Illinois State Normal University - Index Yearbook (Normal, IL)

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His life is a great legacy. I ) A roster of sixteen members comprised the first Faculty Club organized by Cliarh School. President Hewett is seated third from the left in this formal grouping. DeGanno, assistant in the Training Journalism enthusiasts launched the first student newspaper. The Vidette, in February, 1888. Published montl ily until 1907, the magazine-like issue featured poetry, essays, and editorials. Senior class members were responsible for the undertaking. 17

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IMP - rtm « Edwin C. Hevvett, President of ISNU 1876- 1890, was a gradnate of the Bridgewater, Massachusetts, Normal schooL New England born, the one-time geography instructor was an ordained Baptist minister and widely-known Bibhcal scholar. Edwin C. Hewett — A second Bridgewater Normal School graduate was named to the ISNU presidenc ' upon the resignation of Richard Edwards. Edwin Crawford Hewett, president from January, 1876, until 1890, had been associated with ISNU for eighteen years. His original capacity was that of in- structor of geography and history. Like his two prede- cessors, the 48-year-old Puritan gentleman was a native New Englander. His slight build, framing only 120 pounds, presented little indication of a vibrant, dynamic personality. The site of Worcester County, Massachu- setts, and the date of November 1, 1828, supply the vital birth statistics. Abandoning an estabHshed shoemaker ap- prenticeship at the age of thirteen, the aspiring teacher worked his way through the elementary and academ - schools. Theological practices illuminated President Hewett ' s background. He was recognized as a Biblical authority, taught Sunday School, and was an ordained Baptist minister. It was at the Bridgewater college in the year 1851 that President Hewett first made the acquaintance of Richard Edwards, then assistant to the principal. Presi- dent Hewett ' s teaching experiences at Bridgewater and Worcester, Massachusetts, preceded acceptance of the ISNU assignment. Gridnicn from an 1888 Redbird to standing room only crowds squad prepare to score. Bareheaded players utilized an improvised field in mic In the 1900 ' s, atliletics began to play a prominent role in school life. ipus and played 16

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Strict adherence to tlie principles of accuracy and thoroughness dom- inated Dr. Hewett ' s thinking. He maintained that preciseness is the mark of a scholar and that ability in all common school branches is tile prime requisite for successful teaching. Unlike presidents past and those yet to come, Dr. Hewett made no attempt to change the e.xisting cur- riculum. Instead, he concentrated on faculty improvement, setting as his prime goal the keeping of ISNU in the public interest. Concern over the disputed ques- tion of purposeful teacher colleges arose in 1884. The stand that a normal school is one that has a sole purpose of teacher preparation rather than of emphasis on a set cour upheld. .Although a three-year teaching certificate was avail- able, most students found it necessarv to extend their preparation to four ears in order to accommodate language and science requirements. Students desir- ing to teach secondary courses were required to study Latin, Greek, German, French, and mathematics. Only a small percentage of the entering ISNU stu- dents were high school graduates, but the - did possess Saint Thoma.s Metcalf, principal cit the Training School, devoted thiit - two vears of his life to the service of ISNU. of stud - was teaching experience and the al ility to pass rigid entrance examinations. Unix ' ersity officials disregarded the students ' preparation for college study. No credits from other insti- tutions were transferable, on the assumption that ISNU coidd not recommend graduates on the basis of other schools ' standards. Requirements for education courses were increased from that of a single 15-week metaphysics course to five semesters of work including observations, a lecture series in theory and practice, psy- chology, and histor ' and philos- oph - of education. In 1884, the first advanced course in pedagogy was inaugurated for graduate stu- dents and select undergraduates, with certificates awarded as evidence of work com- pleted. Extra-ciuricvdar acti ' it ' centered around literary and debate societies, with the Philadelphians and Wrightonians dominating the orbit of interest. Ex- clusion of women members from the men only Ci- ceronian Oratory Society residted in the formation of the Lad) Sapphonians. Recognition for establishing the first student Young Men ' s Christian Association in Illinois was afforded Ange Vernon Milner, head librarian at ISNU for thirty-se en years, hegan her work in 1890. Old Main ' s first- floor reception room was converted into ISNU ' s original lihrar ' ; it was later relocated in North Hall before the erection of the Milner building in 1940. ib