Bridgewater State University - Alpha Yearbook (Bridgewater, MA)

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THE SCHOOL 'Dedication of the State Normal School at Bridgewater On October 23, 1926, there gathered in the Horace Mann Auditorium, an impressive assembly of many of the foremost educators in New England. A great number of them were Bridgewater Normal Alumni, who, rejoicing in the erection of the beautiful new buildings of their Alma Mater, came to attend the dedicatory exercises. Dr. Payson Smith, State Commissioner of Education, was the presiding officer. After an invocation by the Reverend Egbert C. Prime, of Bridgewater, musical numbers were rendered by a trio, composed of violin, cello, and piano. The first address was given by His Excellency, Alvan T. Fuller, Governor of the State of Massachusetts, who spoke in part, as follows: We honor Bridgewater for vastly more than the length of her service and the number of her graduates. We hold Bridgewater in the highest esteem for the sterling principles which she has championed from the beginning, and I refer particularly to the principle that any education worthy of the name must minister to spirit as well as to intellect. In the second report of the Board of Education signed by Edward Everett, I find the following significant statement: 'The principles of Christian ethics and piety common to the different sects of Christians will be carefully inculcated, and a portion of Scripture will be daily read in all the normal schools established by the Board'. Education and character training were to go hand in hand in order to achieve the noblest results. . From the time of her foundation to the present day Bridgewater has been favored with the highest type of leadership, and one that has given continuity to these early conceptions of education. The first principal, Colonel Nicholas Tillinghast, was characterized as a man of strong religious feeling, pure character, and unfiinching devotion to principle, and I find Mr. Albert G. Boyden, the honored leader of this institution during more than half of her entire history, expressing his educational philosophy in the following language: 'The nor- mal school stands for certain definite ideals-first, for the inspiration of its students with the spirit of the true teacher who has the spirit of service and comes to his pupils as the Great Teacher comes to men, 'that they may have life and have it more abundantly'. Next, the schoolGlee Club, under the direction of Miss Frieda Rand, sang two selections. In the absence of Dr. William G. Vinal, president of the Bridgewater Normal School Alumni Association, Mrs. Cora M. Barry, vice-president of the association, extended a few words of greeting. Greetings from the town of Bridgewater were given by Clifton C. Putney, Superinten- dent of Schools. Mr. Frank W. Wright, Director of the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education and Normal Schools, then addressed the audience. In part, he said: We see in these splendid buildings renewed evidence that Massachusetts places the preparation of her teachers among her primary duties. She is here rededicating herself to the task of carrying forward, through the decades of the future, the important work begun by our far-visioned leaders of more than four-score years ago. On the simple stone that marks the grave of Horace Mann in the Old North Burying Ground in Providence is this meaningful inscription, 'Whatever is excellent, as God lives, T. ...g 9 T...

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I927 NORMAL OFFERING BRIDGEWATER TRAINING SCHOOL . MARTHA M. BURNELL, Principal. CHARLOTTE H. THOMPSON, Grade III. GRACE E. SMITH, Grade I. LOUISE H. BORCHERS, Grade I V. FLORA M. STUART, Grade I. HELEN E. SLEEPER, Grade I V. GLADYS L. ALLEN, Grade II. JANE BENNETT, Grade V. GERTRUDE M. ROGERS, Grade II. CATHERINE R. CONWAY, Grade V. LUCY B. BRALEY, Grade III. NEVA I. LOCKXVOOD, B. S., Grades V, VI. NELLIE M. BENNETT, Grade VI. THE FACULTY-Continued BRENELLE HUNT, Educational Psychology and School Administration. JOHN J. KELLY, Dean of M'en, Practical Arts. OLIVE H. LOVETT, A. B., English Composition. ADELAIDE MOFFITT, Reading, Draniatics. ICORA A. NEWTON, ldethods of Teaching, Supervisor of Practice Teaching. PRISCILLA M. NYE, Drawing. MARY A. PREVOST, Supervisor of Drafwing and Handivork. FRIEDA RAND, A. B., Rdusic, Supervisor of Hdusic in Training School. ANNA E. ROTH, Ph. B., History. HARLAN PAGE SHAW, Illineralogy, Physiography, Chemistry. CHARLES PETER SINNOTT, B. S., Geography. LOUIS C. STEARNS, Gardening, Civic Biology. ANNE M. WELLS, Supervisor of Kindergarten-Priniary DBfGfl7718IIl. I'Present first two terms. ...x 3 L... 1 I'

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I927 NORMAL OFFERING- is permanent.' The work of the skilled teacher is excellent. Look about you during every hour of every day if you would see the permanent values of good teaching. A line from Chaucer adorns one of the ancient buildings at Oxford. It reads, 'Gladly does he learn and gladly teach.' No more fitting inscription could grace the portal of this school, and no more compelling ideal guide its work. Generously has the Commonwealth here provided an institution worthy of its task. Gladly, let us hope and believe, will thou- sa-nds leave this campus to return to the State an hundred fold the benefits here received. I-IORACE MANN AUDITORI UM Following more music, came the dedicatory address by Principal Arthur C. Boyden, of the State Normal School at Bridgewater. We regret that because of the unavoidable lack of space we cannot print the whole of this most interesting and enlightening address. First Mr. Boyden paid tribute to Mr. Samuel P. Gates, a graduate of the school, through whose generosity the present advantageous site of the building was made possible. Then in words of sincere admiration, Mr. Boyden spoke of Horace Mann, the great educator, after which he spoke as follows: There are four objectives in the Normal school ideal: CID A professional centre. The new conception gaining force in education emphasizes the fact that the 'child is the centre of gravity in education', and not the subject matter of instruction. This means that the amplest facilities for the observation of children, for demonstration purposes, and for training in teaching, both intensive and extensive, are the vitals of a Normal school. This means that both the cultural and the technical instruction ...Q 10 5...