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

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I8 Indax The trustees of the Northern Illinois State Normal School desiring to open their school with the highest possible prestige, induced President Cook to take charge of the school at DeKalb. Upon his resignation, in 1899, Arnold Tompkins, of the chair of education of the Univer- sity of Illinois was called to the presidency of this institution. He had been a student and teacher in the Indiana State Normal School, at Terre Haute, and had later won distinction as an educational writer and lecturer of rare power. After a single year of service he accepted the principalship of the Chicago Normal School. The most signifi- cant event of his adminstration was a thoro-going revision of the course of study, adapting it to the varying needs of different grades of students, and providing various elective courses for the training of special teachers. In the reorganization of the training department the instructor in the method of the recitation was made the supervisor of practice and eight critic teachers were provided for the eight grades of the model school. In IQOO David Felmley, for ten years teacher of mathematics, became president. The subsequent development of the school has been largely along lines planned by President Tompkins. The more generous appropriations of the legislature have made it possible. A kindergarten has been established to supplement the primary work. Additional teachers of geography and natural science have been em- ployed. Special teachers of vocal music, physical training, and manual training have been added to the faculty. A school garden has been laid out and the grounds placed in charge of a competent landscape gardener. The buildings have been improved and beautified, and the equipment of every department has been enlarged. After the abolition of the high school, in 1895, the attendance in the lower grades of the model school steadily declined, and became too small for the needs of the training department. After a long prelim- inary discussion in April, IQOI, an agreement was made with the lo- cal school board providing for a union of the model school with the local school system, somewhat similar to that existing prior to 1868. The arrangement has proved, on the whole, satisfactory to the local school board and to the normal school authorities, but has not yet won the approval of some citizens of Normal. SUMMER SESSIONS. At various times in the history of the school an attempt has been made to provide instruction for teachers unable to attend during the regular terms. Summer institutes from two to three weeks in length were held in the sixties, in 1895, 1896, and 1898. For a few years about 1885 the school year began early in August to afford a month's instruc- tion during the summer vacation. With the enactment of a law in 1872 requiring all teachers to be examined in the elements of the natural sciences came a strong demand for special summer courses in these branches. In 1875 a summer' school was provided with the eminent naturalist, Burt G. VVilder, of Cornell, as chief lecturer. The attendance was limited to fifty. The school was continued as a private enter- prise at irregular intervals until 1899. Beginning in IQOO the insti- tution has offered its regular courses in six weeks' terms, the students reciting twice a day in each major subject. For three years two con- secutive terms have been offeredg the attendance in the past four summers has been 444, 453, 601, 629. Tuition is now free. Almost every county in the state has been represented in these summer schoolsg

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