The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1921-01-28
Advancement During Past Year
Shown in Report Made By
President Deputy i.
MAXWELL OF WINONA
URGES LAW CHANGES
Would Revive Bill Empowering
Normal to Grant Bachelors
Degree in Education

The progress Of the Bemidji State
Normal school during the present
school year and the advancement over
the previous year are set forth in the
following report by President M. w.
Deputy as presented at the regular
quarterly meeting Of the state normal
school board at Mankato on January
rs:
"Since the last quarterly meeting
of the board, eleven new students
have been enrolled in the adult de-
partment, making the total for the
year one hundred eight; in the ele-
mentary department, six additional
children have been admitted, bring
ing the total to ninety-eight. Dur
ing the quarter there has been but
little illness among the students and
the attendance has been unusually
good. Tho city schools have, as usu-
al, showed a willingness to Cooper
ate with us and have arranged for
their school nurse to give some time
to cur elementary department with
out cost. Three students, having
completed the work for the twO-year
course, were awarded diplomas at the
end of the fall term, and it is recon-
mended that their graduation be APP
proved.
"A uniformly good, quality of work
has been done by the students and
| teachers, and the spirit Of the school
is most commendable. Two liter
airy societies have been organized
which, thru friendly rivalry and an
interest in the development of ability
to appear we'll before a public AUDI
fence, seem to hQve 4 wholesome In
huence for good. At the opening OF
the campaign for relief Of European
children. the public speaking class in
charge of Miss Eunice Asbury pres
ented the cause before the entire
| school assembly with the result that
$14O was quickly subscribed and
paid by the students and faculty.
"The facilities Of Martha Sanford
Hall under the able management or
Mrs. Sirace b. Thacker, have made 1t
possible not only to provide desirable
living conditions for limited num-
Der, but also to afford excellent OPP
portunities for the better social train
ing of practically the entire student
body. At present, all available space
in Martha Sanford hall is taken and
some are on q waiting list. Numer-
Gus inquiries indicate that the en-
rollment for both the summer school
and for the next year will be increas-
ed considerably in which case we
shall have much difficulty to provide
suitable living Accommodations until
II, 1.n Wy n
shall be added to the present build
ing"
A number OF other matters Of i'm
portance to all the Normal schools OF
the state were discussed. President
Maxwell of the Winona school refer
red to proposed legislation which he
thought should receive immediate
attention and regarding it he stated:
"There are three details of new
Legislation which | could wish might
receive the favor of the board and
the approval of the legislature. They
have been discussed by the presi-
dents of the schools at various times
and, l believe, in general approved
by them. These items are: first, the
change Of the legal name OF each Of
|
to State Normal College, and the des-
ignation OF the board as the State
Normal College Board; second, auth
ority in law for the award by the
State Normal College Board of the
bachelors degree in educatiOn; and
third, the substitution of free tuition
for the present requirement of a
pledge to teach for two years, or in
lieu thereof a cash payment of thirty
dollars per year Of attendance.
"A bill empowering the Normal
School Board to grant the bachelors
degree in education was approved
and introduced by this board in 1911.
1t easily passed the state senate but
died in the house with many other
bills on account of the unusual con-
gestion of business which character
lied the session named. The argu-
ments for the action taken ten years
ago are even more cogent at the pre-
sent time"