Indiana State University - Sycamore Yearbook (Terre Haute, IN)

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K4 I MIIUC$UQUSU illii-Ii- H ship, of high character, endowed with an unusual capacity for clear, logical thinking. Moreover, he was impressed deeply with the importance of thoroughness, and with the advantage of method based upOn psychological grounds. He made thor- oughness the keynote 0f the school. He emphasized very strongly the importance of the common school branches. In doing this he may have slighted the value of wider scholar- ship. However, he earnestly sought the establishment of an ttAdvanced Course? for those who had graduated from the 4;Elementary CourseW Taken for all in all, his contribution to the educational interests of the state was great. Dr. WTilliam T. Harris, our distinguished commissioner of education some years later, was of the opinion that President J ones, to use his own language, CtPitcheo'l the State Normal School upon a deeper philosophic foundation than could be elsewhere found in the country?7 President J ones was succeeded by George P. Brown, a man of worth and scholarship, and an unusually successful high school principal and superintendent. President Brown reni- edied the lack of wide scholarship in the curriculum. He emphasized, with due strength, the importance of the com- , Inon school branches, and 0f the psychological basis of method, but he also gave great emphasis to the enlargement of the course of study as to the higher branches. The result of President Browns emphasis of the common school branches of psychology, methods, practice, and 0f the higher branches, was of decided and permanent benefit to the school. President Brown recommended, and was succeeded by the present president, WVilliaIn W. Parsons. President Parsons had the advantage of having received his training under the in- NORMALSEHIDL nUIlIIIIIIlI-IQQIQCDCICQE closely with both President Jones and President Brown, as they wrought out the development of the school. He emphasized equally with President Jones, the importance of professional training; he strengthened in every way possible the departments of Psychology, History and Philosophy of Education, Methods, Observation, and Practice. At the same time he gave even greater emphasis than that given by Presi- dent Brown to higher scholarship. As rapidly as the re sources of the school permitted he enlarged the course of study,' increaSed the laboratory facilities, and added much to the equipment of the library. In a very happy and excellent way he combined, as president, the higher qualities belonging to President Jones and to President Brown. One qualification revealed itself more fully in him than in either of the others. That was his practical organizing power, and his ability to deal with the various educational interests of the state in a way to advance the legitimate work of the school. The First building, although an excellent structure of four stories, was, in the beginning, finished only as to the second story. In April 1888, this original building was entirely destroyed by tire, but under the Vigorous, and well adapted efforts of President Parsons the school was held together, and continued its work at the various buildings, generously offered by the churches, City school board and enterprising citizens, until the legislature had opportunity to appropriate funds for a new building and new equipment. In this enterprise the state was generously assisted by the city of Terre Haute, which prompt- ly appropriated the sum of $50,000. These funds provided the present main building, which, in most respects, excels the original building. fluence of President Jones, and of having been associated tContinued on page 236i muaiwgmiiiiiuniiiiiiiminiiiWighHliiE-Illliiniiiiiiliimim Page 9 a impinging Did nuggaiigiiii bl f M if M

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