Lebanon University - Link Yearbook (Lebanon, OR)

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discipline, or sympathy with the violator, was to be found in the unmanly and servile position in which the pupils were placed by the faculty and teachers. The free and genial intercourse between teachers and pupils at the old normal characterized that institution and was carried into the extreme by Prof. Hol- brook himself. When the school was founded in 1855 under the title of the Southwestern Ohio Normal School it opened in the old academy building at Lebanon with ninety pupils from that town and only four from outside of Leb- anon. There were but three teachers besides Principal Holbrook, one of these being Mrs. Melissa Holbrook, his wife. The faculty was composed of A. J. Kickoff, of Cincinnati; E. C. Ellis, of Georgetown, and Charles Rogers, of Day- ton. During the second year the out-of-town attendance became so great that there was difliculty in finding accommodations for them, even at high rates. Prof. Holbrook then adopted an original feature which has been one of the important factors in the success of the school-the provision and mainten- ance of dormitories under his personal supervision. There were a number of vacant houses in Lebanon at that time and these were fitted up to take care of the two hundred and fiftywsix pupils Who were then enrolled. Most of these pupils boarded themselves and Prof. Holbrook went so far as to personally assist them in selecting proper wholesome food and arranging substantial menus that could be purchased at low prices. When the attendance of the school grew to the thousands this feature was maintained and personally supervised by Prof. Holbrook just as it had been at its inception. This matter of food was given particular attention by the noted educator at all times and was one of the important features of his system. The writing on the very valuable books that he published he did at an early hour in the morning before he had eaten the light meal which he called breakfast. This habit of studying before eating he urged upon those under his instruction and when a pupil appeared dull and slow of comprehension in morning class he was often told that ham and eggs and pancakes were not conducive to alert in- tellects, especially during the hours immediately succeeding the repast. Nor was Prof. Holbrook given to the gratification of personal vanities. While his ridicule of the frivolities of dress was couched in general terms, often in the class room he would reprove either man or woman who seemed too conscious of their personal appearance or seemed inclined to follow the intricacies of the prevailing fashions. It was no part of his theory or practice to discourage innocent amusement but rather he promoted sociability among his pupils and his democratic manner in the class room and upon all other occasions made him one among them, winning their respect, admiration and a feeling of good will. THE FAMOUS GENERAL EXT It was during the third year of the school that Prof. Holbrook published his book iiNorInal Methods, which had a large circulation and was translated into Japanese for the schools of that country, where it is now in use. This book attracted many pupils from all parts of the nation and the following year the enrollment approached four hundred. The name of the institution was changed in 1870 to The National Normal School? and later the word tischool was changed to university? Another educational book was published by tPnge Ninefy-tzrol

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