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

Page 27 text:

ISS AYICRETT began her work witl1 us last October, having' spent the first Iiltblllll of t11e school year in finisliing' the season's field work with Professor Salisbu1'y's party i11 Utah. While this field work deprived ns of Miss Aver ett's work in the class roon1 during' September, t11e loss has been more lllllll made up to us i11 tl1e use of first-liand material w11icl1 Slit' has llllltlt' of so much value to her pupils. Indeed, the feeling' that we study our earth at first hand. and that it is a living' and a changing' earth. are foundation tlioughts i11 our geograpliy work. For searching' out the best lllltl latest autliorities, i11 looking' 11111111111 piihlications. we have a patient guide i11 Miss Averett, who Uflfill shows us that Illllfll that is of great value is available lllltl often Very inexpensive. lVhile it is true that the reward To l1in1 who i11 the love of nature holds coin' lllllllltlll with l1er visible forms,- is certain, yet to all nature does lltil. speak her various language nor to any of her best u111essl1e work. lVe feel that. while the love ol' nature a11d the ability to interpret her language are both gifts of Miss Averett's, l1t'I' prepara- tio11 has been niost thorough as well. as the following' will show: Miss Averett's ele111e11tary education was obtained at Roanoke Female t'olleg'e i11 her 11ative town of Danville, Va. Her work received the carelul supervision of her father. wl1o was principal of the college, and the same wise care was continued i11 her preparatory work at Judson Institute, Marion. Ala., where her father was president. Her college work was lQllliCl1 at Chicago University, where she received tl1e degree of Pl1.B. Her special work i11 geograpliy was with Professor R. D. Salisbury. wl1icl1 included summer field work. Her work i11 pedagogy was with Dr. .liohn Dewey. and the teaching' of science in the Univiversity elementary school added to the value of Dr. Dewev's instruction. In tl1e Michigan State Normal College at Ypsilanti Miss Averett had charge of the geograpliy classes. and from there she came to us. a11d we hope s11e will be with us long. helping us to help ourselves. '71 -,W C112 'IIIIGQX

Page 26 text:

Ghz 'IIIIGQX R. GEORGE H. HOWE was born at Orwell, Bradford county. Pennsylvania, and is of English descent. His early education was obtained in the public schools of Orwell and he also attended the Susquhana Collegiate Institute. a high-grade preparatory school at Towanda, Pa. Later he took a classical course in the Oswego State Normal and Training School at Oswego, N. Y., in which course he was graduated. Mr. Howe is also a graduate of the Illinois Wesleyan University, Ph. B., and has taken a post-graduate course with the degree of Ph. D. He has taken special work at Cornell University. Ithaca, N. Y.. and at the University of Chicago, and also at the Chautauqua College. He entered upon the work of teaching in the public schools of Bradford county, Pennsylvania. and Bergen county, New Jersey. A successful experience in these schools led him to prepare for the profession of teaching. His first position after this was at Tallodega College, northern Alabama. where he had charge of all the school work in the normal and college preparatory departments. He was also teacher of mathematics in this institution for tive years. Mr. Howe was then elected professor of mathematics in the Missouri State Normal School at Warrensburg, Mo. This position he held for twelve years, when he was chosen president of the same school. Two years later, after a wide search for a sufficiently eiiicient instructor in mathematics. the Illinois State Normal University offered him a place at the head of the mathematical department. Mr. Howe accepted this position, which he fills admirably, on account of his thorough familiarity with the subject matter, vividness of explanation and illustration. deiiniteness. and sympathy with the students. The intellectual atmosphere of his class-room is indeed bracing. There are few drones. The students are commended for good work done, and. consequently, every one delights in preparing work well for such an instructor. Mr. Howe is highly appreciated by the students and faculty of the school. 'JW

Page 28 text:

Che 'IIIIGQX R F. W. WESTHOFF was born of German parents, in the year 1863, on a farm in St. Charles county, Missouri. At the age of eight years he began the study of vocal music under the instruction of an uncle, who, before coming to this country, was a professional musician in Germany. Mr. VVesthoff began the study of the piano and the organ at the age of fourteen. Instruction on both instru- ments was given him by private teachers. A little later he took up the study of orches- tral instruments, devoting most of his time to the cornet and clarionet. In the meantime he attended several different summer schools, and thus acquired a knowledge of harmony and composition. At the age of sixteen he took charge of his tirst chorus choir. Since that time he has been the leader of church choirs more or less constantly. His professional life as a teacher of music began in the year 1984. when he began teaching the piano and the organ in Decatur, Ill. He continued giving instruction in this line until the year 1892, when he was asked to take charge of the vocal music in the Decatur public schools. He held this position until ltllll, when he resigned to accept a position in the Illinois State Normal University. Mr. NVesthoif has been here for almost a year. and it can be heartily said that he is a success in his new tield of labor. No one who has been under his efficient direction for three terms can help but recognize that he has great power as a leader. The response he gets from the student body is very complimentary to say the least. Not only does he get good results in the simple compositions, but also in the high class and difficult ones. Any one who has heard the school sing that inspiring anthem. The Lord is Great. from Mendelssohns Athalie, or Damascus, Costas 'tNaaman can more fully appreciate these words Truly the man who can teach a body of untrained singers to sing this difficult music with the power that has been acquired is not commonplace as a director. Mr. Westhoff, we give you the hearty salutation of section A. May you give to those who are to follow us the same potent inspiration that we have received at your hands. 24