. PREUS WAS THERE
High Tribute Paid the Retiring
Director Washburn,
Duluth
ISpecial to The Free Press1

matters with members OF the state
Normal school board, In quarterly
meeting in the office of J. M. Nc
connel, commissioner of education.
Questions pertaining to budgets
and similar subjects were pre-
scented. Those attending were E.
J. Jones, Morris, president; S. n.
Somson, Winona; Harry c. Strong,
Duluth; A. p. White, Bemidji;
John n. Ray, Jr., Minneapolis; c.
L. Atwood, st. Cloud; and Mr.. Nc
connell, J. c. Wise, Mankato and
Leslie Welter, Moorehead, were
unable to attend.
st. Paul, January 25.-At the regu-
lar quarterly meeting of the State
Normal School board, held today in
the offices of State Commissioner or
Education ]. NJ. Mcconnell who is
also secretary of the board, in this
city. President E. w. Bohannon of
the Duluth school paid high tribute
TO former Resident Director ]. L.
Washburn of that school, VINO with
President Ell Torrance OF Mime,
apolis, retired with the last meeting
of the board in October. their terms
of office having expired, and II
being their desire that they be re-
lieyed from further duty in the ser
vice of the state. Mr.. Washburn mas
served the Normal schools and state
continuously for the past eighteen
y years, and his retirement from ser
Vice in that capacity was regretted
not only by the members of the board
and those connected with the six
schools, but by many people in the
cities in which they are located by
who he is so we'll and favorably
known. Mr.. Washburn before going
to Duluth was a resident Of Mankato,
his parents being early and we'll
known settlers of Vernon, this coun-
~, and for a while they lived in
Mankato
Mr.. Washburn has many friends
living in Mankato at the present
time who will be greatly interested
in the following tribute paid him by
Mr.. Bohannon:
"The most noteworthy fact con-
corning the State Normal school at
Duluth the past quarter was the
severance by Mr.. WaShburn OF his
official relation to the school. His
term Of service convered practically
the entire period of its activity and
his relations to 1t were such as to
make his withdrawal a matter OF
more than passing interest and ord
mary consequence. Although mem
bers Of this board know the degree
and quality of his interest in all the
schools, / am sure that no else can
appreciate so fully-As do l. the ex-
tent to which aRd the variety OF ways
in which they claimed his attention.
If his interest in the school in Duluth
was, as it must have been, not quite
the same as that in the others. it was
never at the expense or to the detr1-
ment of any other. Both in quality
and in period of its duration, 1t was
such as to develop between him and
the members of the school relation
ship that was unusal both in its per-
sonal and its official aspects. 1t was
inevitable, therefore, that his retire.
ment should cause great regret and
become the occasion for the mani
festation Of corresponding evidences
Of esteem and appreciation.
FOR almost eighteen years he has
rendered rare service to the Normal
school of Duluth, service which
should become a real heritage Of en-
couragement and unselfish devotion.
/ count it one of the finest satisfac-
ions of my life to have had this as
ISOLATION with him in my work here.
1t is such a satisfaction as can come
only from genuine companionship in
purpose and effort, and l wish to
record this evidence of grateful ap-
probation.
en- connection with his last visit
at the school as a member VI the
board, he stated it to be his purpose
to continue permanently the five
thousand dollar students loan fund"
Governor Preus at Meeting
Governor Preus attended today's
meeting Of the board, it being the
first held under his administration.
when he went the different members
and presidents held a brief confer
ence with them, discussing matters
Of Importance to the schools as well
as legislative measures pertaining to
the board and the six schools. Presi-
dent Jones of Morris, who was ap-
pointed presiding officer Of the board
by Gov. Burnquist in place Of Judge
Torrance, who retired, presided at
his first meeting and the two new
members of the board Messrs Strong
of Duluth and John II. Ray, Jr., the
latter son of the late and former
president Mr.. John H. Ray, Esq. of
Minneapolis, who were also named
by Gov. Burnquist as successors to
Messrs ]. L. Washburn and Ell Tor
rance, attended their first meeting
today. The session was largely de-
voted to the discussion OF Legislative
matters pertaining to the school and
the budget which will be asked to
be passed by the present session or
the legislature for the support of the
six schools during the years 1917
and 1923.
The reports of the presidents of
the schools as given at the meeting
follows:
The Mankato School
President c. H. Cooper of the
Mankato Normal in his report said:
1.-THE fall term showed an increase
of Is percent in enrolment over the
fall term in 1919. At its close TWEEN
ty-two seniors were graduated; at
the exercises the address was given
By Superintendent John Munroe af
Faribault and the diplomas were gff-
en- to the graduates by Director Wise.
1.-THE winter term shows a consid-
erably smaller enrolment than the
fall term, 357 against 1872. 1t is al
ways the case at this school that
most of the students enter for the
year in September and that subse-
quent terms show falling off. Be-
sides the twenty two who were
graduated twenty seven others are
not in the school this winter. Three
had almost completed their work and
have secured special certificates;
poor health, financial stress, lack Of
ability, and in a. few cases lack of