SUNY Plattsburgh - Cardinal Yearbook (Plattsburgh, NY)

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12). $. J®. . 13 ihe work in from two to two and a half years. During that year a reorganization took place and the transition from the four-year course to the two-year course went into effect, requiring high school graduation for all who entered. As a result of this the yearly enrollment decreased somewhat. In 1910 there was added a two-year course for the training of commercial teachers. Since that year therefore the school has offered two courses — the General course, pre- paring teachers for elementary schools, and the Commercial course, which fits teachers for all commercial work in high schools. Since 1890 the faculty has more than doubled in number. The attendance at present taxes the capacity of the study hall. The character and ability of the graduates are of a high order. The courses of study are at once broad and thorough. The achievements of Plattsburg State Normal School during its history have more than justified its existence. It is the hope of all who are interested in the common welfare that the coming years may bring to it new laurels, and that it may serve as a monument to those whose efforts made it possible.

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12 Cbe Cardinal gtetorp of $latt fmrg tate formal ikfjool As this year marks the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Plattsburg State Normal School, it seems an appropriate time to recall a few facts in its history. The bill providing for the establishment of this Normal School was introduced in the Legislature of I 889 and became a law June 1 5 of that year. The original appro- priation was $60,000, but an additional appropriation was made to cover the expendi- ture for heating and furnishing, and for grading the grounds. The building was erected during 1889-90, and was enlarged by the addition of a wing 66 x 104 feet during 1 895-96, making a building three stories high ; two hundred feet east and west by one hundred and sixty feet north and south. The campus, covering about fifteen acres, was laid out by a landscape gardner, and the artificial lake, shrubbery, trees, winding paths, gtc, make it one of the most beautiful parks in northern New York. The building was formally opened on September 2, 1890, a reception being given by the citizens of Plattsburg to the faculty of the Normal School and the teachers in the village schools. The first faculty consisted of twelve members. Dr. Fox Holden acted as principal of the school from 1890 to 1892. He was succeeded by Dr. E. N. Jones, who held the office until 1898, when Dr. George K. Hawkins, the present principal, became the head of the institution. It is interesting to note that three members of the original faculty have been connected with the school during its entire history — -Dr. G. K. Hawkins, Prof. George H. Hudson, and Miss Alice O ' Brien. When the sch ool was opened, four courses of study were open to those who wished to avail themselves of the opportunity — an Elementary English course of two years, an Advanced English course of two years, a Classical course of four years, and a Scien- tific course of four years. The Elementary English Course was abolished in 1 892, but the other courses were continued for some years. In 1896 the Kindergarten course was introduced, and was continued until 1912. In 1901 physical training became a part of the curriculum. By that year the faculty had increased to eighteen. In September, 1 894, a Manual Training Department was added. The Normal had been gradually working toward the grade system — that is, placing one critic in charge of each grade instead of having one critic in charge of several, which system was put into effect practically in .1904. In consequence there was a readjustment and addition of critics in the grades. Up to 1 905 any student who could pass an eighth grade examination was allowed to enter the Normal School for a four years ' course, high school graduates completing

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14 Cfte Cardinal Cfje Course for Commercial eacfjerg W. G. Thompson. In my judgment rve have no right to lal(e a man ' s child from him until he is fifteen, or to induce a man to trust his child ivith us until he is fifteen, and then hand him baclf, unable and unfit to earn his bread. — Wendell Phillips. The supreme thing after all is that men should be inducted into, not trained out of, the economic era in whic h lhe ) are called upon to live. The steady increase in the number of commercial schools and commercial depart- ments of high schools and academies together with the general enlargement of their courses of study has created a demand for trained teachers of commercial subjects that greatly exceeds the supply. The State recognized this demand when it established in the Plattsburg Normal School in 1910 a special course for the instruction and training of commercial teachers. The course possesses, in its own particular field, the same professional and pedagogical qualities that usually characterize courses for general teachers. It is based upon the conviction that commercial teachers should acquire a preparation as comprehensive anc? thorough as that required for any other secondary teaching. It lays due and balanced stress upon the fundamental considerations of (a) general knowledge, (b) professional knowledge, (c) special or technical knowledge, and (d) skill in teaching. Four classes have been graduated from this course, as follows: 1912 . . • • 7 members 1913 . . . . . 19 members 1914 . • • • 26 members 1915. . . . . 39 members Total .... 91