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

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reasons why the High School should have been retained, but I can- not think of one why it should have been abolished. The Illinois State Normal University has always stood for hard, faithful work, and for thoroness in what it undertook. Not many institutions of its size have had so few cases of severe discip- line. And the almost total absence of 'tcollege pranksw has been noted from the very beginning. Its students have been fond enough of fun, but they have generally been able to distinguish between fun and foolishness. And they have generally been too busy to waste t-ime in senseless sport. ' From the lirst year of the institution, the two great literary societies have been active and llourishing. They have had many contests, some of which were acrimonious, and more were conducted in perfect good humor. From the first, I'resident Hovey laid down the rule that students should be drawn into the societies alternately from a list of names alphabetically arranged. Students so drawn must join the society to which they were drawn, or neither. This wise rule has prevented the scrambling and electioneering for new members which in many institutions causes much disturbance. To many students, the work done in the societies has been nearly or quite as valuable as the work done in the class room. In the early years of the school, the teachers, except the president, took active part in the aifairs of the societies on exactly the same terms as the students. When we count the roll of students who have gone out from this institution and have filled, and are now iilling, prominent and im- portant positions in the worldg when we remember that students who have gone from this Normal to join other institutions have, al- most without exception, taken high or advanced standing: when we remember the very small number of our students who have failed in their life work, it affords ample ground for profound satisfaction and congratnlation to all who have taken an active part in its allairs. ' llrlurl lnrppyf lwlliw, Wllllf lfrrmitlf, lllllllrff flags, ll'f'rr llllilll' ll'lli'll I rms jfolmyf, ll wrrwlwxs fully. --l'.xlsI.o l'1l'ENo. 27 HD NDEX vos

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4, 1' The ,admit U75 faith, and 'tworksv as well. In addition to heavy Work in the class rooms-many of our classes numbered more than lifty-we we1'e going here and there all over the state, talking at teachers, meetings and instructing at teachers' institutes. VVe made many, perhaps most, of our journeys by night, that we might not trespass on the working hours of daylight. Special summer sessions for teachers were held here in t-he Normal building in 1863, 1864, 1867, 1868, 1869, 1870, 1871, and 1872. These meetings were generally several days or Weeks in duration. Most of the work was done by members of the faculty, for which I do not remember that we received a cent of extra pay. When the Normal University began its operation, the principal and teachers determined to avoid all high-sounding titles. So, in the catalogs and in personal address, it was simply Principal Hovey,77 or Mix So-and-Sof' But in 1866 the board decreed that the head of the institution should be known as president, and the principal male teachers as t'professors,'7 so we had to submit to the enforced dignity as gracefully as we might. At the close of President Edwards' administration, the present writer was made president and continued to hold that otlice till June, 1800. Of these fourteen years, but little need be said. They were years of peace, prosperity, and progress. It has been well said that years of peace and quiet afford but little material for history. To be sure, we had our biennial struggle to secure our appropriations from the liegislature. But we were never defeated, and I am sure we had little cause of complaint against the honorable gentlemen on the whole. In June, 1890, John IV. Cook was chosen president and held the oliice nine years. Mr. Hook graduated with the class of 18653 and he is the only alumnus of the institution who has held the oiiice of president. President Uook was succeeded by Dr. Arnold Tomp- kins, who held the otiice but one year, and was succeeded by David Felmley, the p1'esent incumbent. Two noteworthy things occurred during the administration of President Cook. Une was the erection of two fine buildings-one for the Practice School and one for the Gymnasium. The other was the abolition of the High School, which, in my opinion, was the greatest mistake the man- agers of the Normal University ever made. I can think of many 7'f1r'w I'1l!II4'N rr lfnn' in lllf' fill' ffl' I'l'l'l'fl,JlIllIl, H'ln'n ln' is :iff fmmls mul l'l,l1lll'N,,l M- 1 inovicn Ifkomcv. Hllw flfffnll n'rflr lllul r'm1fffffrlIm1 NlN'l'l'!l.ll'xXvhl. llrlili. .. V Ill s in lowrg N1l1'lNll!N'IH'l,' .sludsIwi-l11'1l1fr'rl, full jfwl .sllfdx ll ffl-I'l.ll 'cVlII.lS. l'illI'1 I'IN. Zh

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1 A -L la. AI, 'Y F' IM G 'L Q IQ -A :JJ BOARD GF EDUCATIQ ENo4'H A. 4-iAs'1'II,xN, D6'CZ1tIlll', I'I'esiIleIIt. ALIIHEII BAYLISS, S1Jl'illgB6'll'1, Ex-Ulliuin BIGlll1bQl'Ql1i1 See-I'efaI'y. UIIARIIIS L. UAIIIIN, Blou11IiIIgtIIII. NVILLIAM H. SANIIIIAM, XVyuIIIiIIg. E. B. E. KIMBIIOIIIIII, Danville ELLA F. YOUNG, 52342 Um'IIcll Ave., Ulnicamgo. PIILIJG BI. W,xI.I4I:R. Bfmckfuwl. FORREST F. UIIIIII, UaleslnI1'g. .Infos A. BAILY, I1ZIl'tfO1'd Bld'g, Chicago. GIQORIIII B. IIARRINHTON, I'1'iIICetuII. XVILLIAM H. HAINLINII, MIICIIIIIII, JUSIIIJII L. Bf.IIsI+:R'I1s0N, Pefwizx B. H. WILLAIID, lillslwille. J. STANIA-JI' BROWN, Juliet. F. D. BIARQUIS, Blfbfjlllillgflbll., 'l'1'easu1'eI'. Hnwlll' rrluuw flnwllrrr' lxrullfrjfnf'--1'.x'l'lIIltlENlC URIININ. HU fllllf f'll'1'l'1' ff, ll,m f1'! 'fll'H!llI, lm. 41iIf:lc'I'RI'Irli Cl:IxIu xx ZH