Historical sketch of normal instruction in Wisconsin

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
AT LOS ANGELES

HISTORICAL SKETCH

OF

NORMAL INSTRUCTION

IN

WISCONSIN.

BY

ALBERT SALISBURY,

1893.

Kdaeation
Li bra I***

S/&H

Table of Contents.

CHAPTER I.

PAGE.

The Growth of the Idea 7

CHAPTER II.

The Formation of the Fund 24

CHAPTER III.

The Board of Regents 31

CHAPTER IV.

Location and Opening of the Schools 36

CHAPTER V.

Growth and Development of the Schools 45

Administration 45

i

Buildings and Equipment 47

Enrollment of the Schools 48

Curriculum 49

Growth of Professional Thought 55

CHAPTER VI.

The Schools as a Force 59

2 CHAPTER VII.

3 Roster of the Faculties, 1866-93 62

M

^ CHAPTER VIII.

- Teachers' Institutes 69

in

i

420863

Prefatory Note.

It is with great reluctance that I give this sketch to the printer.
The Normal schools of Wisconsin deserve, in this Columbian year, a
more careful and thoughtful treatment than it has been possible for
me to give them with justice to other demands and duties. The fact
that I had prepared a similar sketch for the Centennial celebration
seemed to fix the duty upon me again. Chapters I., II. and III. of the
present sketch are taken, with but slight modification, from that of
1876. Much other material from the earlier outline, broken up and re-
cast, has been made to do duty a second time. The kind assistance
given me by the presidents of the several schools deserves a better
result than is here presented. I must, therefore, be allowed to plead
that what follows is not offered as history but only as material for his-
tory. With this thought in mind, all possible care has been given to
secure accuracy in fact. No time or strength was left for attempting
finish or elegance in the form of presentation. Neither has it been
possible, under the circumstances, to adequately analyze the facts
presented and draw from them their full meaning ; though some un-
satisfactory effort has been made in that direction. Much regretting
that proper time and labor could not be given to so congenial an un-
dertaking, the result is submitted to those who can make use of it.

A. S.
WHITBWATEB, Wis., February, 1893.

Historical Sketch of Normal Schools in Wis-
consin.

CHAPTER I.

THE GROWTH OF THE IDEA.

The flourishing oak-tree implies the acorn, the soil, and
time for growth. A system of normal instruction like that
of Wisconsin, with its five schools in active operation, with
others in prospect, and with an elahorate adjunct system of
teachers' institutes, similarly implies previous agitation and
lahor and the gradual growth of favorable public sen-
timent. Thus any intelligent presentation of the normal
school history of the state must include some considera-
tion of the growth of the normal school idea among the peo-
ple of the state.

The normal school acorn was brought from the East to
Wisconsin in the territorial days. The first attempt to plant
it was made in the constitutional convention of 1840. In
the journal of that body we read as follows : "The question
was then put on concurring in the fifth amendment of the
committee (of the whole), which was to add to section 2d,
'until a university shall be established, the net income of the
university lands shall be appropriated to the support of nor-
mal schools/ and was decided in the negative (48 to 51)."

The authorship of this amendment cannot be certainly
determined. Dr. Henry Barnard had come to Madison, at
the invitation of Hon. John II. Tweedy and others, and ad-
dressed the convention at an evening session. The points
advocated by him were reduced to writing by himself, and
were embodied in the constitution as adopted by the con-
vention. Possibly he was the author of this unsuccessful
amendment, also, but it seems hardly probable.

The constitution of 1846 was rejected by the people of
the territory, and another convention met late in 1847. As
a part of the article on education, the committee on that sub-
ject reported the following :

8 SKETCH OF NORMAL SCHOOLS IN WISCONSIN.

"Section 7. When the population of any county in this
state shall exceed twenty thousand in number, provision shall
be made by law for the erection of an academy in such county,
with male and female departments and a normal school depart-
ment for the education of teachers for the primary schools."

But this section was expunged by the convention.

THE STATE CONSTITUTION.

The normal school idea, however, gained a foothold in the
constitution of 1848, which, in Article X., Section 2, sets apart
"a separate fund, to be called the school fund, the interest of
which, and all other revenues derived from the school lands,
shall be exclusively applied to the folio wing objects, to- wit :

"1. To the support and maintenance of common schools
in each school district, and the purchase of suitable libraries
and apparatus therefor.

"2. The residue shall be appropriated to the support and
maintenance of academies and normal schools, and suitable
libraries and apparatus therefor."

Here we are able to trace, in part at least, the paternity
of the provision for normal schools. The article on educa-
tion was drafted by Rev. Eleazer Root, of Waukesha, who
had been elected to the convention by constituents of
opposite politics, with special reference to the cause of pub-
lic education. During the weeks between Mr. Root's election
as a delegate and the assembling of the convention, he had
been in frequent conference with Mr. Elihu Enos, Jr., a
graduate of the Albany normal school under David P.
Page, who had just entered upon the work of teaching in
Waukesha, through Mr. Root's instrumentality. Fresh
from the influence of Mr. Page, and full of enthusiasm for
normal schools, Mr. Enos labored diligently to instill the
idea into Mr. Root's mind, and with success.

The first plan conceived for securing normal instruction
in the state was that of connecting it with the university.
In January of 1849, less than a year after the admission of
Wisconsin as a state, the regents of the embryo state uni-
versity, by an ordinance which was ratified by the legislature
in the month following, established therein a normal depart-
ment. But the funds at their command were insufficient for
the work already in hand, and the ordinance remained in-
operative so far as it concerned normal instruction.

SKETCH OF NORMAL srllooLS IN WISCONSIN.
FIRST REPORT OF THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT.

At the close of 1849, Honorable Eleazer Root, then super-
intendent of public instruction, made the first annual report
from his department. In it he calls attention to the pro-
vision of the constitution respecting normal schools, recounts
the history of the Albany normal school, and transmits the
university "ordinance of 1849," just alluded to. Rethinks
that such a normal department, with a system of teachers'
institutes, may answer present need.

Concerning this ordinance of 1849, it cannot be amiss to
give such extracts as will give an intelligent idea of its pur-
port. The charter of the university had provided for four
departments, the fourth being that of the theory and prac-
tice of elementary instruction.

THE UNIVERSITY ORDINANCE OF 1849.

The ordinance referred to, after organizing the depart-
ment of science, literature and arts, proceeds as follows :

" The Regent* of the Unirermty do further ordain :

"1. That there be hereby established a normal professor-
ship ; and that it be the duty of the chair to render instruction
in the art of teaching, comprising the most approved modes of
inculcating knowledge, and administering the discipline of the
common school ; and in such branches of studv as mav best
prepare the pupils in this department for their honorable and
useful vocation as educators of the popular mind."

Sec. 2 constitutes the chancellor and the normal profes-
sor the faculty of this department, whose duty it shall be to
hold annual sessions of at least five months, for the instruc-
tion of such young men as may avail themselves thereof
with a view to teaching in the state.

Other sections provide for tuition without charge, for a
degree and diploma, etc.

Section 6 declares: "That it is the fixed intention of the
board of regents thus to make the University of Wisconsin sub-
sidiary to the great cause of popular education, by making it,
through its normal department, the nurserv ot the educators ol
the popular mind, and the central point ol* union and harmony
to the educational interests of the commonwealth."

SUPERINTENDENT ROOT'S REPORTS FOR 1850 AND 1851.

In his report for 1850, Superintendent Root again argues
for normal instruction, saving : " In consideration of the
exigencies of the public schools, the imperative demand for

10 SKKTCH OF NORMAL SCHOOLS IX WISCONSIN.

normal instruction, and the probable inadequacy of the
available means of the university to provide for the reason-
able supply of that demand, I would respectfully suggest for
the consideration of the legislature, the policy of aiding the
regents in the completion of the normal school building al-
ready begun, and of making an appropriation from the
annual revenue of the school fund, of a sum sufficient to
defray the current expenses of normal instruction therein,
until the university shall be able to assume the burden for
the benefit of the common schools of the state."

And in 1851, in his last report, he returns vigorously to
the charge, with these words: "The utility of normal in-
struction is conceded ; it is provided for in the constitution ;
it is imperatively demanded by our wants ; 2,300 schools
ask for it, and more than 111,000 children are in daily need
of it. Action on this subject should be no longer postponed.
The income of the school fund is now amply sufficient to
justify it." He therefore urged the "speedy organization of
the department for teachers in the university." A lame
conclusion to so vigorous an onset, we might say, looking at
the matter in the light of to-day.

REPORT OF THE UNIVERSITY REGENTS IN 1851.

In the report of the university regents, bearing date
January 1, 1851, the purposes of the board in regard to the
normal department are again outlined, forming a very com-
plete and intelligent plan, including "the opening of a
model school in the village of Madison," and " the admis-
sion of female as well as male teachers to all the advan-
tages of the normal department of the university." The
foundation of a building for that department (the south
dormitory) was already laid, and the board proposed, if the
state of the treasury would permit, to have the building
completed and the department opened by the spring of 1852.
This hope was not realized.

WORK OF SUPERINTENDENT LADD IN 1852 AND 1853.

A new phase in the growth of the normal school idea was
introduced in 1852, by Superintendent Azel P. Ladd, who held
in various portions of the state what he calls in his report
" temporary normal schools," since designated by the less
ambitious title of teachers' institutes. This action of Sup-
erintendent Ladd, considering the general condition of edu-
cational affairs at that time, deserves to be held in most hon-

SKETCH OF NORMAL SCHOOLS IN WISCONSIN. 11

orable memory by his successors in the work, for the
sagacity and industry which gave it birth.

He urged the necessity of state aid to this work, and
procured the passage of a bill to that end through one house
of the legislature, but it met with failure in the other.

In his second report, for 1853, the same matter was pre-
sented more fully, and in addition, the following: "No
appropriation has yet been made to carry into effect the
provision of the constitution relative to state normal schools.
That a school of this character is needed, the difficulty of
obtaining good teachers for our schools is the best evidence.
* * Until we have an institution of this kind, we cannot
reasonably expect the character of our schools will be com-
mensurate with the munificence of our fund. I would,
therefore, commend this subject to your consideration."

SUPERINTENDENT WRIGHT IN 1854.

Superintendent H. A. Wright, in his report for 1854,
speaks of the value of normal schools, of their usefulness wher-
ever tried, and of the great need of them in this state. He especi-
ally urges the speedy development of the normal department
of the university, and calls upon the legislature to furnish the
pecuniary aid, without which the regents would be unable
to put their plan into operation. He says: " It is the inten-
tion of the law of the state providing for a normal depart-
ment of the university, and of the board of regents acting
under the law, that it should be organized and opened for
the reception of teachers ; but when ? That is the import-
ant point. We shall never hereafter need its good service
so much as now, in providing the schools with good teachers,
and now is the time for that normal department to exist
otherwise than upon paper. It has thus slumbered long
enough."

A STEP FORWARD ATTEMPTED BY THE UNIVERSITY.

In 1855, the university attempted to take a forward step
in the development of the projected normal department, as
may be best told by a letter from Chancellor I^athrop, which
was einl»odied bv Superintendent A. C. Barry in his report
for 1855.

Says Chancellor Lathrop :

"It is the settled design of the regents of the university to
make the institution subsidiary to the cause of popular educa-
tion through its normal department. In accordance with this

12 SKETCH OF NORMAL SCHOOLS IN WISCONSIN.

policy, the board at their last meeting appropriated 8500 per
annum for the support of this department, and tilled the chair of
normal instruction by the election of Prof. Daniel Read, who
is also professor of the English department of the faculty of arts.
A yearly course of professional instruction will be rendered in the
art of teaching, at such season of the year as will best suit the
convenience of the teachers' classes.

" In the present condition of the university fund, this is all
that the regents are able to do in that direction. A full organi-
zation of the department will require:

"1. The support of a normal professor, whose undivided
time and energies shall be devoted to the duties of his charge.

" 2. The necessary apartments and apparatus; and

"3. A well arranged system of teachers' institutes which
shall carry temporary normal instruction into every section of
the state.

" The professional course at the university should occupy
about five months of the year, and during the seven months of
vacation the normal professor, in connection with the state
superintendent, should hold at least one teachers' institute in
each judicial district.

" * * An appropriation of 82,000 per annum would enable
the board to perfect the system, and offer to the public a normal
organization not to be surpassed elsewhere, at a moiety of the
expenditure it would require to set up a normal school separate
from the university, which could not be expected to perform the
work as well."

But the legislature failed to respond with the asked-for
aid.

The experiment was continued by the university alone,
to the extent of two courses of professional lectures, delivered
by Prof. Read, on the art of teaching. The first began in
the latter part of May, 1856, and continued through the
eight remaining weeks of the term. Eighteen students are
recorded as in attendance. A second course was given in
1857, with an attendance of twenty-eight students.

A BILL FOR NORMAL SCHOOLS BY HON. JAMES SUTHERLAND.

The first discoverable evidence of any legislative con-
sideration of the normal school question is found in the
senate journal for 1856, from which it appears that, in the
session of that year, Hon. James Sutherland, of Janesville,
introduced "a bill for an act to provide for normal instruc-
tion and teachers' institutes." But this bill met a pioneer's
fate and failed to pass the senate.

SKETCH OF NORMAL SCHOOLS IX WISCONSIN. 13

SUPERINTENDENT BARRY'S REPORT FOR 1856.

In his report for 1856, Superintendent Barry treats the
subject of normal schools and teachers' institutes quite elabor-
ately, quoting at considerable length from Horace Mann and
also from Henry Barnard.

He commends the action of the university regents in
establishing the normal professorship under Dr. Read, and
favors the development of the normal department : but he
protests against the idea that it will satisfy the needs of the
state, and urges the founding of a separate and independent
normal school. The report contains much valuable matter
and clear thought.

DISSATISFACTION WITH THE UNIVERSITY — ATTEMPT TO DIVIDE

ITS FUNDS.

About this time there was much dissatisfaction, on the
part of some, with the workings of the university ; and the
friends of the incorporated colleges and academies con-
ceived the idea of getting for themselves a share of the uni-
versity funds. It was soon found that the conditions of the
United States grant of the university lands were such that
the fund could not be diverted in any way.

The attention of the college men was then directed
to the "swamp land fund," and when the legislature met in
January, 1857, a college delegation came to the capitol to
procure the passage of an act aiding their schools from the
proceeds of the sale of the swamp lands granted to the
state by the general government. Prominent in this
"lobby" were Dr. Edward Cooke, president of the Lawrence
university, and Prof. A. C. Spicer, principal of Milton
academy.

LEGISLATIVE ACTION IN 1857.

A bill entitled "a bill to create and establish a litera-
ture fund from the proceeds of the sale of swamp lands"
was, in accordance with their desires, introduced in the
senate by Hon. James Allen Barber. It was remodeled by
Hon. James Sutherland, chairman of the committee on
education, and by him championed through the senate, pass-
ing by a vote of 24 to 1.

Meanwhile, at the instance of Prof. J. G. McMynn, of
Racine, and Hon. Elihu Knos, Jr., of Waukesha, a bill was
introduced in the assembly by Hon. Llewellyn J. Evans, of
Racine, chairman of the committee on education, "to estab-

14 SKETCH OF NORMAL SCHOOLS IN WISCONSIN.

lish a normal school and teachers' institute." Both bills
were favorably reported by the assembly committee.

The friends of the latter bill, headed by Mr. Enos, made
a strong push against the college bill ; and the result was a
reference of both bills to a special committee, headed by Dr.
Dugald H. Cameron. This committee reported a substitute
on the same day, March 5th, which passed both houses on
the next day, and received the approval of the governor,
March 7th. Thus originated the act of 1857, "An act for the
encouragement of academies and normal schools."

This law, portions of which are given in another place,
set apart to the purposes specified in its title the income of
one-fourth of the gross proceeds of the sale of the swamp
lands granted to the state in 1850 ; it also provided for a
board of regents by which the distribution of the income was
to be made to the schools, as said board might determine.

THE BOARD OF REGENTS.

This board, as appointed by Gov. Bash ford, after the ad-
journment of the legislature, was largely made up of the of-
ficers and friends of the very institutions which were to re-
ceive its aid. The substitute bill, which became the law, had
not given entire satisfaction to all the original movers, Dr.
Cooke, indeed, being strongly opposed to it ; but, such as it
was, the best was made of it.

At the first meeting of the board, held July 15th, 1857,
the question of establishing a district normal school came
up, and was referred to a committee, of which Dr. Cooke was
chairman. Naturally enough, the committee did not report
favorably.

Of the several "conclusions" of the report, only the first
need be given, viz.: "1st. However desirable separate nor-
mal schools, not connected with any other institutions, may
be to the interests of education, in the opinion of your com-
mittee the act entitled, 'An act for the encouragement of
academies and normal schools/ does not empower this board
of regents to take any steps in that direction, other than to
receive proposals from towns, villages and cities, proposing
to erect and donate such institutions." But this plan of en-
trusting all normal instruction to departments of colleges,
academies, and high schools, for the benefits of the act were
eventually extended to high schools also, was never satisfac-
tory to all parties; and the practical workings of it did
not alwavs tend to increase satisfaction.

SKETCH OF NORMAL SCHOOLS IN WISCONSIN. 15

SUPERINTENDENT KARRY's REPORT FOR 1857.

The gradual growth of public opinion is well illustrated
by the more advanced stand taken by Superintendent Barry
in his report for 1857. He says: "Proj>er and thorough in-
struction in the theory and practice of the teacher's profes-
sion can only be furnished by the normal school."

And in commenting upon the act of 1857, he says : "I re-
gard the action of the last legislature on this subject, in part at
least, as premature and ill-advised ; and the entire plan as im-
practicable, and destined, of course, to fail. Without wishing to
tlisparage in the smallest degree the claims of our colleges and
academies, or to call in question their usefulness ; I unhesitat-
ingly assert that it is utterlv impossible for them to furnish the
normal instruction required, even though the entire income of
the school fund were to be distributed among them. The ex-
periment has been fairly and faithfully tried (in New York), and
has failed most signally and disastrously. We may save

time, money, and the vexation and shame consequent upon de-
feat, by proceeding at once to the establishment of a state nor-
mal school on a wise and liberal basis. Never shall we need such
an institution more than we do at the present time. I again re-
spectmllv urge this subject upon the attention of the legislature,
and shall hope for its favorable action in relation thereto."

THE STATE TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION.

The state teachers' association had discussed the ques-
tion of normal schools at its meeting at Waukesha, in 1857,
and perhaps at Beloit the year before, but had given forth no
decided voice in the matter until the meeting at Portage, in
is.'.*.

At this meeting, Rev. J. B. Pradt read an elaborate
essay on normal schools, and a committee, consisting of
Messrs. Pickett, Pradt and Griffith, reported a " plan of nor-
mal instruction," prepared by Mr. Pradt, which included, as
one of its several features, " an itinerant normal faculty who,
in conjunction with the county superintendents, shall give
instruction in the institutes."

Although the legislature had given to the colleges and
academies what it had denied to the university, viz.: aid for
the siipjxjrt of normal instruction, the university did not give
up the idea of a normal department.

THE UNIVERSITY — DR. IURNARD.

By a bill introduced in 1858, but lost in the closing
hours of the session, it was proposed to reorganize the uni-
versity with nine departments, among which that of normal

16 SKETCH OF NORMAL SCHOOLS IN WISCONSIN.

instruction was named as first ; and the chancellor, in a
communication to the university regents, in June of that
year, urges that " the time has arrived for a full develop-
ment of the normal department."

The university was at that time reorganized by an or-
dinance of the regents in which, strangely enough, no nor-
mal department is once named, though they proceeded
immediately to elect Hon. Henry Barnard, LL. D., as
" chancellor and professor of normal instruction." This
choice had been made largely through the influence of Dr.
Daniel Read, the normal professor of the university, now
president of the Missouri state university. The atten-
tion of the board of normal regents was also directed toward
Dr. Barnard. At a meeting of this board, October 5, 1858,
he was present, by invitation it would seem, and was then
elected as their agent.

His specific duties were " to visit and exercise a super-
visory control over the normal departments of all such in-
stitutions as shall apply for a participation in the normal
school fund ; to conduct county teachers' institutes, and give
normal instruction in the same ; and to co-operate with the
superintendent of public instruction in providing a system
of public educational addresses to be delivered in the various
counties of the state." Let it be remembered that he was
also chancellor of the university.

SUPERINTENDENT DRAPER'S REPORT FOR 1858.

Superintendent L. C. Draper, in his report for that year,
discusses elaborately the subject of normal schools and
teachers' institutes.

He speaks of the division of opinion as to the wisdom
and practical results of the law of 1857, but does not seem to
commit himself very decidedly to either side. He waxes
enthusiastic over the prospective advent of Dr. Barnard, in
the following terms: "Regarding as I do, Dr. Barnard's
connection with our state university and our normal school
system — especially the latter — as the most important event
that has ever occurred in our educational history, if not
indeed, the most important in view of its probable con-
sequences, that has ever transpired in the history of the state,
I snail venture to give some notice of his most prominent ser-
vices— thus endeavoring to show what we may reasonably
expect as the result of his earnest labors here, by what he
has elsewhere so largely and so thoroughly accomplished."

SKKTCH OF NORMAL SCIHMILS ix WISCONSIN. 17

Then follow several jwges of biography, closing with :
"Such is Henry Barnard. We have reason, as a state, to
felicitate ourselves on the acquisition of such a man. It
ought to form a new era in our state history ; and it will if
we are true to ourselves and him. We shall l>est honor our-
selves and bless our state by listening confidingly to, and
promptly carrying into effect, whatever suggestions and ad-
vice such a man as Henry Barnard, in his rii>e experience
and noble devotion to the good of his race, may deem it his
duty to offer on matters pertaining to the great cause of
popular education in Wisconsin."

Teachers' associations passed congratulatory resolutions ;
and the state was passed over, as it were, into Dr. Barnard's
hands, in the enthusiastic belief that he would be able to do all
tilings. But, although all this adulation was almost justified
by his previous work and reputation, the fact remained that
it was not within the power of any man to fulfill such over-
wrought exj>ectations.

DR. BARNARD'S LABORS IN WISCONSIN.

Dr. Barnard was not able to enter upon his labors in
Wisconsin until the spring of 1859. But during the autumn
of that year he organized and carried out a series of teachers'
institutes, reaching about twenty counties. The work done
under his direction in I860, bv examinations, institutes and
teachers' associations, reached probably three-fourths of all
the teachers in the state. In connection with this work,
several prominent educators were brought temporarily,
some permanently, into the state, who did not a little to fos-
ter the educational spirit, and to promote the growth of the
normal school idea. But Dr. Barnard's labors here were
greatly interrupted by ill health, and, alxmt the beginning
of 1861, he resigned his position and closed his career in
Wisconsin.

While there was general disappointment at the failure
of so many high hopes, and great dissatisfaction on the part
of some at his seeming neglect of the university under his
charge, it is undoubtedly true that he did something, in sev-
eral ways, to advance the cause of education in the state at
large.

After the exit of Dr. Barnard, the dissatisfaction with
the act of 1857 naturally increased. To many it seemed to
forestall, or at least to seriously delay, the establishment of

18 SKETCH OF NORMAL SCHOOLS IN WISCONSIN.

true normal schools ; though others had all the while looked
upon it as the stepping-stone to the desired end.

SUPERINTENDENT PICKARD's REPORTS.

Superintendent J. L. Pickard says, in his report for 1860:
"The agencies now at work will soon prepare us for normal
schools, which must be established ere long. I am not pre-
pared at present to recommend any action upon this subject.
I would only express my conviction that more than one
should be established, and aided rather than supported by
the state." In 1862, he says : "No temporary expedient
can supply the place of the professional school, or in any
way diminish the necessit}^ for such a school."

In 1863, after reviewing the workings of the system
then in operation, he continues most pertinently :

" Much good has been accomplished by these agencies, but
they are at present inadequate to the demand . Permanent normal
schools are needed, whose sole business shall be the training of
teachers. The department of normal instruction of .the state uni-
versity has been opened within the past year, and the attendance
has been very large. Many pupils connected with it are not normal
students, and have no intention of engaging in the work of
teaching. The circumstances under which it was opened ren-
dered such a course advisable. A course of study has been
adopted, but it will be next to impossible to pursue such a
course of training in the art of teaching as is essential to com-
plete professional culture. The model school cannot be engrafted
upon the university. * * * No one school will supply
the wants of the state. We should look to the establishment
of not less than four such schools, including the normal depart-
ment of the university. * * * It is my impression that the
present is the time to take the initiatory steps."

OPENING OF A NORMAL DEPARTMENT IN THE UNIVERSITY.

In the spring of 1863, the university had taken a new
departure in the shape of a separate and tangible normal
department, under the charge of Professor Charles H. Allen.
It is this which is referred to by Superintendent Pickard in
the above extract. One object of this was to make a place
for young women in the university. Seventy-six entered
during the first term, this being the first appearance of ladies
as students at the university, and took possession of the south
dormitory.

SKETCH OF NORMAL SCHOOLS IN WISCONSIN. 19

The old-time college prejudice against the admission of
women was not wanting here, of course ; but the normal de-
partment continued until 1869, when it was merged into the
female college, which was, in turn, fully merged into the
university in 1873. Professor Allen continued in charge
until near the end of 1865, and was succeeded by Prof.
Joseph C. Pickard.

JOHN G. M'MYNN AS AGENT OF THE NORMAL REGENTS IN 1863.

During the year of 1863, to go back again to our narra-
tive, John G. McMynn was the agent of the board of normal
regents, conducting institutes and examining the normal
classes of the several schools. The war for the Union had
materially weakened the more advanced classes of all the
schools, and Mr. McMynn saw an opportunity to make head
against a system which he considered radically mischievous.
In his annual tour of examination, by an unusual severity
of examination, he greatly reduced the number of benefi-
ciaries, and did much to break down the system then current.
The medicine was severe, and most unpalatable to the imme-
diate recipients, but it has undoubtedly had a salutary in-
fluence upon the state as a whole.

The belief is quite general that the so-called normal de-
partments were such only in name, and that they did noth-
ing but purely academic work and not always the best of that.
While this is probably a near approach to the truth in some
cases, the writer hereof can testify of one school (Milton
academy), that its "teachers' class" was an actual and prac-
tical thing, and helped to give a better class of teachers to
the country roundabout.

SEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE NORMAL REGENTS.

Portions of the report of the board of regents for 1864
are here inserted as showing what the system was in its
latest and consequently best perfected form:

"The board, in their report for 1862, say that 'normal in-
struction, like other branches of education in the state, has met
with obstacles for the last two years by the war, which has not
only withdrawn many of the young men from the classes, in
some cases nearly depleting them, but has taken some of the
best instructors.' These obstacles have by no means been di-
minished during the period covered by this report. Not only
has the occasion of the war called away many of the male pu-
pils and instructors, but has by this call made vacant places

20 SKETCH OF NORMAL SCHOOLS IN WISCONSIN.

which were of necessity filled by female teachers, and thus
drawing still more on the classes. The result has been a lower-
ing of the standard of scholarship in nearly every class reporting
to the board. While the number reported by the various
classes was about the same as that of 1862, and the standard o
examination established by the board was the same, a smaller
number actually passed the required standard.

"On the other hand the board has acted in conjunction
with the state superintendent in holding teachers' institutes in
. different sections of the state with marked good results. It has
been the uniform testimony of those attending these institutes
that the results have been beneficial in awakening new interest
and zeal in the cause of education, and imparting new vigor to
the teachers. County superintendents have expressed their great
satisfaction at the results, and they have been greatly encour-
aged and strengthened in their own work by the new impetus
thus given.

"The board consider that no part of the fund gives
quicker returns or is more satisfactorily expended than that ap-
propriated for these county or district institutes. Their influ-
ences, in most cases reach districts but little benefited by normal
classes, as it has been the uniform policy of the board to send
their agent and make appropriations for institutes in those
counties where no normal class exists, in order that the bene-
fit of the fund may be partaken of by all."

INSTITUTIONS REPORTING.

' ' There are four classes of institutions making report to this
board :

" 1. Colleges, with a net property of $50,000.

" 2. Female colleges, with a net property of $20,000.

" 3. Academies, with a net property of $5,000.

" 4. Union or high schools without any property qualifica-
tions defined, but being 'under the control of any city, village,
town or district, according to the laws of the state.'

"Of these several classes, reports were received and a por-
tion of the fund appropriated to the following institutions :

"Lawrence university — Appleton, Outagamie county.

" Milton academy — Milton, Rock county.

" Allen's Grove academy — Allen's Grove, Walworth county.

" Beloit High school — Beloit, Rock county.

" Delavan high school — Delavan, Walworth county.

AMOUNTS APPROPRIATED TO SCHOOLS.

' ' The following table exhibits the number of pupils claimed
as having pursued normal studies, according to the require-
ments of the board, together with the number allowed by the
board, and the amount appropriated to each institution :

SKETCH OF NORMAL SCHOOLS IN WISCONSIN. 21

1st Year's 2d Year. Allowed. Amount.
Course.

Lawrence university 12 1 2 $ 60 00

Milton academy.....". 31 10 9 270 00

Allen's Grove academy 20 5 9 270 00

Beloit high school 20 5 150 00

Delavan high school 7 1 30 00

Platteville academy 1 1

Albion academy 21 3 1 3000

Waupaca high s'chool 22 9 270 00

134 20 36 $1,080 00

" This distribution was at the rate of $30.00 for each pupil
passing the examination. The board can only repeat a remark
made in its report for 1856:

" ' These amounts, together with those received from the
tuition of the pupils, ought surely to be a sufficient inducement
for the establishment of good normal classes, and it is not un-
reasonable, on the part of the state, to expect that the work for
which the institutions are paid shall be fully and amply done.
Nor should any institution lay claim to or expect to receive aid
and encouragement from the state, until, on its part, it is will-
ing and able to do the state some service.

FINANCIAL EXHIBIT.

' ' Statement showing the transactions of the normal school
fund during the fiscal year ending September 30, 1864:

Receipts. Disburse-

Date. ments.

1863.

Oct. 1. Balance in the fund $ 17821

1864.
June 1. Transfer from swamp land fund

income 2,977 50

1863.

Nov. 3. Paid expenses J. L. Pickard $ 100 00

Dec. 16. services J. G. McMynn 7800

1864.

July 1. services J. G. McMynn 50000

July 1. incidental expenses 100 00

July 8. mileage C. C. Sholes 27 00

July 7. mileage Win. Starr 24 00

July 8. mileage Silas Chapman 20 00

July 8. services Silas Chapman 70 00

July 14. appropriation Milton academy... 27000

July 14. appropriation Allen's Grove

academy 270 00

July 15. appropriation Beloit high school 150 00

July 25. appropriation "Waupaca high

school 270 00

July 26. traveling expenses J. G. Mc-
Mynn.... 200 00

Aug. 5. appropriation Albion academy.. 30 00

Sept. 6. mileage H. Robbing 20 00

Sept. 20. mileage J. E. Thomas 30 00

Sept. 30. Balance in the fund 206 71

$3,155 71 $3,155 71

22

SKETCH OF NORMAL SCHOOLS IN WISCONSIN.

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SKETCH OF NORMAL SCHOOLS IN WISCONSIN. 23

SUPERINTENDENT MC'MYNN's REPORT FOR 1864.

John G. McMynn became state superintendent, Octo-
ber 1, 1864. In his first report he took almost exactly the
same ground that had been taken by Superintendent Pick-
ard in the previous year. Of the plan of giving aid to acade-
mies and other schools for maintaining normal departments,
he says: "The number of departments at present organized
is seven ; and the number of students examined during the
present year is less than seventy. Sufficient time has elapsed
since the present plan was adopted, to show that the ostens-
ible objects of the law are unattainable under the provisions
of the act. * * The plan is defective. It makes the
normal department subordinate, and does not provide for
the special training of teachers."

No stronger words, perhaps, than those of Superintend-
ent Barry, in 1857 ; but Superintendent McMynn had been
long a recognized power in the educational work of the state,.
and he had the energy and force of character needful for the
accomplishment of any radical change of state policy. Cir-
cumstances fortunately concurred. The increasing value of
the swamp lands made it seem necessary, to the more
intelligent, that some action be taken without further
delay toward some permanent investment of this fund
for the best interests of the whole state. Public senti-
ment was also tolerably ripe, after so long a course of educa-
tion. The friends of normal schools did not neglect this
auspicious moment.

LEGISLATIVE ACTION IN 1865.

As a result, the legislature of 1865 enacted a law pro-
viding a much more liberal endowment for normal instruc-
tion, and devoting it to the establishment and support of
distinctively normal schools. The history and purport of
the bill will be more fully presented in the chapter following.

Early in this session of the legislature, 1865, a bill was
introduced by Hon. Anthony Van Wyck, of Kenosha, "to
provide for the establishment of a state normal school." It
passed the senate and worked its way through the com-
mittee of the whole in the assembly without amendment,
when its further consideration was rendered unnecessary
by the final passage of the bill mentioned in the previous
paragraph. Senator Van Wyck's bill devoted to the sup-
port of a single school the same fund which has since been
found sufficient for the maintenance of several.

24 SKETCH OF NORMAL SCHOOLS IN WISCONSIN.

The laws relating to normal instruction were codified in
1 869, and have received but slight changes since that time.
The normal system has been rapidly and wisely developed, and
must increase or decline in the favor of the people, according
to the measure of its work. The history of its growth and
the statement of its present condition will be given in ensu-
ing chapters.

It may be said, in passing, that the term "normal" has
been unwarrantably tacked on to the titles of several private
or incorporated institutions ; but no distinct normal school
has ever been established in Wisconsin outside of the state
system, with the single exception of the Holy Family Teach-
ers' seminary, a Roman Catholic institution at St. Francis,
near Milwaukee. This school has a three years' course of
study, including modern languages and making a specialty
of musical instruction.

RESUME OP THE GROWTH OF THE NORMAL SCHOOL IDEA IN

WISCONSIN.

To recapitulate, briefly, the growth of the normal school
idea in Wisconsin : It was introduced into the constitutional
conventions of the territory by a few intelligent citizens,
zealous for the cause of popular education. It was brought
forward and urged, in some form, by every superintendent
of public instruction, in every annual report, from the ad-
mission of the state to the adoption of the present normal
school system in 1865. It was adhered to, in a departmental
form, by the authorities of the state university for the twenty
years from 1849 to 1869.

It received some impetus from Dr. Barnard in his
career in this state, but more from some of the more perma-
nent educational workers of the state, like Hon. Jno. G.
McMynn, Rev. J. B. Pradt, Prof. Chas. H. Allen, and others
who have worked with them and after them. Strangely
enough, it appears to have received but little encouragement
from the state teachers' association, as such, until it was
fairly on its feet.

CHAPTER II.

THE FORMATION OF THE FUND.

Previous to 1857, nothing had been effected in the way
of providing a fund for the support of normal instruction.
The matter had been agitated, somewhat, in a general way.

SKETCH OF NORMAL SCHOOLS IN WISCONSIN. 25

Superintendent Ladd, in 1853, had asked, unsuccessfully,
for a permanent appropriation for teachers' institutes ; and
the university had asked, as unsuccessfully, for aid in de-
veloping its normal department under Professor Read in
1854. A division of the general school fund for normal
school purposes had been proposed, but nothing had been
accomplished.

ACT OF CONGRESS OF 1850.

In 1850, by an act of congress entitled "an act to
enable the state of Arkansas and other states to reclaim the
swamp lands within their limits," a grant had been made by
the general government to the state of a large amount of
swamp and overflowed lands. The proceeds of these lands
were, by the provision of the grant, to be "applied ex-
clusively, so far as necessary, to the purpose of reclaiming
said lands by means of levees and drains."

In the United States land survey of the state — made as
it was, partly in winter and partly in the spring, when the
natural wetness of forest lands is greatest — much land had
been described and recorded as "swamp and overflowed,"
which subsequently proved to be of the very best quality.
The amount, also, was large, comprising, as was eventually
determined, several millions of acres. But a moderate share
of the proceeds would be needed, or could be used, for strictly
drainage purposes. As time went on, and the value of the
grant became more apparent, the question of the disposal of
the proceeds not necessary for drainage became an im-
portant one.

By an act approved October 11, 1856, one-fourth of the
net proceeds was set apart as the drainage fund, the remain-
ing three-fourths going to the school fund. This distribu-
tion applied also to the already accumulated proceeds of the
swamp land sales.

At the next session of the legislature, a law was enacted
which set apart one of the three-fourths given to the school
fund as a normal school fund. Portions of the act, contain-
ing its salient features, are here given.

THE ACT OF 1857.

"An act for the encouragement of academies and normal
schools.

"The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate
and assembly, do enact as follows:

" § 1 . It shall hereafter be the duty of the commissioners

26 SKETCH OF NORMAL SCHOOLS IN WISCONSIN.

of the school and university lands to apportion the income of
twenty-five per cent, of the gross proceeds arising from the sale
of swamp and overflowed lands granted to this state, by an act
of congress entitled 'an act to enable the state of Arkansas and
other states to reclaim the swamp and overflowed lands within
their limits,' approved September 28, 1850, to normal institutes
and academies as hereinafter provided.

" § 2. For the purpose of more fully carrying out the pro-
visions of this act, there shall be constituted a board of nine
regents, to be called the ' board of regents of normal schools,'
no two of whom shall reside in any one county of this state.
They shall be appointed by the governor, by and with the ap-
proval of the senate. The governor and superintendent of public
instruction shall be ex-officio members of the said board of re-
gents. They shall have a voice, but shall not be allowed to vote
on any of the business of the board of regents. The governor
shall have power to fill all vacancies which may occur by death,
resignation or otherwise, until the next meeting of the legisla-
ture, or while the legislature is not in session, but the appoint-
ments thus made shall be confirmed by the senate during the
next succeeding session of the legislature : provided, that the
first board of regents shall have power to act though appointed
by the governor after the adjournment of the present session of
the legislature.

^E 9§C ^C )JC 9|C ^C 2ft

" § 7. All applications for any of the income of the school
fund, pursuant to the provisions of this act, shall be made to-
the board of regents of normal schools, in such manner as they
shall direct, and the school land commissioners shall distribute
the income fund specified in section one of this act to such nor-
mal schools and academies, and in such ratio as the board of
regents shall designate, and no religious test shall ever be re-
quired of any student or scholar in any of the institutions and
schools receiving any of the income fund designated in this act.

" § 8. The regents shall require of each institution apply-
ing for any of the income fund designated in section one, satis-
factory evidence, which shall be uniform, that the provisions of
this act have been fully complied with. They shall require a
report annually at such time as they shall designate, of the
number, age, residence and studies of each pupil or scholar re-
turned to them, entitled to the distribution share of said income
fund. And they shall make a report of the state and condition
of such institution drawing from the income fund, to the gover-
nor, at the same time that the other state officers are required to
report. A copy of the proceedings of the board of regents, fully
and fairly kept and codified by their president and secretary,
shall be filed annually at the close of each fiscal year of this state,
in the office of secretary of state.

SKETCH OF NORMAL SCHOOLS IN WISCONSIN. 27

" §10. All the income of the fund provided for in section
one of this act shall be distributed to the colleges, universities
and academies severally, except the state university, having es-
tablished and maintained such normal institute, according to
the number of pupils so instructed in such studies and for such
a period of time as the board of regents may designate as a qual-
ification or condition for receiving the benefits of this act, until
the amount awarded to any one of such schools shall reach the

sum of three thousand dollars annually.

*******

" § 14. Whenever any town, city or village in this state shall
propose to give a site and suitable building and fixtures for a
state normal school, free from all incumb ranees, said board of
regents may consider the same, and if, in their opinion, the in-
terests of education will be advanced thereby, they may, in their
discretion, select from such propositions the one most feasible
and located in such place as is deemed easiest of access, and
apportion to the same annually a sum not exceeding three thous-
and dollars for the support and maintenance of teachers therein.

".§ 15. No charge shall be made for tuition to any pupil
or scholar in said normal school whose purpose is to fit himself
as a teacher of common schools in this state, and the number
and qualifications of scholars, and regulations under which they
shall be admitted, shall be determined by the board of regents.
Of the remainder of the income mentioned in section one of this
act, every incorporated college in this state with a clear capital
of $50,000 (except the state university) shall be entitled to re-
ceive $20 for every female graduate who shall have pursued the
regular course of study in such college, or such a course as the
board of regents in this act shall prescribe in lieu thereof."

LEGISLATIVE ACTION.

In 1858, the legislature added another fourth of the
swamp land fund to the drainage fund, thus leaving but
one-fourth in the general school fund. The normal school
act of 1857, quoted above in part, was in operation for
eight years. The amount of money disbursed under it
was, in 1857, $14,520 ; in 1858, $10,152 ; after that amounts
varying from $3,000 to $5,000 per annum, a portion of
which was expended for teachers' institutes. In 1865, a
radical change was made, both in the constitution of the
fund and the objects and method of its disbursement.

The swamp land question was still troubling the Solons
of the state. Local "grabs" and "steals" were being con-
tinually worked up against the swamp land fund. One
favorite method of attack was the building of state roads,

28 SKETCH OF NORMAL SCHOOLS IN WISCONSIN.

etc., by appropriating swamp lands for the purpose, these
measures being often only the sharp schemes of private
parties. When the legislature met in 1865, it was felt that
one of its first duties was to make some permanent and
final disposition of these lands so that the whole might not
be squandered and dissipated to no general good. "An act
to dispose of the swamp and overflowed lands, and the pro-
ceeds therefrom," was introduced, in the assembly, by Hon.
Jackson Hadley, of Milwaukee, once the popular principal
of the Buffalo, N. Y., high school. It passed the house
March 24, with but four dissenting votes, and passed the
senate April 7, receiving the approval of Gov. Lewis, April
11. So much of the law as relates to the normal school
fund is here inserted :

THE ACT OF 1865.

"An act to dispose of the swamp and overflowed lands, and
the proceeds therefrom.

"The people of the State of Wisconsin, represented in sen-
ate and assembly, do enact as follows:

"Section 1. All the provisions of law which direct the ap-
plication and use of the swamp and overflowed lands of this
state, and of the lands selected in lieu of swamp and overflowed
lands, and of the moneys received on sale of such swamp and se-
lected lands, and of the moneys received from the United States in
lieu of swamp lands, for the purposes of drainage, and for support-
ing common schools, noniial schools and academies, are hereby re-
pealed ; and all acts granting or offering to grant, or authorizing
the conveyance of any such lands to any county, town, corpora-
tion, officer, board, or any person or persons, are hereby re-
pealed ; and such grants, offers, and authority are revoked and
annulled, except so far as the title to such granted lands may
have been actually diverted under such acts : provided, that
nothing herein contained shall impair the obligation of any con-
tract heretofore made.

"Section 2. All the swamp and overflowed lands hereto-
fore received by this state from the United States, under and in
pursuance of an act of congress, entitled 'an act to enable the
state of Arkansas and other states to reclaim the swamp lands
within their limits,' approved September 28, A. D. 1850, and
which are IIOAV owned by this state, and all lands now owned by
this state which were selected in lieu of swamp and overflowed
lands, as authorized by an act of congress, entitled 'an act for
the relief of purchasers and locators of swamp and overflowed
lands,' approved March 2, A. D. 1855, and all moneys received
from the United States in lieu of swamp and overflowed lands
under the provisions of the act of congress last aforesaid, and all

SKETCH OF NORMAL SCHOOLS IN WISCONSIN. 29

moneys received by this state, as purchase money, for swamp
and overflowed lands, and for lands selected as aforesaid, in lieu
of swamp and overflowed lands, including the amounts loaned
and invested, together with all sums of money due or to become
due as balance of purchase money on contract for the sale of
such swamp lands and selected lands, shall, after deducting the
incidental expenses heretofore paid from said funds, and the
losses sustained therefrom , as near as they can be conveniently
ascertained, be divided into two equal parts, the one part to be
denominated 'the normal school fund,' and the other to be de-
nominated 'the drainage fund.' In making the partition be-
tween such funds, the swamp lands and moneys receivable on
contracts for the sale of swamp lands shall, as far as practicable,
regard being had to the mode of distribution required by section
six of this act, be set apart to the drainage fund ; and the mon-
eys received in lieu of and in payment of lands as aforesaid, in-
cluding the sums invested and the lands selected in lieu of
swamp lands, and the moneys receivable on contracts for the
sale of such selected lands, shall, as far as practicable, be set
apart to the normal school fund ; and for the purpose of making
such partition, one dollar shall be taken to be the equivalent of
one acre of such lands.

"Sections. All the swamp and overflowed lands which
this state shall hereafter receive, pursuant to said act of congress,
.approved September 28th, A. D. 1850, shall, on receipt thereof,
be partitioned equally, by counties, between the drainage
fund and the normal school fund, and the part known as drain-
age fund shall be set apart to the counties respectively in which
such lands lie, to be used and applied as the other drainage
fund belonging to such counties is, by this act, directed to be
used and applied. And all the moneys which this state shall
hereafter receive from the United States, in lieu of swamp and
overflowed lands, shall, on receipt thereof, be equally divided
between the drainage fund and the normal school fund ; and
that part which is known as the drainage fund shall be distrib-
uted to the several counties in proportion to the number of acres
of swamp land therein, and shall be used and applied as the
other drainage fund belonging to such counties is, by this act,
directed to be used and applied.

"Section 4. The land belonging to the normal school fund
shall be sold, and the moneys arising from such sales, and all
other moneys belonging to the fund, shall be invested in the
same manner and by the same officers as now provided by law
for the sale and investment of the school fund.

"Section 5. The income of the normal school fund shall be
applied to establishing, supporting and maintaining normal
schools, under the direction and management of the board of
normal school regents : provided that twenty-five per cent, of

30 SKETCH OF NORMAL SCHOOLS IN WISCONSIN.

said income shall be annually transferred to the school fund in-
come, until the annual income of the school fund shall reach
the sum of two hundred thousand dollars."

The remaining sections of the act relate to the location
and division of the lands, and the application of the drain-
age fund.

PARTITION OF THE LANDS.

Hon. G. D. Elwood, of Princeton, who had been the
active champion of the bill in the senate, was appointed by
the commissioners of school and university lands to make
the division of the lands in pursuance of the provisions of the
act. In their report for 1865, the commissioners say: "The
division was the work of great study and labor, occupying
several months. In order to accomplish it faithfully and
correctly, according to the letter and the spirit of the law, we
availed ourselves of the services of Hon. G. De Witt Elwood,
to whose skill, industry, good judgment and accuracy we are
chiefly indebted for the excellent execution of the details of
the work."

The allotment of the normal school fund was, in round
numbers, $600,000 in cash and dues, and 500,000 acres of
land, estimated in the law at one dollar per acre, with other
lands not yet put in market.

Thus the board of regents started out in its new course
with a productive fund, already in hand, of about $600,000,
with a net annual income of over $30,000, with a certain
increase so fast as the lands should be sold.

FURTHER LEGISLATIVE ACTION.

The board of regents of normal schools was incorporated,
and its various powers were fully defined, by legislative act
in 1866. In 1869, the laws relating to normal instruction
\vere codified. In 1870, the annual transfer of twenty-five
per cent, of the normal school fund income to the school
fund income, as required by section 5 of the act of 1865, was
stopped; and since that time the normal fund has remained
intact, and its income has been wholly devoted to the pur-
poses of normal instruction, in the establishment and sup-
port of normal schools and teachers' institutes.

PRESENT RESOURCES.

The total productive fund, July 1, 1892, was $1,782,500.
And more than $150,000, including sites and buildings, have
been donated by the several towns in which the five normal
schools now in operation are located.

SKETCH OF NORMAL SCHOOLS IN WISCONSIN. 31

The income from the fund, for the year ending July 1,
1892, was about $95,000, to which must be added about
$13,500 of local receipts at the schools. There is also a
.standing annual appropriation from the general fund of the
state of $2,000, for the partial support of teachers' institutes,
and $10,000 for the partial support of the Milwaukee nor-
mal school, thus aggregating an annual revenue of about
.$120,500.

In 1891, the legislature appropriated $20,000 for the en-
largement of the buildings at Platteville and Whitewater,
this being the first contribution from the general fund of
the state for building purposes.

There are yet unsold (1892) about 240,000 acres of land,
which will, in time, considerably increase the fund. This
fund, like all the school funds of the state, is under the con-
trol of a board called the commissioners of school and uni-
versity lands, and composed of the secretary of state, the
state treasurer, and the attorney-general. This board has
charge of the sale of lands, and the investment of the funds,
which is largely in the way of loans to towns, school dis-
tricts, etc., though the state itself is the principal debtor to
the school funds.

CHAPTER III.

THE BOARD OF REGENTS.

"The board of regents of normal schools of Wiscon-
sin" was constituted by the act of 1857, and consists of two
ex-officio and nine appointed members. The nine are
appointed by the governor, by and with the approval of the
senate. Their term of office is three years and until their
successors are appointed and confirmed; and they are di-
vided into three classes, so that the term of office of one
class expires each year. The ex-officio members are the gov-
ernor of the state and the superintendent of public instruc-
tion. The officers of the board are a president, vice-presi-
dent and secretary, who are elected each year. The state
treasurer is ex-officio treasurer of the board.

The board holds two regular meetings each year, the
annual meeting required by law, on the second Wednesday
of July, and the semi-annual meeting on the first Wednes-
day in February. Special meetings may be called by the
president of the board or governor, on petition of any
three members.

32 SKETCH OF NORMAL SCHOOLS IN WISCONSIN.

The board is a body corporate, and has full control and
direction of the locating, building, supplying and operating
the schools, of the school property, and of the income of the
normal school fund, but not of the fund itself, which is
under the control of the "commissioners of school and univer-
sity lands." The members of the board receive no compen-
sation for their services except for "specific service rendered
under the direction of the board, other than attending the
meetings' thereof," and actual expenses in attending the meet-
ings or performing other service directed to be performed.

The president of the board is required to make a bien-
nial report to the governor of the state, and an annual re-
port to the superintendent of public instruction, giving a de-
tailed account of the doings, expenditures, etc., of the board.

THE ORIGINAL MEMBERSHIP OF THE BOARD.

The original board was appointed by Governor Coles
Bashford in 1857, and consisted of the following members :

Edward Cooke, J. G. McKindley, A. C. Spicer, Alfred
Brunson, Noah H. Virgin, J. J. Enos, S. A. Bean, M. P. Kin-
ney and D. Y. Kilgore.

The first meeting was held in the assembly chamber, at
Madison, on July 5th, 1857, when the oath of office was ad-
ministered by Associate Justice A. D. Smith, of the supreme
court. The officers elected were : Rev. Martin P. Kinney,
of Racine, president; Dr. Edward Cooke, of Appleton,
vice-president ; D. Y. Kilgore, of Madison, secretary. This
board proceeded with its duties through the remainder of
the year, though the members had been appointed after
the adjournment of the legislature, and so not confirmed.

January 28, 1858, their names were sent to the senate,
for confirmation, by Governor A. W. Randall. On February
12, the senate proceeded to confirm the appointments indi-
vidually ; but after several had been confirmed, the whole
matter was reconsidered, and the entire list was returned to
the governor with the information that the senate refused to
confirm, on the ground that the members were not properly
distributed throughout the state. Perhaps there was some
other reason back of that.

On February 25, 1858, Governor Randall nominated an
entirely new board, as follows :

Terms expire January 1, 1859 — C. C. Sholes, Kenosha
county ; Julius T. Clark, Dane county ; L. H. Gary, She-
boygan county.

SKETCH OF NORMAL SCHOOLS IN WISCONSIN. 3£

Terms expire January 1, 1860 — John Hodgson, AVauke-
sha county ; James H. Howe, Brown county ; Hamner Bob-
bins, Grant county.

Terms expire January 1, 1861 — Silas Chapman, Mil-
waukee county ; 0. T. Maxson, Pierce county ; Win. E.
Smith, Dodge county.

All were confirmed by the senate March 3, 1859.

The new board held its first meeting at Madison, March
25, 1858, and organized by the election of C. C. Sholes, of
Kenosha, as president; Wm. E. Smith, of Fox Lake, vice-
president ; and Julius T. Clark, of Madison, secretary.

Messrs. Howe and Hodgson did not enter into the work
of the board, but soon resigned, and their places were filled
by two of the original board which had been appointed by
Governor Bashford, viz.: Dr. Edward Cooke, of Appleton,
and Sidney A. Bean, of Waukesha.

The following gentlemen have been members of the
board at some time since the rejection of the original nine :

MEMBERSHIP OF THE BOARD OF REGENTS.

Governor A. AV. Randall, ex-officio 1858-62

State Superintendent L. C. Draper, ex-officio 1858-60

C. C. Sholes, Kenosha 1858-67

Julius T. Clark, Madison 1858-67

Luther H. Cary, Greenbush 1858-62

John Hodgson, Waukesha 1858

Dr. Edward Cooke, Appleton 1859

Jas. H. Howe, Green Bay 1858

Hamner Robbins, Platteville 1858-72

Silas Chapman, Milwaukee 1858-67

0. T. Maxson, Prescott 1858-64

Wm. E. Smith, Fox Lake and Milwaukee 1858-76, 1878-82

Sidney A. Bean, Waukesha 1859-63

Jacob West, Evansville 1860

State Superintendent J. L. Pickard, ex-officio 1860-64

Edward Daniels, Ripon 1860-63

Governor Louis P. Harvey, ex-omcio, Januarv 5 to

April 19 1862

Rev. J. I. Foote, Footeville 1862-65

Governor Edward Salomon, ex-officio 1862-64

Governor James T. Lewis, ex-officio 1864-66

State Superintendent J. G. McMynn, ex-officio 1864-68

Wm. Starr, Ripon 1864-79

Jno. E. Thomas, Sheboygan Falls .1864-70

Geo. Griswold, Columbus 1864-66

S. A. White, Whitewater... 1865-70, 1874-77

Governor Lucius Fairchild, ex-officio 1866-72

34 SKETCH OF NORMAL SCHOOLS IN WISCONSIN.

Henry Kleinpell, Sauk City 1866-67

Henry Lines, Oshkosh *. 1867-70

Nelson Williams, Stoughton 1867-70

Rev. William C. Whitford, Milton 1867-75, 1878-82

State Superintendent A. J. Craig, ex-officio 1868-70

Allen H. Weld, River Falls 1868-77

T. D. Weeks, Whitewater 1870-74, 1877-89

James I. Lyndes, La Crosse 1870-76

Samuel Gary, Oshkosh 1870-74

State Superintendent Samuel Fallows, ex-officio 1870-74

W. H. Chandler, Sun Prairie 1871-92

Governor C. C. Washburn, ex-officio 1872-74

J. H. Evans, Platteville 1872-90

Governor Wm. R. Taylor, ex-officio 1874-76

State Superintendent Edward Searing, ex-officio 1874-78

Charles A. Weisbrod, Oshkosh 1874-76

F. W. Cotzhausen, Milwaukee 1875-78

Governor Harrison Ludington, ex-officio 1876-78

John Phillips, Stevens Point 1876-91

S. S. Sherman, Milwaukee 1876-79

Samuel M. Hay, Oshkosh 1876-91

A. D. Andrews, River Falls 1877-86

State Superintendent Wm. C. Whitford, ex-officio 1878-82

Governor Wm. E. Smith, ex-officio 1878-82

Carl Doerflinger, Milwaukee 1878-82

James MacAlister, Milwaukee 1879-83

A. O. Wright, Fox Lake 1879-81

Charles A. Hutchins, Fond du Lac 1881-90

State Superintendent Robert Graham, ex-officio 1882-87

Governor J. M. Rusk, ex-officio 1882-89

G. E. Gordon, Milwaukee 1882-87

Emil Wallber, Milwaukee 1883-89

Charles V. Guy, River Falls 1886-92

State Superintendent Jesse B. Thayer, ex-officio 1887-91

WTm. E. Anderson, Milwaukee 1887-90

Governor W. D. Hoard, ex-officio 1889-91

E. M. Johnson, Whitewater 1889-00

J. E. Singer, Milwaukee... 1890-91

Michael Kirwan , Manitowoc 1890-00

M. A. Thayer, Sparta 1890-91

Governor George W. Peck, ex-officio 1891-00

State Superintendent 0. E. Wells, ex-officio 1891-00

Geo. W. Cate, Stevens Point 1891-92

Dennis J. Gardner, Platteville 1891-00

Ira A. Hill, Sparta 1891-00

Jno. W. Hume, Oshkosh 1891-00

Jacob Mendel, Milwaukee 1891-92

F. P. Ainsworth, River Falls 1892-00

SKETCH OF NORMAL SCHOOLS IN WISCONSIN. 35

Bernard Goldsmith, Milwaukee 1892-00

W. D. Parker, Madison 1892-00

Byron B. Park, Stevens Point 1892-00

SPECIAL MENTION OF PROMINENT MEMBERS.

Special mention can be made of only a few of the more
active and influential members. Of the ex-officio members,
the state superintendents have been, from the nature of the
case, uniformly active and intelligent regents. Of the gov-
ernors, most have not actually identified themselves with
the work of the board. But two, Lucius Fairchild and Win.
E. Smith, will be remembered as among the most wise, ener-
getic and useful friends of normal schools. They actively
participated in all the labors of the board.

The first president of the board was Honorable C. C.
Sholes, of Kenosha, who served in that capacity from 1858
until his death, October 5, 1867. He was succeeded by Hon-
orable Wm. Starr, who stamped his strong individuality
upon all the work of the board until his death in April, 1879.
The next president was Honorable J. H. Evans, of Platte-
ville, who presided eleven years, retiring from the board in
1890. Honorable John W. Hume, of Oshkosh, was chosen
to succeed Mr. Evans, being the fourth president only, in
over a third of a century.

Silas Chapman, of Milwaukee, was the efficient secre-
tary of the board for nearly nine years. Several state super-
intendents also served in this capacity ; but in 1878, Honor-
able Willard H. Chandler, of Sun Prairie, was chosen secretary,
and held that office until his retirement from the board in
1892, after an active membership of twenty-one years. On
his resignation of the secretaryship, the following resolution
was unanimously adopted by the board :

"Whereas, W. H. Chandler, for many years a member and
secretary of this board, has just retired therefrom, and tenders
his resignation of the secretaryship,

"Resolved, That in accepting such resignation, it is the
sense of the board that as such member and secretary the service
of Mr. Chandler to the normal schools of this state, in their
establishment, extension and maintenance, and in the improve-
ment and supervision of the instruction given, and in his efforts
which have materially contributed to make these schools efficient
and prosperous to a degree which will bear favorable compari-
son with like schools elsewhere, as well as in moulding and
directing the institute work of the state for many years, has been ot
inestimable value to this board and to the public school system

36 SKETCH OF NORMAL SCHOOLS IN WISCONSIN.

of Wisconsin, and that such services merit and should receive the
cordial recognition and grateful acknowledgment of the board
and the friends of public education throughout the state."

Mr. Chandler was succeeded as secretary by Professor
Warren D. Parker, formerly president of the River Falls
normal school, who is the first officer of the board to devote
his whole time to its service.

CHAPTER IV.

LOCATION AND OPENING OP THE SCHOOLS.

After the passage of the act of 1865, it soon became
evident that normal schools would be established at several
points in the state ; and different localities at once began to
press their claims.

The board of regents, after due deliberation, adopted
the plan of locating a school, eventually, in each of the con-
gressional districts of the state, which were then six in
number. They early visited and examined several of the
competing localities and received proposals from them ; but
no decisive action was taken until February 28, 1866, when
it was voted to locate schools at Whitewater and Platteville.
A building committee was appointed and instructed to pro-
cure plans, etc., for the building at Whitewater. On the 2d
of May, the transfers of title to the sites were completed, and
the building committee was instructed to proceed to the
erection of the building.

Proposals had been laid before the board from no less
than sixteen cities and villages, making offers of sites and
various amounts of money. At this meeting of the board,
May 2, 1866, Oshkosh, Stoughton and Sheboygan were se-
lected as points, in their respective congressional districts,
for the opening of schools in the future.

As the donation from Platteville included the building
and grounds of the Platteville academy, the board were
enabled to open that school on the 9th of October, in the
same year. Professor Chas. H. Allen, then in charge of the
normal department of the university, had been elected
principal.

The first normal school faculty in Wisconsin was con-
stituted as follows :

Chas. H. Allen, principal.

Jacob Wernli, assistant principal.

Geo. M. Guernsey, professor of mathematics.

38 SKETCH OF NORMAL SCHOOLS IN WISCONSIN.

Fanny S. Joslyn, teacher of geography, history and
physiology.

Esther M. Sprague, principal of model department; and
\ve shall do no wrong to add

Henry Treganowan, janitor.

Mr. Wernli was a graduate of the normal school at
Wettingen, Canton Aargau, Switzerland, and had served
with marked success as school superintendent of Waupaca
county, in this state. Mr. Guernsey had been previously
principal of the Platteville academy and, before that, a pro-
fessor at Milton academy.

During the first term 60 pupils were enrolled in the
normal department, 14 in the preparatory class, and 38 in
the model school. During the year first following there were
in attendance, for some part of the year, 219 students, ex-
clusive of the model school.

The capacity of the academy building being too limited
for the work of the school, the board had entered upon the
erection of a new building, which was completed at a cost
of about $20,000 and was opened with appropriate cere-
monies on the 9th of September, 1868. Among the visitors
present at the dedicatory exercises was General U. S. Grant.

The completion of the normal school building at White-
water was greatly delayed, by various causes ; but it was at
length at dedicated April 21, 1868. Professor Oliver Arey
had previously been elected principal and was present at
the dedication. The dedicatory exercises consisted of a
brief historical sketch of the normal school enterprise in
the state, by Honorable Wm. Starr, president of the board of
regents ; an address by the principal, showing what a nor-
mal school ought to be and do ; and addresses by the promi-
nent educational men from various parts of the state, includ-
ing State Superintendent A. J. Craig. During this first, and
as it were, preliminary term, 48 pupils were enrolled in the
normal department, and 102 in the model school. For the
second term, which opened on September 1, 1868, the enroll-
ment was 105 in the normal department, and 98 in the
model school.

THE FACULTY AT WHITEWATER.

The original faculty was composed of :
Oliver Arey, principal and professor of mental and
moral philosophy, and theory and practice of teaching.
J. T. Lovewell, professor of mathematics and Latin.

SKETCH OF NORMAL SCHOOLS IS WISCONSIN. 39

Mrs. H. E. G. Arey, preceptress and teacher of English
literature, French and drawing.

Miss Emily J. Bryant, teacher of history, grammar and
geography.

Dr. H. H. Greenman, teacher of vocal music.

Miss Virginia Deichman, teacher of instrumental
music.

Miss Catherine H. Lilly, teacher and critic in the gram-
mar department.

Miss Ada Hamilton, teacher and critic in the intermediate
department.

Miss Sarah A. Stewart, teacher and critic in the primary
department.

Besides the regular faculties of the two schools now in
operation, Mrs. Anna T. Randall (liiehl), of Oswego, N. Y.,
was employed for a time to give instruction in reading and
elocution at both schools.

FIRST GRADUATING CLASSES AT PLATTEVILLE AND WHITEWATER.

In June, 1869, the Platteville school graduated its first
class, in the full or advanced course. As being the first
graduating class from a normal school in Wisconsin, their
names are given, viz.: Lewis Funk, Melvin Grigsby, Andrew
J. Hutton, Richard H. Jones, James Rait, Edward H. Sprague,
Ella Marshall, Alvena E. Schroeder.

In June, 1870, the Whitewater school graduated its first
class, six in number. A class of fifteen was graduated at
Platteville.

OPENING OF THE OSHKOSH SCHOOL.

At the meeting of the board, June, 1868, arrangements
were made for procuring plans for a building for the nor-
mal school which had been located at Oshkosh, and the
contract for its erection was made in January, 1869. The
building was completed in the summer of 1870, but for lack
of funds to furnish it and pay salaries, the opening of the
school was delayed for another year.

At a special meeting of the board of regents, held June
6, 1871, George S. Albee, superintendent of the Racine city
schools, and a graduate of Michigan university, was elected
president of the Oshkosh school. In July of the same year,
Prof. Robert Graham, a graduate of the Albany normal
school, arid widely and favorably known as conductor of
institutes for the normal board, was chosen as teacher in
the normal department, and director of the model school

40 SKETCH OF NORMAL SCHOOLS IN WISCONSIN.

The original faculty at Oshkosh was as. follows :

George S. Albee, president, teacher of mental and social
science, and school economy.

Robert Graham, teacher of reading and music.

D. E. Holmes, teacher of natural science.

Anna W. Moody, teacher of rhetoric and mathematics.

Mrs. D. E. Holmes, teacher of geography and history.

Martha E. Hazard, teacher of grammar and physical
culture.

Robert Graham, director of the model school.

Maria S. Hill, teacher in grammar department.

Rose C. Swart, teacher in primary department.

The school opened September 12, 1871, with an enroll-
ment in the normal department of forty-six pupils, which
was soon largely increased. The buildings were dedicated
on the 19th of the same month. Addresses were delivered
by President Starr and Hon. W. C. Whitford and A. H.
Weld, of the board of regents; President Albee, of the
school ; State Superintendent Fallows, and several others.

The enrollment of students for the first term was, in
the normal department, 97 ; model school, 92 ; total, 189.

TOUR OF BOARD OF REGENTS TO LOCATE THE FOURTH SCHOOL.

In July, 1871, the board of regents, including Governor
Lucius Fairchild, made a tour of the northwestern part of
the state, for the purpose of locating the fourth normal
school, toward which they were now beginning to look ; the
action in reference to Stoughton and Sheboygan having
been annulled. Of their eventful experiences by field and
flood, over corduroy and sand plain, the time sufficeth not
to tell. But as a result of their tour of inspection the fourth
school was located at River Falls, in the St. Croix valley, by
action of the board in January, 1872.

In January, 1874, plans were adopted for the River
Falls normal school building ; and the contract was soon
awarded for its erection.

PROF. C. H. ALLEN, CONDUCTOR OF INSTITUTES.

After the election of Prof. Graham to the Oshkosh
faculty, his place had been taken as conductor of institutes
by Prof. C. H. Allen, former president of the Platteville
school, who had lately returned from the Pacific coast. He
continued in this service from July, 1871, till September,
1872, when he resigned, to accept a position in the normal

SKETCH OF NORMAL SCHOOLS IN WISCONSIN.

41

school at San Jose, California ; and Prof. Graham resumed
the institute work in connection with his work in the school.
In January, 1873, the regents reorganized the institute
work, dividing the state into three institute districts, and
assigning one professor from each school to conduct insti-
tutes in his own district. In pursuance of this arrange-
ment, Prof. Duncan McGregor was designated as institute
conductor for the first or Platteville district ; and Albert
Salisbury was added to the Whitewater faculty, March 1st,
1873, as conductor for the second district.

NORMAL SCHOOL, RIVER FALLS, WIS.
OPENING OF THE RIVER FALLS SCHOOL.

In July, 1874, Warren D. Parker, of the Janesville city
schools, was elected president of the River Falls normal
school, his service to begin September 1, 1875.

The building, the largest and best appointed of any yet
erected by the board, was dedicated September 2nd, 1875.
Addresses were made by Honorable Wm. Starr, President W.
D. Parker, State Superintendent Searing, and Honorable W.

42 SKETCH OF NORMAL SCHOOLS IN WISCONSIN.

H. Chandler. The school opened with a larger attendance
than had been received by any of the other schools at their
opening. When fairly in operation, there were enrolled in
the normal department, 104; in the model school, 155;
total, 259.

The original faculty was constituted as follows :

Warren D. Parker, president.

Jesse B. Thayer, teacher of mathematics and conductor
of institutes.

Albert Earthman, teacher of geography and music.

Lucy E. Foote, preceptress, teacher of reading.

Laura G. Lovell, teacher of history.

Margaret Hosford, teacher of grammar and rhetoric.

Emily Wright, teacher grammar grade.

Mary A. Kelly, teacher intermediate grade.

Lizzie J. Curtis, teacher primary grade.

THE MILWAUKEE SCHOOL.

The opening and maintenance of the fourth normal
school, together with the enlargements made necessary by
the growth of the older schools, absorbed so nearly the
whole revenue of the board as to prevent, for some years,
the establishment of another school. Meanwhile the city of
Milwaukee had been maintaining a city training school for
the recruiting of its own corps of public school teachers. A
movement at length took shape for devolving this work
upon the state instead of the city; and in 1880 an act of
the legislature was secured which made it "the duty of the
board of regents of normal schools to establish an additional
normal school in the city of Milwaukee .... and to
proceed to organize and conduct the same without impairing
the efficiency of the normal schools already established .
as soon as said board shall in its own judgment be able to pro-
vide from the funds at its disposal for the maintenance of said
school in said city of Milwaukee; provided the said city of Mil-
waukee shall donate a site and a suitable building for said nor-
mal school in said city of Milwaukee, the location and plan of
said buildings to be approved by said board of regents, and the
said site and building to be together of a value not less than
fifty thousand dollars."

The board of regents did not much welcome or encour-
age this movement, notwithstanding the activity and persis-
tence of its Milwaukee member, Hon. James McAlister,
who was also the Milwaukee city superintendent of schools.
The reason for this attitude on the part of the regents lay

SKETCH OF NORMAL SCHOOLS IN WISCONSIN. 43

in their financial limitations ; for while the aggregate of the
normal school fund had greatly increased, the general
shrinkage of interest rates and the increasing difficulty of
making profitable investments of public funds had pre-
vented any corresponding increase in the income at the dis-
posal of the board.

However, in July, 1881, the board accepted a site ten-
dered by the city of Milwaukee. Architect's plans were ap-
proved in July, 1882. In February, 1884, Regent Emil
Wallber reported to the board that $40,000 had been ap-
propriated by the common council of Milwaukee for the
erection of the building ; and in June, 1885, the completed
building was conveyed by the city to the board of regents.
The cost to the city of the property conveyed was $52,000.
The financial difficulties of the board with respect to this
school had just been solved by an act of the legislature
(1885) making an annual appropriation of $10,000 to the
board of regents for the maintaining of the fifth normal
school, this being the first appropriation, in the history of
the state, of funds derived from taxation to the support of
normal schools.

Professor J. J. Mapel, principal of the Milwaukee high
school, was elected president of the fifth normal school.

At the meeting of the normal board in July, 1885, the
conditions for admission to the Milwaukee school were estab-
lished as follows :

' ' The terms of admission to the state normal school at Mil-
waukee shall be : (a) by certificate of having completed the
first three years of one of the existing courses of study in the high
school at Milwaukee, excepting trigonometry ; (b) by elementary
certificate from any normal school in \Visconsin; (c) by diploma
from such free high schools in Wisconsin as have adopted the four
years' English and scientific courses of study prescribed by the
state superintendent for such schools ; (d) by examination in
the branches of the last mentioned course, except that English
history be substituted for theory and art of teaching."

This action arose from the conviction of the board that
the city of Milwaukee presented conditions and environment
so different from those of the other schools as to permit the
omission altogether of the " elementary course," leaving only
the advanced course of two years. This course was modified
somewhat in its details from the advanced course of the other
schools ; although the board premised, at the same time, as
follows :

44 SKETCH OF NORMAL SCHOOLS IN WISCONSIN.

' ' The diploma of all the normal schools in Wisconsin shall
represent essentially a uniform breadth of scholarship and pro-
fessional training."

The new school opened September 14, 1885, with the
following faculty :

J. J. Mapel, president, teacher of psychology and peda-
gogy-
Alexander Be van, teacher of mathematics and natural

science.

S. Helen Romaine, teacher of English language and
literature.

Eleanor Worthington, teacher of geography and his-
tory.

Mary S. Gate, teacher of methods and supervisor of
practice teaching.

Emily W. Strong, critic teacher in third and fourth
grades.

Dora Hilliard, critic teacher in fifth and sixth grades.

Mary Campbell, critic teacher in primary grades.

The enrollment of the school in its first year was 46
in the normal department and 112 in the model school.
In June, 1886, the school graduated its first class of fifteen
members, these having been in attendance but one year, all
having previously graduated from the Milwaukee high
school.

MORE SCHOOLS IN PROSPECT.

The value of the normal schools to the educational in-
terests of the state is now so well approved and clearly seen
that the establishment of additional schools is already under
discussion by the people of the state. The legislature of
1891 passed an act authorizing the board of regents to
" establish, build, equip and maintain a sixth normal school in
the state of Wisconsin, at a site to be selected by said board in
the territory north of the north line of township number twenty-
four north."

N oaction has been taken by the board in this direction,
however, for lack of sufficient present income to maintain
more schools than those already opened.

At the present session of the legislature (1893) a bill has
been introduced providing for the establishment of two new
normal schools, and appropriating money for their construc-
tion and support.

SKETCH OF NORMAL SCHOOLS IN WISCONSIN. 45

CHAPTER V.

GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE SCHOOLS.
ADMINISTRATION.

All the normal schools of Wisconsin, being under the
general management of one board and supported from one
fund, have naturally developed along the same general lines;
though enough freedom has been accorded to the internal
administration of each school to bring forth a definite indi-
viduality in each. But the scope and purpose of this sketch
does not justify any attempt at a discussion of their special
individual characteristics.

The Platteville school continued under the presidency
of Charles H. Allen but four years, when he resigned and
went to the Pacific coast, becoming, later, the president of
the San Jose (Cal.) normal school. He was succeeded at
Platteville by Professor Edwin A. Charlton, of Auburn, N.Y.,
who continued at the head of the school from 1870 until
January 1, 1879. Professor Duncan McGregor entered the
faculty of the Platteville school at the beginning of its
second year, August, 1867, as professor of mathematics. In
January, 1873, he was designated as conductor of institutes
for the first district. In January, 1879, he became president
of the school, which has continued under his judicious ad-
ministration to the present time, a period of fourteen years,
with more to follow.

The first president of the Whitewater school was Oliver
Arey, who had achieved marked success in building up the
central or high school of Buffalo, N. Y., and had afterwards
been principal of the Albany normal school. Mrs. H. E.
G. Arey, the esteemed and gifted helpmeet of the principal,
was a graduate of Oberlin college and had become quite
widely known through various literary labors. She became
preceptress of the school, teaching in various lines.

Mr. and Mrs. Arey administered the school with signal
efficiency for a little over eight years, resigning in the spring
of 1876. The influence of their positive and sterling charac-
ters left an enduring mark on both pupils and associate
teachers.

President Arey was succeeded in the fall of 1876 by Wil-
liam F. Phelps, who had beeu principal of the Trenton (N.
J.) normal school, and for many years at the head of the
Winona (Minn.) normal school, coming to the Whitewater
school in the fullness of experience and reputation. He re-

46 SKETCH OF NORMAL SCHOOLS IX WISCONSIN.

mained at Whitewater but two years, his administration
constituting a tumultuous episode of which it is difficult to
speak with justice to all concerned.

In the fall of 1878, Professor J. W. Stearns, LL. D.,
came to the presidency of the school, having previously been
for several years principal of a government normal school at
Tucuman, in the Argentine Republic. He was, before that,
a professor in the old Chicago university. He remained in
charge six and one-half years, resigning in January, 1885,
to accept the chair of pedagogy in the University of Wiscon-
sin. His administration was marked by broad and quick-
ening impulses, and impressed upon the school certain
characteristics which it retains, in a good degree, to the
present time. After the resignation of Dr. Stearns, Professor
T. B. Pray was acting president for an interim of a half-
year.

In March, 1873, Albert Salisbury, principal of the Brod-
head high school, came to the Whitewater normal school as
its first conductor of institutes, and the third of the original
trio of state institute conductors. He continued in this re-
lation till the summer of 1882, when he went to the South as
superintendent of schools for the American missionary
association. In the fall of 1885, he returned to Whitewater,
having been elected, some months before, to the presidency
of that school, which position he still holds.

The Oshkosh school has been more fortunate than any
of its sister schools in continuity of administration. Before
the opening of the school, in 1871, George S. Albee, principal
of the Racine high school, was elected to its presidency, a
position which he has held with great and increasing accept-
ance until this day, a wise and unbroken administration of
over twenty-two years. In this time, the school has grown to
be the largest in the state and one of the most efficient in the
whole country.

At the opening of the Oshkosh school, Captain Robert
Graham, who had become widely known as a very efficient
conductor of institutes, entered the faculty as director of
the model school. He also rendered valuable service to the
school as teacher of reading and vocal music. In January,
1873, he was designated as the first regular conductor of
institutes under the system which has ever since prevailed.
He continued in these relations until he became state super-
intendent in 1882.

The first president of the River Falls school was Warren

SKETCH OF NORMAL SCHOOLS IN WISCONSIN. 47

D. Parker, previously principal of the Janesville city schools.
He organized the school on a very thorough basis and ad-
ministered its affairs with great vigor until failing health
compelled his retirement in 1889. What then seemed a
great loss to the educational interests of the state has been
offset by the fact that Mr. Parker has now become a member,
and the secretary, of the board of regents.

He was succeeded at River Falls by Prof. J. Q. Emery,
principal of the Fort Atkinson high school, under whose
management the school has very considerably increased its
enrollment.

At the opening of the school in 1875, Jesse B. Thayer,
principal of the Menomonie schools, was made its conductor
of institutes, which position he held until he became state
superintendent, in 1887. The River Falls school comes
nearest to the Oshkosh school, therefore, in the continuity
and unity of its administration.

Prof. J. J. Mapel, principal of the Milwaukee high
school, became president of the Milwaukee normal school at
its opening in 1885. He resigned in January, 1892 ; and
was succeeded by Prof. L. D. Harvey, institute conductor at
the Oshkosh normal school. The first institute conductor at
Milwaukee was Prof. Silas Y. Gillan, who held his position
from 1886 to 1892.

BUILDINGS AND EQUIPMENT.

In the "sixties," when the normal school idea was first
taking practical shape, only a vague conception obtained of
what the legitimate equipment of a teachers' training school
should be. Little or no provision was therefore made of
facilities for laboratory work, physical training, or drawing ;
and, even for the commoner needs and the most natural ex-
pectation of growth, the prospective requirements were sadly
underestimated. That was the day of small things. But
the growth of the schools, both in membership and in the
scope of work found to belong to such seminaries, soon com-
pelled extensive enlargement of accommodations.

The Platteville school, beginning life in 1866, in the
building of the old Platteville academy, at once found
itself straitened for room ; and a new building, in exten-
sion of the old one, was completed in the summer of 1868
at a cost of $20,000.

Almost from the start, the Whitewater building was
found to be inadequate to the demands upon it ; and a new

48 SKETCH OP NORMAL SCHOOLS IN WISCONSIN.

wing, almost equal in capacity to the original building, was
completed in the summer of 1876, at a cost of about $20,000.
The Oshkosh school early exhausted all available space and
was enlarged in 1877 by a new wing, costing $15,000.

Now it was vainly supposed that all needs had been
met. The River Falls school was built on a larger scale in
the light of experience ; but the older schools were soon
suffering again for lack of room. In the fall of 1880, the
Platteville school received an extension, for which $10,000
was appropriated. In 1888, a gymnasium was added to the
Oshkosh school, at a total cost of about $7,000.

In 1891, the funds at the command of the board being
insufficient for enlargements still needed, the legislature
made an appropriation of $20,000 to provide additions at
Platteville and Whitewater. Scarcely had the bill granting
this appropriation been enacted, when the Whitewater
building took fire on a windy morning, April 27, 1891.
The large wing erected in 1876 was burned out, with con-
siderable damage to the rest of the building. Prompt
action was had on the part of the board and state authori-
ties ; and the burned wing was again ready for occupancy
at the end of August, four months after the fire. At
Christmas of the same year, the new gymnasium wing,
costing $15,000, was also ready for occupancy.

An extension at Platteville, the third since its opening,
was completed in 1892, at a cost of $19,000.

The buildings of the three older schools are thus
rather interesting examples of architectural accretion, as
well as illustrations of the difficulty of planning adequately
for educational institutions in a young and growing
country.

ENROLLMENT OF THE SCHOOLS.

The increasing membership of the schools is, in a meas-
ure, shown by the following table of enrollments, from which
it will be seen that the number of adult students availing
themselves of professional training in the normal schools of
the state has increased from 600 in 1872 to 1,100 in 1881
and 1,600 in 1892. But this by no means represents the
whole gain. The standards of admission have gradually
advanced in a degree calculated to cheek the accretion of
mere numbers. The 1,600 students of 1892 represent a
much higher attainment and larger professional force than an
equal number would have done twenty, or ten, years ago.

SKETCH OF NORMAL SCHOOLS IN WISCONSIN.

40

The enrollment of the model schools for the same years
is also given as being of some interest, although not so
directly representative of the progress made.

TABLE OF ATTENDANCE AT THE NORMAL SCHOOLS.

NORMAL DEPARTMENT.

School
Year.

Platteville.

Whitewater. Oshkosh.

River Falls.

Milwaukee. : Aggregate-

M. |F.

Tot

!M.

F.

Totjj M.

F.

Tot

M.

F.

Tot

M.

F. Tot

M.

F.

Tot

1866-67.
1868-69.
1871-72.
1875-76.
1880-81.
1885-86.
1890-91.
1891-92.

38; 61
69 81
82 116
103 101
80 135
104 180
101 167
97 190|

99

150
198
204
215
284
268
287

38
146

230
406
392
483
479
498

61

176
362
575
709
914
991
1,099

99
322
592
981
1,101
1,397
1.470
1,597

77
i 77
94
87
112
97
93

75
144
192

216
232
229
282

172 ...

221 71 102
286 144 179
303 157 226
344 178 316
326 198 338
325 193 392

173

323
388
494
536
585

65

68
87
71
92

103
132
142
196
218

168
200
229
267
810

"i!

23

'44 "46
61 73
67 90

MODEL DEPARTMENT.

1866-67.

68

<1<!

111

68

43

111

1868-69.

118

<W

">14

PI

«7

181

•>1 •>

183

395

1871-72.

11-1

df>

*>06

85

67

TS4

68 73 141

%7

232

499

1875-76.

T>d

iITi

•>55

- 61

54

115

80 118 198

110 138

94 <j

T71

440

811

1880-81.
1885-86.
1890-91.
1891-92.

118
48
49
65

115
63
63
79

233
111
112
114

93

! 71
i 61
i 56

84
74
61
62

117
145
125
118

99 131 230
104 130 231
76 120 196
108 135 238

67 93
59 61
57 90
65' 109

160
120
147

174

]"VK 54
56; 61
68: 78

'112

117
136

377
340
302
347

428
382
395
463

800
722
697
810

These figures exhibit the growth of the schools with tol-
erable exactness, though not with entire accuracy as a means
of comparison with each other ; since the line between the
normal and lower departments has not been the same in all
the schools, nor always the same in each school. Further-
more, the continuity of pupils is not the same in all, so that
with a less total enrollment there may exist a greater aver-
age attendance.

From the table as a whole, it will be seen that, notwith-
standing some natural fluctuations, there has been a constant
and steady growth in the membership of the schools. This
has taken place, moreover, contemporaneously with a general
increase of requirements both for admission and graduation.

CURRICULUM FIRST COURSES OF STUDY ADOPTED BY THE

BOARD.

Courses of study for the schools were adopted by the
board at its meeting in June, 1868, three in number, viz.:

1. An institute course of one term.

2. An elementary course of two years.

3. An advanced course of three years.

The courses were essentially the same for both schools ;
but the arrangement of the specific studies was left to each

50 SKETCH OF NORMAL SCHOOLS IN WISCONSIN.

principal for his own school, so that the practical workings
of the courses in the two became somewhat different.

The several courses were announced by the Platteville
school in the following terms :

"The institute course is designed to meet the wants of those
teachers who, possessing the necessary scholastic acquirements,
yet feel the need of professional training. It will consist of a
rapid review of the various subjects taught in our common
schools, with lectures upon the best methods of teaching the
same; lectures upon the organization, classification and govern-
ment of the schools, and the school law.

u The object of the elementary course is to fit students to
become teachers in the common schools of our state, and will
consist of a thorough drill in the studies pursued, experimental
lectures on methods of instruction and, if practicable, practice in
model school. ,

"The advanced course should fit teachers for the higher de-
partments of the graded schools in this state, and, as will be
seen from the detailed statement of the courses of study, is both
thorough and practical. Students in the advanced course will
have extended practice in the model school, under the eye of
experienced teachers, who will, by kindly criticisms and pointed
suggestions, strive to make the practice conform to the theory of
instruction."

THE INSTITUTE COURSE.

Of the three courses inaugurated in 1868, the institute
course had a brief and rather unsatisfactory career. In the
fall of 1871, a venture was made in the shape of an institute
course of six weeks. This course, if it can be called a course,
was taken by thirty-five pupils at Whitewater, twelve at
Platteville, and fifteen at Oshkosh. In 1872, the institute
course was again attempted in connection with the first six
weeks of the fall term, with an attendance of 37 at Oshkosh,
26 at Whitewater, and of (?) at Platteville — a practical
failure except at the first-named school.

This institute class, coming as it did at the time of the
year when the schools were the fullest, and the tax upon the
teaching force greatest, was found to be very inconvenient
in the working of the schools, and was from this time dis-
continued.

THE THREE YEARS' COURSE.

At the annual meeting of the board of regents in 1872,
the elementary course, which had been simply a dead
letter, was changed to one year in length, but, as before, it
failed to attract students in any practical way.

SKETCH OF NORMAL SCHOOLS IN WISCONSIN. 51

There was, thus, practically, but one course, of three
years in length, up to the year 1874. In July of that year,,
a change was made which may best be stated by inserting
here the main portion of a committee report which was
adopted at that time. It was voted :

"That hereafter in the several normal schools in the state-
there shall be two courses of study, known respectively as the
'elementary course' and 'advanced course' ; that the elementary
course shall be two years in length, and the advanced course four
years in length ; and that the studies in the respective courses r
and the maximum and minimum time allowed thereto shall be as-
follows :

"In the elementary course : Arithmetic, 30 to 40 weeks ; ele-
mentary algebra, 12 to 20 weeks ; geometry, 16 to 23 weeks ; book-
keeping, 6 to 10 weeks ; reading and orthoepy, orthography and
word analysis, 30 to 37 weeks ; English grammar, 28 to 39 weeks ;
composition, criticism and rhetoric, 20 to 24 weeks ; geography r
physical geography, 26 to 40 weeks ; physiology, 10 to 15 weeks ;
botany, 10 to 13 weeks ; natural philosophy, 12 to 17 weeks ;
United States history, civil government, 30 to 40 weeks ; pen-
manship (time undetermined); drawing, 20 to 26 weeks ; vocal
music (time undetermined); theory and practice of teaching.

"In the advanced course, the studies of the first two years
shall be the same as those of the elementary course, with the ad-
dition of Latin for 20 weeks, which shall take the place of rhet-
oric. In the advanced course, the studies of the last two years
shall be : Higher algebra, 20 to 28 weeks ; geometry and trigo-
nometry, 17 to 23 weeks ; Latin, 80 weeks ; rhetoric and English
literature, 10 to 28 weeks ; chemical physics, 6 to 20 weeks :
chemistry, 12 to 23 weeks ; zoology, 6 to 12 weeks ; geology, 12
to 17 weeks ; universal history, 12 to 23 weeks ; political econ-
omy, 15 to 17 weeks ; mental and moral science, 20 to 30 weeks ;
theory and practice of teaching."

The committee also recommend that at the close of the
elementary course there shall be a thorough review of the
studies of the last two years.

Details of the order of studies within each course, and
the precise amount of time devoted to each study, within
the limits prescribed, were left to the presidents and facul-
ties of each school.

The sanctions established were as follows :

1. For the advanced course, a diploma, becoming, in
due process, an unlimited state certificate.

2. For the elementary course, a certificate, becoming in
like manner, a state certificate limited to five years.

52 SKETCH OF NORMAL SCHOOLS IN WISCONSIN.

MODIFICATIONS IN 1879 AND 1880.

In July, 1879, the schedule of studies was somewhat
modified, and, on the recommendation of the presidents of
the schools, it was ordained —

"That the elementary course shall include the following
named branches, pursued within the specified limits of time:
Arithmetic.

Elementary algebra 12 to 20 weeks

Geometry 16 to 23 weeks

Book-keeping 6 to 10 weeks

Reading, orthoepy, orthography and word analy-
sis 30 to 37 weeks

English grammar 28 to 30 weeks

Composition and criticism 20 to 24 weeks

Geography , political and physical 25 to 40 weeks

Botany 10 to 13 weeks

Physiology 10 to 15 weeks

Physics 12 to 17 weeks

United States history and civil government 30 to 40 weeks

Drawing 20 to 40 weeks

Penmanship and vocal music.

Theory and art of teaching, and school management.

That the advance course shall include all the branches oi
the elementary course, together with :

Higher algebra 20 to 28 weeks

Higher geometry 12 to 15 weeks

Latin 80 weeks

Rhetoric and English literature 10 to 28 weeks

Chemistry 12 to 23 weeks

Zoology 6 to 12 weeks

Geology 12 to 15 weeks

General history 12 to 28 weeks

Political economy 10 to 17 weeks

Mental science 12 to 20 weeks

Drawing 10 to 20 weeks

Pedagogics 20 weeks

It may be remarked that, at this time, the amount of
Latin required in the advanced course was not only dimin-
ished to two years, but also that this amount was made op-
tional with an equal time in English literature. All ex-
cept the Whitewater school availed themselves of this op-
tion ; but every graduate at Whitewater has, thus far, taken
the Latin course.

Experience had long shown that the elementary course
was badly over crowded; and in July, 1880, it was voted by
the board "that each president be instructed to arrange for

SKETCH OF NORMAL SCHOOLS IN WISCONSIN. 53

his own school the programme of the present studies in
the elementary course to cover two and a half years for
their completion by the students."

This was, in effect, a lengthening of both courses to two
and a half and four and a half years, respectively. This
change was promptly effected at the Oshkosh and White-
water schools, and somewhat later at the other schools.

As has been stated in the preceding chapter, when the
Milwaukee school was organized, in 1885, the elementary
course was omitted and only the advanced course of two
years was established. This was outlined as follows :

(a) Reviews of elementary branches 80 weeks

(b) Schoolmanagement, art of teaching, history of edu-

cation, psychology, and science of education.... 80 weeks

(c) Practice teaching and observation 40 "

(d) Natural science review 60 "

(e) English literature, constitutions and political econ-

omy '. 60 "

German may be substituted for English 30 "

Physical exercises, music and drawing to be introduced as
the exigencies of the school may seem to permit."

In this course, it will be observed, Latin was omitted
altogether : German was made optional with a limited
amount of English ; while music and drawing were left in
an ambiguous position, though the practice of the school
has not ignored them.

RADICAL REVISION IN 1892.

In July, 1892, after thorough and careful discussion,
the presidents of the several schools submitted to the board
a scheme of studies differing in important particulars from
that which had previously obtained. The main points
of change involved are as follows :

1. The two former courses are shortened to two and
four years respectively, doing away with the odd half year.

2. Four courses are provided for :

(a) An English course of four years.

(b) A Latin course of four years.

(c) A professional course of one year.

(d) An elementary course of two years, being the first
two years of the English course.

3. The elective principle is further extended, so that
those taking the English course may choose between dif-
ferent lines of work in the natural sciences. German may
also be elected instead of Latin.

54 SKETCH OF NORMAL SCHOOLS IN WISCONSIN.

The details of this new schedule, as adopted by the board
of regents, are as follows, the time-limits specified being the
minimum requirements in the several branches.

I. — THE ENGLISH COURSE.

Mathematics: Arithmetic, algebra and geometry 80 weeks

Book-keeping, optional 10 "

Vocal music 20 "

Drawing 40 "

English language : Orthoepy, reading, word analysis,
grammar and composition, rhetoric and literature,

in all 120 "

Natural sciences, required : geography, including
physical, 20 weeks ; physiology, 10 weeks; botany,
10 weeks ; physics, 20 weeks. In addition to this,
at least 50 weeks' work from the following elective
list, viz.; Physiology, 10 weeks ; botany, 10
weeks ; zoology, 20 weeks ; chemistry, 20 weeks ;
geology, 20 weeks ; physics, 20 weeks.

Minimum aggregate in natural science.. 110 "

United States history and civil government 30 "

General history 25 "

Political economy 15 "

Professional work : School management, school law,
and theory and methods of teaching, 50 weeks ;
practice teaching, 40 weeks ; reviews in common
school branches with special reference to teaching,
30 weeks ; psychology, and science and history of
education, 40 weeks ; minimum aggregate of pro-
fessional work 160 "

Minimum aggregate of English course 600 ' '

II. THE LATIN COURSE.

Mathematics: Arithmetic, algebra and geometry 80 weeks

Vocal music 20 c •

Drawing 20 "

Latin 120 "

English language : Orthoepy, reading, grammar and

composition, rhetoric and literature 80 "

Natural sciences : Geography, including physical, 20

weeks ; physiology, 10 weeks ; botany, 10 Aveeks ;

physics, 20 Aveeks ; zoology or chemistry 20

weeks ; aggregate in natural science 80 "

United States history and civil government. 30 "

General history 25 "

Political economy 15 "

Professional Avork : As in the English course 160 ' '

Minimum aggregate of Latin course 630 "

SKETCH OF NORMAL SCHOOLS IN WISCONSIN. 55

N. B : Two years (80 weeks) of German may be substituted
for the Latin, in which case the requirements in English lan-
guage shall be the same as in the English course, viz., 120 weeks.

III. — THE ELEMENTARY COURSE.

Mathematics : Arithmetic, 10 weeks ; algebra, 20

weeks ; geometry, 20 weeks ; total 50 weeks

Book-keeping, optional 10 "

Vocal music 20 "

Drawing 20 "

English language : Orthoepy and reading, 20 weeks ;
word analysis, 10 weeks ; grammar and composi-
tion, 30 weeks ; total 60 "

Natural sciences : Geography, including physical, 20
weeks ; physiology, 10 weeks ; botany, 10 weeks ;

physics, 20 weeks ; total 60 "

United States history and civil government 30 "

Professional work : School management, school law,
theory and methods of teaching, 50 weeks ; re-
views in common school branches with special
reference to teaching, 30 weeks ; practice teaching,

20 weeks ; total 100 "

Minimum aggregate of elementary course 340 ' '

ONE-YEAR PROFESSIONAL COURSE.

The course of training in the one-year's course shall consist
of:

1. A course of 10 weeks in review and methods in each ot
the following branches, viz. : Reading, arithmetic, geography
and grammar.

2. A course of 40 weeks in school management, school law,
and theory and methods of teaching, supplemented by 20 weeks
of class-teaching in the schools of practice.

3. A course of 10 weeks in psychology and its applications
to teaching.

4. A course of 20 weeks in drawing.

5. A course of 20 weeks in composition and rhetoric, and
a course of 10 weeks in either natural history or civics.

GROWTH OF PROFESSIONAL THOUGHT.

Twenty-five years ago, normal schools were yet in
their infancy, and not alone in Wisconsin. Those who had
charge of their development here did not find much clear
guidance elsewhere. Scholastic ideals and traditions still
ruled educational thought ; and while many recognized that
a normal school was something other than a mere academy
or secondary school, the precise character of this difference,
in practical external realization, was far from clearly con-

56 SKETCH OF NORMAL SCHOOLS IN WISCONSIN. ,

ceived. The Wisconsin normal schools have worked steadily
away at this problem ; and their present professional char-
acter is the result of a somewhat slow process of evolution,
not yet, by any means, brought to its completion.

From the very beginning, however, one clear and cher-
ished idea has pervaded these schools. The professional
teacher must, first of all things, and above all things else,
possess a worthy character, be moved by unselfish aims and
high ideals. No one at all acquainted with the facts will
question that the ethical purpose and spirit of these normal
schools has always been high and strong. Akin to, indeed a
part of, this ethical spirit is the devotion to thoroughness in
the fundamentals of scholarship and training which has
always been a well-defined characteristic.

But there are other lines in which the normal schools
have had slowly to work out their own distinctive features
as professional training schools. Doubtless the most prom-
inent fact here has been the effort to determine and lead to
a recognition of true ideals and ends in education. The
narrow, materialistic notions which constitute the popular
conception of education must be displaced by broader,
truer ideas very early in the training of a profes-
sional teacher. The prospective educator should, above all,
learn in what education really consists ; and this he is not
likely to learn under ordinary circumstances.

The normal schools of Wisconsin, beginning with a
rather vague apprehension of this primary function, have
now come, it is believed, to an adequate conception of their
responsibility and opportunity in this regard.

Closely connected with this advance, in fact a condition
of it, has been an appreciable progress toward a pedagogic
treatment and use of psychology, turning aside from the
traditional but unfruitful absorption in metaphysics and the
history of philosophical controversy to a more practical and
scientific study of the phenomena and development of the
child-mind, the true material of the teacher's art. The
training of the young teacher's thought toward the constant
study of the child, his needs and possibilities, almost from
the first entrance upon normal school work, instead of rele-
gating the whole matter to a term or two of adult psychology
in the last year of the course, is a reform at least partially
realized, and wholly approved.

A necessary corollary of the clearer apprehension of the
ends of education is found in the recognition, not only

SKETCH OF NORMAL SCHOOLS IX WISCONSIN. O<

theoretical but practical, of the fact, so long obscured, that
music, drawing and gymnastics are not simply accomplish-
ments, but as truly among the essentials of education as
mathematics or geography. The normal schools have led
the way in this return from medieval toward Greek con-
ceptions of these elements of education. Again, while hold-
ing firmly to a belief in the value of linguistic study,
especially in the direction of practical mastery of the mother-
tongue, the normal schools have been alive to the realistic
movement of modern thought. AVhile the equipment of
laboratories and the adoption of laboratory methods have
progressed somewhat slowly, they have, nevertheless, been
realized; and the distinction between scientific work and
the literature of science has come to be adequately appre-
hended.

A natural concomitant of what has already been touched
upon is found in the development of what is known as pro-
fessional work. While nearly all the work in a normal school
is "professional" in the sense that it is ruled by the pedagog-
ical aim, differing widely in this respect from the work of
other schools in the same studies, there has always been a
large increase over the earlier years in the amount of what
is recognized as distinctly and purel}r professional work, in
practical and theoretical pedagogy. This work has not only
oeen more carefully elaborated, but it has been brought
down into the early years of the course, so that no student
can remain long in the normal school without coming under
its direct influence.

From the first, the Wisconsin normal schools have
recognized the indispensability of schools of practice. The
earlier efforts at realization were crude and ineffective ; but
they paved the way to the marked success of later years, the
amount and organization of the practice teaching being now
such as will bear the most thorough examination and criticism.
It is impossible and unnecessary to trace in detail the various
steps of this advance in pedagogical thought ; it has been
gradual, never revolutionary, and more discernible in the
present result than in the stages of its progress. It would be
invidious and inaccurate to attribute leadership in this
advance to one school or another. All have contributed to
it in greater or less degree ; but no one will take exceptions
to the assertion that great credit is due, in the general
reckoning, to the wisdom, insight and persistence of the
veteran president of the Oshkosh school.

58 SKETCH OF NORMAL SCHOOLS IN WISCONSIN.

KINDERGARTEN, SLOYD, ETC.

Only brief space can be taken for notice of certain move-
ments with which the schools have dealt haltingly. In 1880,
a kindergarten was organized in connection with the Oshkosh
school, somewhat by way of experiment. This was con-
tinued for several years, but, owing to changes in the board
of regents and want of cordial appreciation on the part of
that body, it was closed in 1885. Nothing further was at-
tempted in this direction until 1882, in which year the board
set forth, apparently with earnest purpose, to establish a
kindergarten training department in connection with the
Milwaukee school. This is now in process of development
with much in favor of its full success.

Manual training has received some attention, though
not incorporated into the regular curriculum of all the
schools. Since 1884, the Whitewater school has regularly
maintained a "shop" in connection with the natural science
department, each member of the class in physics, ladies in-
cluded, being required to take a limited course in the use of
wood-working tools. In 1886, the Milwaukee school began
work in this line, receiving material assistance from promi-
nent citizens of Milwaukee. Now an instructor in sloyd is
employed by the board, that system having been introduced
into the model school. Thus, while music, drawing, and
gymnastics have been placed on a permanent and regular
footing in all the schools, the kindergarden and manual train-
ing have been dealt with in a more cautious and conservative
manner. This is doubtless due, in some degree, to the
financial limitations of the board.

ACADEMIC AND PREPARATORY DEPARTMENTS.

The policy of accepting local aid in the construction
and equipment of normal schools has resulted, in some
states, and to some extent in Wisconsin, in complication of
interests to the hindrance of the purely professional inter-
est. The existence of a local right to demand that a normal
school shall provide an academic department is always an
embarrassment to the legitimate work of such a school. In
their earlier years, the Wisconsin normal schools were sub-
ject to such a demand ; and, in 1876, the board set out to
make the "grammar departments" of the several schools
fitting schools for college. This thought, for a time, received
special development at the Whitewater school, in what had,
all along, been called the "academic" department. In 1884,

SKETCH OF NORMAL SCHOOLS IN WISCONSIN. 59

however, the board finally took action, by abolishing the
tenth, eleventh, and twelfth grades in the grammar depart-
ment at Whitewater, which constituted a definite abandon-
ment of all aims not necessarily connected with the prepara-
tion of teachers. Nothing higher than the ninth grade now
remains in any of the model schools.

Of a very different nature, however, are the "preparatory
classes." The normal schools of Wisconsin have never been
willing to ignore scholarship as essential to the teacher's
equipment ; nor have they been able to assume it as already
acquired by those seeking professional training. The en-
trance examinations have always been rigorous ; and only a
minority of those applying for admission are found qualified
to enter directly upon the work of the normal course.
Especially is this true of those coming from the rural schools,
even the best. It has been the policy of the normal schools
to keep in touch with the country schools as far as possible;
and so the preparatory class has been found a useful adjunct
as constituting a bridge from the country schools into the
normal schools. Tuition is charged in these classes ; and the
preparatory departments are now nearly, if not quite, self-sup-
porting. Much excellent material comes into the normal
course from the preparatory classes, the preparatory course
being, in effect, an extension of the normal course downward,
a sort of ladder let down to those in need.

It is but fair to say, however, that the propriety of this
course has been questioned ; and considerable opposition to
its continuance is being manifested "in influential quarters.

CHAPTER VI.

THE NORMAL SCHOOLS AS A FORCE.

The normal schools of Wisconsin are part and parcel of
the public school system. They are absolutely free to all persons
who contemplate teaching in the schools of the state. They
are schools of the people, and not simply of the wealthy
classes. Their function is to prepare teachers for the public
schools, from the wayside rural school to the city high school.
Their work has been adjusted, almost of necessity, to the
practical demands upon them rather than to any abstract
ideal of what a normal school should be ; though theoretical
ideals have by no means been forgotten or ignored.

60 SKETCH OF NORMAL SCHOOLS IN WISCONSIN.

Two aims constantly present themselves to those charged
with the management of normal schools. Shall we devote
ourselves to the service of the multitude in the elementary
schools, and prepare teachers only for them ? Or shall we
rather aim to prepare the select few for educational leader-
ship and the more responsible positions? In some states, as
Connecticut, for instance, the former aim seems to have been
frankly accepted. The normal schools of Wisconsin have
not been willing as yet, to forego either end, though the two
may seem to be in some degree incompatible; but they have
striven, so far as practicable, to meet both demands. This is
the meaning of the two courses of study, the elementary and
the advanced, which have so long prevailed ; and the modi-
fications recently made (in 1892) have the same ends in view.

It has been the constant endeavor of these schools, more-
over, to enkindle their pupils with the love of knowledge and
the desire for a fuller personal development, leading them
eventually to higher institutions for wider training. In con-
sonance with this thought, they have not striven to graduate
large numbers in brief and meagre courses ; but emphas:s
has always been laid upon the long course. The term "grad-
uate" is not allowed to those completing only the shorter
course. As a consequence of this policy and their exacting
standards of thoroughness, the Wisconsin normal schools
have not sent out such large numbers of graduates as those
in states where lower standards have prevailed. This fact,
they have not chosen to consider as a reproach.

GRADUATES AND UNDERGRADUATES.

In the twenty-three years which have elapsed since the
graduating of the first class at Platteville, the normal schools
have graduated 792 persons from the advanced course. The
elementary course has been completed by 776 others, a total of
1,568. Something over one-third of these were men. Of all
these persons, 95 per cent, have discharged their obligations
by teaching after graduation. Nearly 40 per cent, have taught
every year since graduation, in some capacity ; while 51 per
cent, of all, notwithstanding death and matrimony, are still
members of the teachers' profession, having stopped only
temporarily for recuperation or other unavoidable causes.
The aggregate amount of teaching done by these graduates is
over 7,000 years, counting eight to ten months of teaching a
year. The average amount of teaching done by all, living and
dead, married and unmarried, is nearly five years since grad-

SKETCH OF NORMAL SCHOOLS IN WISCONSIN. 61

uating, besides a large amount of teaching done between the
date of first entering the normal school and the date of grad-
uation.

The character of the positions held and the amount of
salaries received by these graduates have alike been credita-
ble to the schools in which they were trained.

It is often alleged, with substantial truth, that these
graduates are lost to the country schools, being quickly
caught up by the cities and high schools. They have too
much capital invested in professional training to remain in
poorly paid positions. But the country schools get their ben-
efit from the normal schools through the greater body of un-
dergraduates. About 13,000 young people, according to
careful computation, have enjoyed more or less extended
training in these schools. Setting out the graduates and the
smaller number who have done no teaching, there remain
something over 10,000 undergraduates who have gone forth
to teach, mostly in the common schools. The greater part
of these have done excellent service through considerable
periods of time. It is doubtless true, therefore, that the in-
fluence of the Wisconsin normal schools is most widely felt
through its undergraduates, a fact that is sometimes over-
looked in current discussion.

GENERAL INFLUENCE.

The value and influence of normal schools is not con-
fined, however, to the results effected directly through their
pupils. The existence within the state of five faculties
of picked teachers, set apart to the office of exalting the
principles and rationalizing the practice of education, is in
itself a fact of no small importance. The members of these
faculties are bound, by virtue of their office, to become ease-
ful students of educational problems and to communicate the
fruits of their studies and their experience far beyond the
circle of their own immediate instruction. As members of
teachers' associations and institutes, as writers for the educa-
tional press, as preachers of education on all opportune occa-
sions, they should be and are candles set upon a candle-
stick. And they are not only givers of pedagogical light,
but supporters of the dignity and efficiency of the teacher's
profession. The files of the proceedings of the Wisconsin
teachers' association and of all lesser associations within the
state will bear testimony to the activity and general utility
of the teachers in normal schools.

62 SKETCH OF NORMAL SCHOOLS IN WISCONSIN.

But special mention must be made of the great benefits
resulting from the connection of the normal schools with
the teachers' institutes.

It is now twenty years since the inauguration of the pres-
ent system, by which a leading member of each normal
school faculty is set apart as a conductor of institutes, subject
to call at any time for this service. Thus, long before
"University extension" became a popular notion, normal
school extension was a realized and familiar fact, carrying
out the best light of those schools to shine in the remotest
corners of the state. The wide-reaching benefits of this
close relation between the normal schools and the county in-
stitutes would deserve fuller exposition but for the fact that
the work has been done, in this same volume, by another
hand, that of the Hon. W. H. Chandler, who was for so
many years a prominent factor in the organization and man-
agement of both the normal schools and the institutes.

In conclusion, it may be said that normal schools in Wis-
consin have passed the experimental stage, and no longer
have anything to fear from hostile influences. They have
approved themselves as a wise and necessary instrumentality
in a public system of education, and are becoming more per-
fectly co-ordinated with the other factors of this system.
Making no claim to have promulgated anything ultimate in
educational theory or practice, they abide in the hope of ful-
filling their proper functions more and more adequately.

CHAPTER VII.

ROSTER OF THE FACULTIES, 1866-93.

As a useful appendix to the foregoing chapters, the fol-
lowing list is given of all persons, to date, who have taught
regularly in the faculties of the several normal schools.
The names in each faculty are arranged chronologically, in
the order of their entering the teaching corps of the school.

The list is a surprisingly long one and reveals one weak-
ness in the past management of the schools, the fact that
the board has not been able to retain, chiefly for financial
reasons, all the best talent that has entered its service. A
perusal of the list will show how many have gone on to
positions elsewhere of great honor and responsibility.

SKETCH OF NORMAL SCHOOLS IX WISCONSIN. 63

PRESIDENTS.

Cbas. H. Allen, Platteville 18C6-70

Oliver Arey, Whitewater 1868-76

Edwin A. Charltou, Platteville 1870-79

Georges. Albee, Oshkosh 1871 —

Warren D. Parker, River Falls 1875-89

Wm. F. Phelps, Whitewater 1876-78

John W. Stearns, Whitewater 1878-85

Duncan McGregor, Platteville 1879 —

Albert Salisbury, Whitewater 1»85 —

J. J. Mapel, Milwaukee 1885-92

J. Q. Emery, River Falls 1889 —

L. D. Harvey, Milwaukee 1892 —

TEACHERS.

PLATTEVILLE NORMAL SCHOOL.

Chas. H. Allen, principal 1866-70

Jacob Wernli, assistant principal 1866-68

Geo. M. Guernsey, mathematics 1866-67

Fanny S. Joslyn, "preceptress, teacher of geography, history, etc 1866-70

Esther M. Sprague. principal model school 1866-67

Mrs. Euretta A. Graham, principal model school 1867-72

I professor of mathematics. . 1867-74

Duncan McGregor, •< conductor of institutes, etc 1873-79

( president, etc 1879 —

Charles F. Zimmerman, teacher of drawing 1867-68

D. Giay Purman, English language and literature 3868-77

A. H. Tuttle, natural science 1868-70

A. M. Sanford, teacher of vocal music 1868-71

J. H. Terry, principal of academic department 1868-70

Aug. Michaelis, teacher of German , 1869-71

Edwin A. rharlton, mental and moral science 1870-79

George Beck, natural science 1870 —

Eva M. Mills, geography and history 1870-73

Andrpw T Hntton ' principal academic department 1870-71

on> ', conductor of institutes, etc 1879 —

T. J. Colburn, teacher of vocal music 1871-74

r»rolvn F Arl«m<s / principal of academic department 1871-73

olynE. Adams, j teacher of reading and history 1873-76

vrr^ii i,.. r>r.^<o J teacher of intermediate department 1872-76

tls' 1 teacher of geography and history 1876-81

Chas. H. Nye, principal of grammar department 1873-93

Phila A. Knight, arithmetic and geography 1873-74

D. E. Gardner, mathematics and vocal music 1874-91

Jennie S. Cooke, assistant in grammar department 1874-83

Mary A. Brayman, teacher of primary department 1874-36

Helen Hoadley, English language and literature 1876-77

Georgia A. Spear, teacher of reading 1876-77

Mrs. Helen Charlton, English language and literature 1876 —

Anna Potter, teacher of intermediate department 1876-85

Albert J. Volland, Latin mid Greek 1877-82

Emily M. B. Felt, English language and literature 1877 —

Ella C. Aspinwall, teacher grammar department 1877-82

Mrs. S. E. Buck, reading 1878-83

Marj F. Flanders, geography and history 1881-85

Clara E. P. Smith, preparatory class and Latin 1881-83

Miss H. M. S. Eggleston, teacher of primary department 1881-82

Ella Walker, teacher of grammar department 1882-83

Sadie F. Burr, teacher of preparatory class 1882-85

Elizabeth C. McArthur, Latin 1883-85

Antoinette E. Brainard, English grammar 1883-84

Alice J. Sanborn, reading 1884

Sarah R. McDaniel, English grammar 1884

ViolaP. Hotchkiss, drawing 1884-90

Mary Noyes, English language and Latin 1884-86

Lydia A. McDougal, geography and history 1885 —

Alice Chapin, methods, supervisor of practice 1895-86

v KntpRintrht j teacher of preparatory class 1885-86

slaght, -j English language and Latin 1886-88

Lona Washburn, teacher of intermediate department 1885-87

Sarah Alice Glisan, methods and supervisor practice 1886-92

Helen A. Dewey, teacher of primary department 1886-89

Helen M. Cleveland, teacher of preparatory class 1886-87

Annie Hendron, teacher of intermediate department 1887-88

64 SKETCH OF NORMAL SCHOOLS IN WISCONSIN.

Bertha Schuster, leacher of intermediate department 1888-89

Horaces. Fiske, civics, word analysis and physical training 1887 —

Minnie Hickey, teacher of preparatory cliss 1887-92

Edith A. Purdy, teacher of intermediate department..... 1889 —

Mrs. V. K. Hayward, teacher of primary depurcmeut 1889-91

EthelS. Rawson, English language and Latin 1890-92

Kinmii Wyman, drawing 1890 —

Huldah A. Grant, teacher of primary department 1891-92

Clyde K. Showalter, mathematics and vocal music 1891 —

MaeE. Schreiber, methods and supervisor practice 1892 —

Mary E. Laing, methods and supervisor practice 1892 —

Isabella Pretlow, teacher of preparatory class 1892 —

Janie A. Hamilton, teacher of primary department 1892 —

T. S. Smith, physios, Latin and German 1892 —

W. N. Brown, teacher of grammar department 1893

C. H. Bickford, physics, Latin and German 1893 —

WHITEWATER NORMAL SCHOOL.

Oliver Arey, mental and moral philosophy and pedagogics 1868-76

J. T. Lovewell, mathematics 1868-72

Mrs. H. E. G. Arey, preceptress, rhetoric and drawing 1868-76

Emily J. Bryant, grammar, geography and history 1868

J. J. Brown, M. D., natural science 1868-69

Harvey H. Greenman, vocal music 1868-74

Virginia Deichman, instrumental music 1868-77

Clarinda D. Hall, grammar, etc 1868-70

CfltharinpH Hllv / teacher grammar department 1868

, H. Lilly, {grammar and Latin 1871-77

Ada Hamilton, teacher intermediate department 1868

Sarah A Stpwart 1 teacher primary department 1868-69

hA. btewart, 1 geography and history 1869-72

T. C. Chamberlin, natural sciences 1869-73

Eliza Graves, teacher intermediate department 1869

Helen M. Bow#n, teacher ofgrammar department 3869

Etta Carle, intermediate and academic departments 1869-70

S. E. Vansickle, teacher intermediate department 1869-70

Mary A. Brayman, teacher, primary department 1869-71

Anna \V. Moody, principal academic department 1870-71

Samuel R. Alden, elocution and grammar 1870-71

Shpnn«rrlS Ropkwnod J principal academic department 1871-72

ineppardb. Rockwood, •) professor of mathematics 1872-81

Sarah E. Eldredge, teacher primary department 1871-75

Mary DeLany, geography and history 1872-87

Martha Terry, principal academic department 1872

Alhprt «inli«hiirv J conductor of institutes, etc „ 1873-82

Albert Salisbury, -j presidenti gtc _ 1885 _

Martha I. Burt, principal academic department «. 1873

Annie M. Greene, principal academic department 1873-76

Herbert E. Copeland, natural sciences 1873-75

Garry E. Culver, penmanship and vocal music 1874-77

Geo. R. Kleeberger, natural sciences 1875-78

Ella A. Webster, teacher primary department 1875-76

Maggie E. Wicker, teacher intermediate department 1876

Wm. F. Phelps, mental and moral science and pedagogics 1876-78

Mrs. A.. J. Field, English grammar and rhetoric 1876-77

Joseph H. Chamberlin, principal academic department 1876-77

Emily Wright, assistant principal academic department 1876-77

Mrs. J. D. Lee, teacher intermediate department 1876-77

May L. Allen, teachar primary department 1876-78

Margaret M. Thomas, English grammar, rhetoric and literature 1877-78

Mrs. E. M. Knapp, vocal music 1877 —

Isabel Lawrence, supervisorof practice teaching 1877-78

Helen L. Storke, principal academic department 1877-80

Isabella J. Storke, assistant academic department 1877-80

Miss K. S. Osborne, teacher intermediate department 1877-78

W Spvmmir Tr>hn«nn J drawing and penmanship 1877-81

V* . Seymour Johnson, -j natural sciences 1881-83

J. W. Stearns, president, mental science and pedagogics 1878-85

Lyman C. Wooster, natural sciences 1878-81

Emma M. Farrand, English language and literature 1878-80

MartrarptF Conklin /supervision of practice teaching 1878-83

,t fc. conklin, {teacher of geography 1887-89

f assistant grammar department 1878-82

Cornelia F Rotrprs J principal preparatory department 1882-88

ornelia K Rogers, j United States history and mathematics 1883-89

(. teacher of geography ... 1889 —

SKETCH OF NORMAL SCHOOLS IN WISCONSIN. $5

M«. AHn R«vr™tP / teacher intermediate department 1878-86

Mrs. AdaRa.vCooke,|readingandEnglIshbranches ]8g6 _

Fanny C. Tiuianus, teacher primary department 1878-79

Clara L. Wright, teacher primary department 1879-80

Mary L. A very, English language and literature 1880-87

Ellen L. Clothier, ancient languages and principal grammar department.™ 1880-81

Ellen A. Persons, assistant grammar department .. 1880-83

Ellen J. Couch, teacher primary department ...«. 1881-91

ThPrnn R PI-HV * mathematics 1880-88

ay> 1 conductor of institutes, etc _ 1888 —

J. N. Humphrey, Latin, etc 1881 —

Agnes Hosford, United States history, penmanship and mathematics 1881-84

Harriet A. Salisbury, principal preparatory department -j Jf^~^||

KateE. N. Tupper, principal grammar department 1881-85

J. W. Gibson, reading and political economy «. 1882-83

C. W. Cabeen, natural sciences 1883

Henry Doty Maxson, conductor of institutes, etc ~ 1883-88

W. F.'Bundy, M. D., natural sciences, 1883-86

Elizabeth Hargrave, methods and supervisor of practice teaching „ 1883-84

Frances A. Parmeter, methods and supervisor of practice teaching 1884-91

Helen M. Farrand, assistant grammar department 1884-85

Mrs. l<ena B. Shepherd, principal grammar department „ 1885-86

Bertha Schuster, assistant grammar department 1885-87

John W. Stump, natural sciences 1886-88

dura F. Robinson, drawing and physiology 1886-90

Emma J. Fuller, teacher intermediate department 18S6-91

Alfred J. Andrews, director of physical training 1886-87

Sara E. Whitaker, English language and literature 1887-88

Mary R. Saxe, assistant preparatory and grammar departments 1887-89

Geo. C. Shutts, mathematics and general history 1888 —

Arthur A. Upham, natural sciences — — ~ 1888 —

Annie M. Cottrell, English language and literature f. 1888 —

Mftrsr«rpt Hnsfnrd / principal preparatory and grammar departments „ 1888-89

)rd' \United States history and mathematics 1889 —

May Church, physical training 1888-89

Mary L. McCutchan, principal preparatory and grammar departments.. 1889 —

Anna Barnard, assistant preparatory and grammar departments ~_.._ 1889 —

Gertrude L. Salisbury, physical training 1889-92

Liz/ie Hnehes $ dr«wl"g and physiology ™ 1890-92

lugnes, ^ drawlnR and penmanship 1892 -

Annie Klingensmith, methods and supervisor practice teaching 1891-92

KHtherine G. Spear, teacher intermediate department 1891 —

Hattie L. Goetsch, teacher primary department 1891 —

Nina C. Vandewalker, methods and supervisor practice teaching 1892 —

Lena Bateman, physical training and physiology 1892 —

O8HKO8H NORMAL SCHOOL.

Geo. S. Albee, president, mental science and school management 1871 —

Robert Graham /director of model school 1871-75

im> t reading, vocal music and conductor of institutes 1871-81

D. E. Holmes, natural science 1871

Mrs. Mary Holmes, geography _ 1871

Anna W. Moody, history and rhetoric „ _ 1871-82

Martha Hazard, drawing and calisthenics, etc _ 1871-75

Mary H. Ladd, mathematics 1871-83

Maria S. Hill, teacher grammar department 1871-81

(teacher primary department 1871-74

Rose C. Swart, -< geography and penmanship 1874-84

(art of teaching and supervisor of practice teaching „ 1S84 —

Henry C. Bowen, natural science _„ .. 1872-74

Mrs. Helen A. Bateman, English grammar and composition 1872-84

Frances E. Albee. teacher intermediate department 1872-83

Wm. A. Kellerman, natural sciences „ 1874-79

Anna S. Clark, instrumental music 1874-78

Martha Kidder, teacher primary department 1874-75

Emily F. Webster, Latin and mathematics 1875 —

Mortimer T. Park, director of model school, etc _ 1875-78

Henry Marin, German 1875-76

Lucy A. Noyes, teacher primary department 1875-76

Frances Taylor, drawing 1875-76

Irene E. Gilbert, teacher primary department _ 1876-77

Amelia E. Banning, drawing, etc 1876-84

J. P. Haber, principal preparatory department 1877-78

Elizabeth B. Armstead, teacher primary department 1877-80

66 SKETCH OF NORMAL SCHOOLS IN WISCONSIN.

Mrs. L. L. Cochran, principal preparatory department.. 1878-88

Tvrtmnv Ttricrtrs J director of model school, etc 1878-85

Lydon \V. Brlggs, j bookkeepiDg( clvic8i etc 1885 -

Tnn*,n \,i,., , /mathematics 1878-79

Lucy C. Andrews, jgeography 1879_8o

Carrie E. McNutt, vocal and instrumental music 1878-86

Waldo E. Dennis, natural science » 1879-82

Frances E. Tower, mathematics and grammar 1879-80

Aifo«>^o A iTocirnii I teacher intermediate department 1879-80

Alfaretta A. Haskell, -j teacher primary department 1888 —

Laura Fisher, kindergarten director 1880

Nancy M. Davis, mathematics andgeography 1880 —

Lillian A. Duffies, grammar and history 1880-82

Vanie C. Doe, teacher grammar department 1880-83

Nellie F. Wheaton, teacher primary department ~ 1880-83

Nellie E. Talmage, kindergarten director 1880-81

Eunice E. Frink, history 1881-82

Jenny LI. Jones, kindergarten director 1881-82

Madison M. Garver, natural science 1882

Wesley C. Sawyer, conductor of institutes, etc _ » 1882-85

A. N. Marston, natural science - 1882-83

Harriet E. Clark, reading and elocution 1882 —

Eliza Darling, history and literature 1882-84

Fannie C. Colcord, kindergarten director 1882-85

J. M. Wilson, natural science 1883-85

Mary Apthorp, Latin „ 1883 —

/-„,..!,* i? TTOV.O™ f teacher intermediate department, etc 1883-87

lon' 1 principal grammar department 1887-89

Therese E. Jones, English grammar, composition and rhetoric 1884-89

Grace Darling, history and English literature 1884-92

Harriet C. Magee, drawing and social science 1884 —

Frances A. Carpenter, assistant grammar department 1884-85

Lorenzo D. Harvey, conductor of institutes, etc- 1885-92

W. N. Mumper, natural science 1885-89

Mrs. Fannie M. Marchant, principal grammar department 1885-87

Mellie McMurdo, assistant grammar department „ 1885-86

Flora A. Slosson, teacher intermediate department 1885-87

Lucy Washington, kindergarten director 1885-86

Mrs. E. L. Blakeslee, music , 1886 —

Mary Grandy, assistant preparatory department 1886-88

Henry Leemhuis, gymnastics 1887-88

f™r,,o r- oo^/» /assistant grammar department 1887-89

i G. feaxe, j principal preparatory department 1889 —

Philinda Whiting, teacher intermediate department 1887-90

Mary 8. Dunn, gymnastics and hygiene 1888-90

ipnnipG Marvin J principal preparatory department 1888-89

Jennie G. Marvin, -J principal grammar department 1889 -

Sarah A. Dynes, assistant grammar department 1888-92

George M. Browne, natural science 1889 —

Violet D. Jayne, English grammar, composition and rhetoric 1889-91

Mary S. Howe, pianist and instrumental music 1889-91

Persis K. Miller, assistant grammar department 1889 —

Dora Dresser, teacher intermediate department 1890-91

Theodora A. Hooker, gymnastics and hygiene 1890-91

J. Rufus Hunter, physics and mathematics ~ 1891 —

May G. Slotterbec, history and literature 1891-92

Mina DeH. Rounds, English grammar and composition 1891 —

Helen A. Woods, gymnastics and hygiene „ 1891 —

Nellie L. Smith, pianistand instrumental music 1891 —

Nancy Darling, teacher intermediate department 1891-92

Emma L. Berry, history 1892 —

Josephine Henderson, English language 1892 —

Mrs. Alma McMahon, assistant preparatory department 1892 —

Dennie G. Dowling, teacher in model school 1892 —

Walter C. Hewitt, conductor of institutes, etc 1892 —

KIVER FALLS NORMAL SCHOOL.

Warren D. Parker, president 1875-89

Jesse B. Thayer, mathematics, conductor teachers' institutes „ 1875-86

Albert Earthman, history, geography, music 1875-78

W. S. Barnard, physical science 1875-77

LucyE. Foote, reading, spelling, English literature 1875-88

Laura G. Lovell, history 1875-77

Sarah A. Barnes, history, drawing _ 1875-77

Margaret Hosford, English grammar and rhetoric 1875-78

Leora Pusey, mathematics 1875-77

SKETCH OF NORMAL SCHOOLS IN WISCONSIN. 67

Emily Wright, teacher grammar grade .......................................................... 1875-77

Lizzie J. Curtis, teacher primary grade ......................................................... 1875-78

Mary A. Kelly, teacher intermediate grade ..................................................... 1875-77

Mary E. Burt, teacher grammar grade ............................................................ 1876-77

i •»!• n< i /i f teacher grammar grade ............................................ 1877

Julia A. McFarland, j mathelmttics, geography .......................................... 1877-79

Ellen C. Jones, teacher grammar grade .......................................................... 1877-81

F. H. King, natural science ........................... . ............................................... 1878-88

Mr« M F TPTIIIPSS f I>atin. English language .......... . ......................... „ ...... 1878-80

ess> t supervisor of practice teaching ................................. 1880-83

Louise W. Parker, teacher primary grade ...................................................... 1878-87

Julia M. Stanclift, supervisor of practice teaching ....................................... 1878-80

Mrs. V. A. Potter, singing, drawing, writing ................................................ 1878-79

Nellie L. Hatch, history and geography ........................................................ 1879-82

Myra Irwin, singing, drawing ........................................................................ 1879-80

| Latin, English language ......................................... 1880-90

Charlotte J. Caldwell, -< history, geography, rhetoric, grammar .................. 1890-92

I English language, general history ........................... 1892 —

Jennie E. Blakeslee, vocal music .................................................................... 1880-81

Nettie E. Burton, assistant supervisor of practice teaching ........................... 1880-81

Harriet A. Salisbury, preparatory grade ........................................................ 1880-81

Ellen C. Jones, history, geography ................................................................. 1881-87

ATflp V t?fhrpihpr -! vocal music .................................................................... 1881-87

Mae E. Schreiber, -j hlstory geography, music ............................................ 1887-90

Sarah H. Strong, teacher grammar grade ...................................................... 1881-8S

Jane L. Terry, teacher intermediate grade .................................................... 1H81-84

Edith I. Avery, teacher ............................................................................... 1882-84

Zilpha S. Hubbard, teacher grammar grade ................................................... 1883-84

C. H. Keyes, teacher history and mathematics .............................. ............... 1883-84

•Mi.. IT Ai'anr Wato^n J tCaChCr ..................................................................... 1884-86

Mrs. E. A\erj Watson, - _

- mathematics .......................................................... 1886_88

Sophie E. Davis, mathematics, history ............................ ....... •. ..................... 1884-85

J. T. Lunn, language, mathematics ............................................................... 1884-85

Rosalia A. Hatherell, teacher grammar grade ............................... ................. 1884-91

Lizzie A. Darnell, teacher intermediate grade ............................................... 1H84-92

Sadie F. Burr, mathematics, vocalmusic ....................................................... 1885-86

Antoinette E. Brainard, supervisor of practice teaching ....... . ........................ 1885-86

Alice H. Shultes, supervisorof practice teaching ........................................... 1886 —

A. J. Andrews, director of physical training .................................................. 1886-87

H. T. Kirk, conductor of institutes .......... . .................................................... 1887-88

Cora Lee Summers, teacher primary grade ..................................................... 1887 —

A. L. Ewing, natural science ........................................................................... 1888 —

Annie W. Hurbank, English literature, reading ............................................. 1888-89

Miss A. E. Knapp, English literature, reading .............................................. 1889-90

G. G. Payne, mathematics ............................................................................. 1888

May D. Roberts, mathematics ........................................................................ 1889-92

J. Q. Emery, president, etc ............................................................................ 1889 —

W. J. Brier, conductor of institutes, literature, etc ...................................... 1889 —

Maud F Rpminfftnn -f preparatory branches ............................................... 1890-91

nngton, | L ln> Engljsh Comp0sition, German ....................... 1891-

Elizabeth F. Knox, drawing, vocal music ...................................................... 1890-91

Grace B. Marsh, physical training .............................................................. 1891-92

Carrie T. Pardee, drawing ............................................... . .............................. 1891 —

Mrs. F. M. Thatcher, vocal music .................................................................. 1891 —

Mattie A. Seiders, principal grammar grade ................................................. 1891-93

J. E. NeCollins. mathematics .......................................................................... 1892

Carrie M. Sheldon, preparatory grade .......................................................... 1892

T w r"iarb- f United States historv, geography, two lerms .......................... 1892

LrK> "[mathematics ........................................................................ 1893 —

Eva E. Holcombe, principal intermediate grade ............................................ 1898 —

Jane A. Sheridan, physical training .............................................................. 1892 —

Rose M. Cheney, preparatory grade ............................................................... 1892 —

Lovila M. Mosher, United States history, geography ................................... 1892 —

Lona Washburn, principal grammar grade ................................................... 1898 —

MILWAUKEE NOKMAL SCHOOL.

J. J. Mapel, president, psychology, etc ........................................................... 1885-92

Alexander Bevan, natural science and mathematics .................................... 1885-89

S. Helen Romaine, English languageand literature ........................... „ ......... 1885-92-

Eleanor Worthington, geography and history ............................................. .. 1885-86

Mary S. Cate, methods, superintendent of practice teaching ........................ 18S5-8S

Emily W. Strong, critic teacher third and fourth grades ................................ 1885 —

Dora Hilliard, critic teacher fifth and sixth grades ...................................... 1885-88

Mary Campbell, critic teacher first and second grades ................................... 1885-87

Silas Y. Gillan, conductor of institutes, etc ................................................... 1886-92

68 SKETCH OF NORMAL SCHOOLS IN WISCONSIN.

A. J. Andrews, conductor of physical training 1886-87

Mary E. Sykes, methods, superintendent of practice teaching 1887-89

Margaret W. Morley, physical training and drawing „.. 1887-90

Winifred E. Jones, critic teacher primary department 1887 —

Eliza A. Sargent, critic teacher seventh and eighth grades 1888-89

Mary L. Warner, critic teacher third and fourth grades -... 1888-89

Alice E. Sanborn, critic teacher fifth and sixth grades 1888 —

Chas. P. Sinnott, mathematics and natural sciences 1889 —

Margaret E. Oonklin, methods, superintendent of practice teaching 1889 —

L. H. Eaton, vocal music „ 1889-91

Mabel L. Anderson, critic teacher seventh and eighth grades 1889-92

Miriam 8. Faddis, physical training and drawing 1890 —

Robert McMynn, Latin 1891-92

Ada Rockwell, music 1891-92

Carl Lueders, physical training 1892 —

L. Dow Harvey, president, etc „ 1892 —

Charles P. Chapman, conductor of Institutes, etc 1892 —

I. N. Mitchell, Latin and mathematics 1892 —

Mae E. Schreiber, English language, music, literature 1892 —

M. Elizabeth Allen, critic teacher seventh and eighth grades 1892 —

Jennie Ericsson, sloyd 1892 —

ALBERT SALISBURY.

History of Teachers' Institutes in Wisconsin.

BY W. H. CHANDLER.

Among the forces which have contributed largely to
the progress and efficiency of the work of common schools
in the state of Wisconsin, is that of the teachers' institutes.
These institutes, as organized and managed in this state,
have attracted the attention and received the commendation
of prominent educators in other states, have been exceed-
ingly popular and largely attended by teachers of all grades
in the state, and have been fruitful in great benefits in three
lines of effort, viz.: (a) in imparting direct and excellent
instruction to persons having had meager advantages in the
ordinary common schools and no other, as scholastic prepa-
ration for teaching; (b) in cultivating and promoting knowl-
edge of the theory and art of teaching by instruction in.
and exemplification of the principles underlying methods
of teaching, organization, management and discipline ; and
(c) by creating an esprit de corps, professional pride, and the-
spirit of emulation.

The institute work in Wisconsin, like all institutions of
value, has been a matter of growth, development and adap-
tation. If there is any one feature ot this work which has
commended it to the favor of our own people, and to others
who have observed it from the outside, it is that of conform-
ity to existing needs, and complete and organic relation to-
other educational forces. This will be apparent by review-
ing briefly the origin and history of the institute work, and
what has been attempted to accomplish through this form
of effort.

From 1818 to 1836 Wisconsin formed a part of the ter-
ritory of Michigan, its population was small and scattered,
and educational interests were necessarily neglected. From
1836 to 1848 the territory, now constituting the state, was for
a short time connected with Iowa, and then organized as a
territory by itself. The school laws of Michigan, with other
laws of that territory, were adopted almost entire, and were
exceedingly crude and defective. They contained no pro-
vision for supervision of schools or support of them by pub-
lic and general taxation. But by immigration from Eastern

70 HISTORY OF TEACHERS' INSTITUTES IN WISCONSIN.

states the population increased, and schools became an im-
perative necessity. These were provided by private enter-
prise, and supported by voluntary contributions and rate
bill assessments.

Frequent applications by localities were made to the
territorial legislature for authority to raise money by taxa-
tion to build schoolhouses and support schools, which were
sometimes granted and sometimes refused, as the local rep-
resentative favored or opposed the measure. When granted,
the school affairs were administered by local commissioners,
who also examined and gave certificates to teachers, leased
the school lands, and made reports to the secretary of the
territory. The election or appointment of town superinten-
dents was agitated in and out of the legislature, but failed of
success. So that we can learn of no effort during the terri-
torial period to organize teachers for mutual improvement
and assistance. Wages were low, distances between settle-
ments were great, and no central supervisory agency existed
to lead and permeate such organization.

With the agitation of the question of organization as a
state, which preceded the constitutional convention of 1845,
the leading friends of a liberal public school system began
the discussion of needed features in that system. Public
meetings were held and a sentiment created which decidedly
affected the action of the convention. But this attempt to
organize the state by adopting a constitution failed. The
discussion continued, and in 1848 a constitution was adopted.
In this provision was made for the establishment of
academies and normal schools. In the discussion in rela-
tion to this feature, the idea was persistently insisted upon
that teachers' institutes were inseparably connected with
normal school instruction. In less than a year after the
state organization was perfected by the election of state
officers and members of the legislature, the regents of the
university, which had been provided for in the constitution
adopted in 1848, by an ordinance established a normal de-
partment in that institution. Honorable Eleazer Root, then
state superintendent, in his annual report made at the close
of 1849, in transmitting the ordinance above mentioned to
the legislature for ratification, remarked that such a normal
department, with a system of teachers' institutes, may
answer present needs. In this remark we find crystallized in
official expression the prevailing idea of the leading edu-
cators of that time, of a system of teachers' institutes, having

HISTORY OF TEACHERS' INSTITUTES IN WISCONSIN. 71

organic and vital relation to normal instruction. Here is
the germ of the system since wrought out and put in practice
by the thoughtful and self-sacrificing men and women who
have devoted their lives to the work of public and general edu-
cation in the state. It is important to bear this in mind and
hold in grateful remembrance the sagacious men who con-
ceived and put forth this germinal idea of institute work.
Although not immediately or practically realized, this scheme
was thoroughly embedded in the minds of the friends and
champions of the public school system. Over this ideal they
brooded, until the time came when it was practicable to
realize it in actual and successful experience.

The constitution of the state provided for the supervi-
sion of schools through a " state superintendent and such
other officers as the legislature may direct." By law the
office of town superintendent was created. Each town super-
intendent examined and qualified teachers within his own
jurisdiction. Great diversity in the qualifications of teachers
necessarily prevailed, and the schools, of course, reflected in
exaggerated form the weakness or strength and fitness of
the teachers employed. By the reports of the early superin-
tendents, it is evident that no one fact strongly impressed
them as the need of professional instruction and inspiration,
and they did what they could to meet this need. They
labored assiduously with the legislature to secure the estab-
lishment of normal instruction in some form. They were
ably seconded in their efforts by the faculty of the university,
and by a few leading and able men who had charge of the
public schools in the few cities and principal villages that
were organized. Unsuccessful in their application for aid
to the legislature they " bated not one jot of heart or hope,"
but turned to their own individual exertions, and in their
zeal and public spirit went from point to point, held meet-
ings for mutual help and inspiration, and for the comparison
of methods and discussion of theories.

January 1, 1852, Hon. Azel P. Ladd, the second state
superintendent, assumed official position. Failing to secure
an appropriation from the legislature to defray the expenses,
he organized and held in various localities in the state what
were termed " temporary normal schools." In his report
for 1853, he said: "To mitigate the disadvantages arising
from the engagement of a number of persons so diversified
in qualifications and character, I have adopted the system
of holding temporary normal schools for their instruction

72 HISTORY OF TEACHERS' INSTITUTES IN WISCONSIN.

in the branches of science and the art of teaching. These
schools have been thus far conducted under manifold em-
barrassments, without legal provision for their organization
or means for their support. * * * I am satisfied that
they have been of practical utility, and that great good
would result from their incorporation into one general plan
of public instruction."

Here we have the beginning of normal schools and
teachers' institutes vitally connected, an attempt to realize
and exemplify the ideal of a predecessor.

Superintendent Ladd was succeeded in 3854 by Hon.
H. A. Wright. He lived to discharge the duties of his
office but a little more than a year, and was succeeded by
Hon. A. C. Barry. During his administration, town super-
intendents, to some extent, and the more progressive teachers
began holding teachers' institutes in country places, local-
ities not reached by the temporary normal schools. These
were largely held for a single day, on Saturdays, were en-
tirely voluntary, and devoted to exemplification of methods
of teaching, especially of mental and written arithmetic,
grammar, or parsing, and geography, the latter largely con-
sisting of practice of systems of map drawing. Persons were
secured to lecture, if possible, and discussions of the exercises
presented resulted in much mental quickening, and the dif-
fusion of knowledge of tlie best methods of awakening and
maintaining the interest of pupils. Often a teacher would
take to the place of meeting a class of bright and apt pupils,
— a model class — and exemplify methods. Classes would be
formed of teachers present, and these put through a course
of practice in recitation on the simplest parts of elementary
subjects. The "model" class would frequently excel in
quickness and accuracy, and thus vindicate the method of
their teacher, humiliate for the time being the selected class
of teachers, and provoke to study and emulation. The
teachers of some towns would sometimes send word they
would hold a session of their institute in a neighboring town,
perhaps in a benighted one, where no such efforts for improve-
ment existed. These were often the occasion of considerable
attendance of citizens, and the exhibitions of the model
class, in contrast with the inertness of their own teachers,
would create quite a sensation, and set the town to talking,
and result in improved school sentiment and practices.

This type of institutes continued for many years, and
although not true to the original ideal, except remotely,

HISTORY OF TEACHERS' INSTITUTES IN WISCONSIN. 73

had its place in moulding public sentiment and preparing
for the better way that followed.

During Superintendent Barry's adminstration of three
years he secured the passage of an act authorizing the state
superintendent to hold teachers' institutes, and appro-
priating annually not to exceed one thousand dollars to de-
fray the expense.

Hon. Lyman C. Draper succeeded Superintendent
Barry, and the institute work was systematized to the
extent which the limited means warranted. The prominent
teachers of the state engaged in the work with intelligence
and ability. Lectures on educational topics, discussion of
theories, organization and management, were characteristic
of the exercises. J. G. McMynn, Racine ; J. G. McKindley,
Kenosha ; Dr. J. H. Magoffin and A. A. Griffith, Waukesha ;
J. L. Pickard, Platteville; W. C. Dustin, Beloit; H. W. Col-
lins, Janesville ; A. C. Spicer, Milton ; W. Van Ness, Fond
du Lac ; W. P. Bartlett, Watertown ; J. E. Munger, Waupun;
A. Pickett, Oshkosh ; D. Y. Kilgore, Madison, are the names
of gentlemen who did valiant service in these pioneer in-
stitutes, and wrought a work of untold value in creating
and maintaining worthy and high standards in the art of
teaching and the qualifications of teachers for their high
calling.

In January, 1860, Hon. J. L. Pickard succeeded to the
superjntendeucy. During the preceding year the interest
in teachers' institutes was largely increased through the
labors of Dr. Henry Barnard, of Connecticut, an educator of
national reputation, who was acting as chancellor of the
university, and agent of the board of regents of normal
schools in conducting teachers' institutes. This board was
created in 1857, and provision was made for a fund to be
used " for the encouragement of academies and normal
schools." This fund was to be distributed among the col-
leges, academies and normal schools of the state which or-
ganized, maintained and instructed classes for normal
training. A part of this fund was used in maintaining
teachers' institutes. It is not clear by what interpretation
this was deemed authorized, but Dr. Barnard was appointed
agent of the board to examine the classes of institutions
making application to share in the fund, and distribute the
money pro rata according to the number successfully
passing the examination. He was also to conduct teachers'
institutes in various parts of the state. He organized a nota-

74 HISTORY OF TEACHERS' INSTITUTES IN WISCONSIN.

ble corps of conductors for a series of fourteen institutes at
prominent points in as many different counties, besides
short sessions of two days or more in rive other counties.
At most of these Dr. Bartiard's presence and addresses were
strong attractions, and the membership numbered over
fourteen hundred in the aggregate.

Among his co-workers were Prof. John Ogden, of Ohio;
Fordyce H. Allen and Charles H. Allen, of Pennsylvania ;
C. E. Hovey, of Illinois ; Francis T. Russell and William S.
Baker, of Connecticut ; John G. McMynn, A. J. Craig and
others, of Wisconsin.

During the years of Mr. Pickard's incumbency, who
was twice re-elected, the same general system of institute
work was pursued. Distinguished teachers of our own and
other states were employed as conductors, and the general
purpose was to inspire a professional spirit, incite teachers
to make better preparations, and arouse public sentiment to
demand better schools.

During this administration the town superintendent sys-
tem was abolished, for which the county system was sub-
stituted, and by law each county superintendent was re-
quired to hold at least one institute each year for the instruc-
tion of teachers. Until 1867 these institutes were held by
the county superintendents independently, each arranging
his own scheme, and depending upon the leading teachers of
his own district for assistance. Naturally they partook
largely in character of their predecessors under the town-
ship system, although attendance was largely increased,
being county and not township affairs. Little progress was
made, however, in institute work toward the ideal from 1860
to 1866. The coining on of the war interfered. Prof.
Charles H. Allen succeeded Dr. Barnard as agent of the
board of regents, and he was succeeded by J. G. McMynii.
These gentlemen both enlisted in the service of the country,
and the county superintendents were inexperienced, and
often were persons who had never been identified with
schools or school work.

In September, 1864, Col. John G. McMynn became state
superintendent, upon the resignation of Hon. J. L. Pickard
to take the superintendency of Chicago city schools. He had
been closely allied with all educational thought and move-
ment in the state from the organization, and he immediately
began a vigorous effort to secure the separate organization of
state normal schools. This was accomplished in 1866. The

HISTORY OF TEACHERS' INSTITUTES IN WISCONSIN. 75

law then enacted provided for the separate establishment of
normal schools not only, but enlarged the powers and means
of the board for the purpose of holding teachers' institutes.
In 1867 the board adopted a plan of co-operation with
county superintendents in holding institutes, by offering to
pay necessary expenses of institutes, under certain super-
visory regulations, which was cordially and generally coin-
cided in by the county superintendents.

In the fall of 1868, Captain Robert Graham was appointed
agent of the board to organize, systematize and supervise
teachers' institutes in the state. He entered vigorously upon
that work, which he continued in that and other capacities
until he was elected state superintendent in the fall of 1881.
No other man in the state has rendered more efficient ser-
vice, or left a deeper or more beneficient impression upon
the teaching force of the state than Mr. Graham. His close
observation, keen analysis, untiring energy, and genius in
suggestiveness were unreservedly given to the institute work,
and state superintendents and committees of the board of
regents availed themselves without reservation of his valu-
able services and co-operation.

In 1871 the legislature authorized still further expan-
sion of the institute work by making provisions for normal
institutes, to be held in such localities as were least bene-
fited by existing normal schools, three of which had at this
time been established and opened to the public. The board
of regents of normal schools was authorized to use five thou-
sand dollars annually for institute purposes from the normal
school income, and two thousand dollars annually was ap-
propriated from the general fund for the same purpose.

The time had now come to put into practical operation
the system of institutes contemplated, as we have have seen,
from the beginning. These normal institutes were to be
held for a period not less than four weeks. Colonel Samuel
Fallows had succeeded to the state superintendency. The
entire management and control of institutes was by law and
by act of the board of regents committed to the state super-
intendent and a committee of the board, acting conjointly.
They immediately took measures to organize the work.
Co-operation of county and city superintendents was con-
tinued. These arranged the time and places for holding
the institutes in their respective localities, made all neces-
sary incidental arrangements for their accommodation and

76 HISTORY OF TEACHERS' INSTITUTES IN WISCONSIN.

that of teachers, and made application in writing to the state
superintendent for conductors. The committee designated
and paid salaries and expenses of all conductors and lectur-
ers. Enrollment blanks and registers were furnished upon
which to collect statistics of name, age, daily attendance,
attendance previously at institutes, experience in teaching by
months, highest grade of school attended and highest grade
of certificate held.

The committee divided the state into districts, cor-
responding to the number of normal schools existing, and
designated one of the faculty in each school as an institute
conductor, who was to have general charge of the institute
work in the district in which he resided. This was never
made arbitrary in practice, but each conducts institutes in
other districts, in conformity to requests of superintendents,
or convenience as related to time and place. These con-
ductors are subject to the call of the committee for institute
work, both in term time and during vacations of normal
schools. In the spring, institutes are held during vacations
of country and village schools, during March and April, and
in summer and autumn, in August, September and October.
This arrangement was ratified by the board of regents, and
the work was prosecuted with vigor. The normal institutes
were held in August and September, and sometimes extended
to six weeks in duration. The principals of the graded
schools co-operated most cordially, and many of them were
employed as assistant conductors, at nominal salaries and
payment of expenses. Two conductors were usually assigned
to an institute continuing more than one week, who alter-
nated in charge of the institute, all attending at the same
time to the same exercise. Latterly some effort has been
made to separate large institutions into sections, with simul-
taneous exercises in different rooms, where practicable. A
number of female teachers of prominence and skill have been
employed and have given great satisfaction.

It very soon became apparent that still greater unity
and effectiveness in institute work was desirable, especially
as the largely increased demand for conductors made it nec-
essary to employ many men who had no experience in direct-
ing institutes. At the suggestion of Prof. Robert Graham,
a convention of institute conductors was called and held at
Sparta in July, 1873. All who desired to engage in institute
work were invited to attend, and the committee paid one-
half of the expenses of attendants. This was an exceedingly

HISTORY OF TEACHERS' INSTITUTES IN WISCONSIN. 77

valuable meeting. Under the leadership of Prof. Graham
classes were formed, and methods and matter of institute
.work were exemplified. Discussion followed and criticism
was keen and unsparing. The purposes of the institute
were clearly and strongly emphasized, and the fitness or uii-
fitness of applicants for this especial line of work was mani-
fest to themselves. As a result of this meeting it was decided
that the committee should annually prepare and publish for
the guidance of conductors and attendants a syllabus of the
work to be done during the year, which included the sub-
jects to be considered, the scope or topics to receive attention,
and suggestions as to method of treatment. This proved a
very helpful arrangement, furnished a definite plan of work,
and became the basis of assignment of preparatory study
daily for members of the institutes.

This meeting of conductors became annual, usually held
at the same place arid immediately preceded or followed the
annual meeting of the Wisconsin teachers' association, largely
attended by other than conductors, and considered one of the
most inspiring and suggestive of our educational gatherings.
With modifications the meetings and syllabus have continued
to the present time.

The first arrangement of institute districts and conduc-
tors was as follows: Platteville school district, Duncan
McGregor ; Whitewater, Albert Salisbury ; Oshkosh, Robert
Graham. Two others have since been arranged upon open-
ing of schools, as follows : River Falls, Jesse B. Thayer ;
Milwaukee, Silas Y. Gillan. It is certainly within the
bounds of truth and propriety to assert that if any state ever
had a quintette of more facile, tactful, able and conscien-
tious institute conductors to inaugurate and carry on for
many years a work of great importance ajid vital necessity,
that state has been exceedingly fortunate and unusually
favored.

Recent changes, with one exception, by promotion to
the state superintendency or to the presidency of normal
schools, have entirely changed this original corps of princi-
pal conductors. At present thev are as follows : Platteville,
A. J. Button; Whitewater, T/B. Pray; Oshkosh, W. C.
Hewitt ; River Falls, W. J. Brier ; Milwaukee, C. H. Chap-
man.

This is the system of teachers' institutes in vogue in
Wisconsin. We have traced its evolution along the line of
relationship to normal and professional work, from its in-

78 HISTORY OF TEACHERS' INSTITUTES IN WISCONSIN.

ception to its culmination in close and vital organic relation
with separate and distinct normal schools and their work.
The policy controlling this feature of school work has been
continuous and uninterrupted. State superintendents have
changed frequently, but for twenty years no change has
occurred in the head of the committee on institutes of the
board of regents. Thus the experience, the traditions and
the plans in detail have been preserved, constantly available
and continuously utilized, for progress and efficiency. With-
out exception, the relation between the committee of the
board of regents and the state superintendents has been har-
monious in the highest degree. No political or personal
bias has in the least degree disturbed united effort for the
good of the public.

The Wisconsin teachers' association has taken an active
interest in institute work at all times, and by its wise and
timely discussions and criticisms contributed much to pro-
mote growth and proper development.

It remains briefly to sum up the results of these many
years of effort along the lines indicated at the beginning of
this paper.

I. During the year ending July 1, 1892, eighty-five in-
stitutes were held in sixty different counties — sixty-two in the
summer and fall of 1891, and twenty-three in the spring of 1892.
These were in session an aggregate of three hundred and fifty-
eight days. In ten counties only no institutes were held.
Five thousand one hundred and seventy-nine attendants were
enrolled and the expense of the same was $7,569.22. This
is about an average of recent years. While academic in-
struction is not directly a feature, yet incidentally it will
at once be seen that in exemplification of matter and methods
of treatment, a vast number of indifferently qualified teach-
ers have received most timely and excellent instruction by
the best teachers in the state. This will be more apparent by a
statement to be made later. The statistics gathered at the
beginning of this work showed that a large proportion of
attendants had only the advantages of common schools and
often very poor schools.

II. The effort at instruction in and exemplification of
principles underlying correct teaching, has revolutionized the
practices of teachers in class work, in organization, and in
management. No one familiar with the earlier practices in
Wisconsin schools will dispute this statement, or deny that
the efficiency of many of them has been quadrupled by this

HISTORY OF TEACHERS' INSTITUTES IN WISCONSIN. 79

means. Even the earlier and crudely managed institutes
contributed largely to this end by simply revealing the prac-
tices of the best teachers ; and the latter institutes have largely
reinforced the value of the better methods by inculcation of
principles upon which they are based, and leading to an in-
telligent apprehension and appreciation of their value and
necessity.

III. In nothing has the value of the institute work been
more apparent than the spirit of emulation which has been
awakened, and the effort of all grades of teachers to use all
possible means of improvement, scholastic and professional.
The institute has thus become a feeder for normal and high
schools, a stimulus to private study, reflection and experiment.

Mention has been made of the adaptation of institutes for
current need. Perhaps a word in the way of illustration will
make this clear. When the law inaugurating the county
superintendency was enacted, requiring written exji mi-
nations of teachers, and establishing certificates of three
different grades, the relations of teachers was greatly changed.
Through the institutes these matters were discussed, proper
tests for examinations were considered, and thus teachers
were prepared for the change, and county superintendents
themselves were greatly assisted. When the law required
teachers to be examined in the constitution of the state and of
the United States, and later in physiology and hygiene,
either of which had been in the curriculum of but very
few schools, teachers were guided into the proper way of
studying these branches and fitting themselves for the new
demands of the state. Still later, when a general and
strong movement was made to improve and systematize
instruction in ungraded schools by the introduction of a
course of study, the institutes took up that work, and by
exposition and illustration greatly aided teachers in compre-
hending the course and the methods of its administration.

Other instances of adaptation to current needs might
be mentioned, but enough have been cited to show what is
meant by the phrase and by this popular feature of institute
work.

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RECEIVED

JAN 12 '81 -BAM

. '• </ <_ J

JAN l3'82.4pM
tiU/PSYCH LIB.

Education

Libra ri-

LB

1980
S16h
1895

UCLA-ED/PSYCH Library

LB 1980 S16h 1893

L 005 632 575 6

UC SOUTHERN .REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY

A 001 003 833 9