Chicago State University - Emblem Yearbook (Chicago, IL)

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le Perry Coc IN MEMORIAM Jane Perry Cook was a woman ot strong character, of high ideals of achievement and service, of great industry and accomplishment. She considered with care what of respect and consideration was due others and was punctilious in the observance of her own stand- ards. But she was not weak or yielding. Rather timid and nervous by temperament, she forced herself by her clear mind and strong will to meet every social and professional demand. Because she was uncompromising with herself, she seemed at times to be hard and unsympathetic toward those who failed to meet her rec|uirements. But this attitude was entirely impersonal and promptly gave way to one of help and encouragement when a disposition to work was manifested. She found great pleasure in searching out deserv- ing and ambitious pupils and giving them of her resources of mind, information and purse. She lived a strong, gentle, refined, and profitable life. Jane Perry Cook was a leader among the men and women who have devoted their lives to the service of the Chicago Public Schools. Her fellow-teachers, her students, her many friends cherish the memory of her personality, her work, her life.

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History of the Chicago Normal College ' I ' odav high school graduates come tVoni all parts of the city to enter the Chicago S ' ormal College and after two years of training they go out into Cook County to teach its future citizens. Do thev ever consider how the splendid insti- tution that furnishes them such valuable experiences came into existence? If they do, they realize that such a product is not the result of a week, a month, nor a year ' s growth. Its excellent faculty came to- gether from many quarters by careful selection. Its splendid buildings were not the magic realization of one architect ' s inspiration. Its course of study embodies the ideas of more than one fertile brain. It has a history of its own. Before the Civil War was fought, the Central High School stood in Englewood. In 1856 it opened a special department for the training of teachers. In 1859 a period of practice work was added to the course. In 1870 special examinations were given for entrance, but five years later these were discontinued and entrance extended to all high school graduates. As a result of this liberal policy there was a large surplus of teachers in a few years. At this stage the normal school discontinued its special training classes for the next fifteen years. During this period all candidates, who passed the teachers ' examinations and successfully completed their cadet work, were allowed to teach. Edward C. Delano acted as principal until 1877. In 1893 it was decided to give teachers more pro- fessional instruction than their cadet wf)rk, so the city Normal School was reopened. In 1868 the Cook County Normal School had come into existence in Blue Island with Dr. D. S. Wentworth as prin- cipal. In 1869 it was transferred to Engle- wood. In 1880 Colonel Francis W. Parker became its second principal. Until 1883 the practice department consisted of three grades— primary, intermediate and prepar- atory. Under the management of Colonel Parker, the entire eight grades were built up and opened to practice students. Pre- vious to 1 890, the training for teachers con- sisted of a three year high school course, followed by one year of cadet practice. In 1 890 the course was enlarged and improved and the high school term abolished. Prac- tice teaching under critic supervisors orig- inated about this time. .Appreciating the great possibilities of the Kindergarten, Colonel Parker gave it a place in the cur- riculum of the normal school and greatly increased its importance in the elementary school. A manual training department was also opened by him. Under his influence, strict adherence to the text-book was made a thing of the past. Field excursions were introduced in nature study and ge- ography courses. These and many more effective changes took place under his supervision. A keen thinker, with ideas gained from close contact with children, many of his beliefs were directly opposed to the educational practices of his day. He was a very able speaker and soon pro- mulgated his theories among the etiucators of his time, who either warmly supported or strongly opposed him. Few realize how much elementary education owes to his influence. In i8g6, Englewood was taken into Chicago and the Board of Education voted to accept the Cook County Normal School. Thus in that year, the Chicago Normal School came into existence with Colonel Parker as its first principal. But at that time none of the buildings which now represent this institution had been built. In 1899 the present practice school opened for work, but it was not completed until three years later. When the last wing ot the Normal Practice School was finished, the faculty of the college came over to reside in the new building until the plans for the present college building were car- ried out. In September, igo ;, the college building opened for classes. Two years