Northern Illinois University - Norther Yearbook (DeKalb, IL)

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I2 THE NORTHER ters, men of large political influence coupled with tremendous zeal lent themselves heart and soul to the campaign. There could be but one outcome, for the enterprise was paired with a similar movement inaugurated by a like group in Eastern Illinois. In 1895 the General Assembly passed two bills which provided for doubling the number of State Normal Schools. De Kalb won the Northern school, as was expected when the character of the men who were deeply interested was understood. On the first day of October of the same year, in the presence of a mighty concourse of people, the corner stone was laid with much of pomp and ceremony, and henceforth the whole thing was only a matter of time. The plans of Architect Charles E. Brush, of Chicago, had been accepted. XV. McAlpine, of Dixon, was the successful contractor. The work moved bravely on, and in September, 1899, Editor Rosette saw his dream a substantial reality. Of course many men contributed to the splendid consummation. Senator D. D. Hunt, of De Kalb, always had the Normal School on the side if it was not at the center of his thought and effort. Mr. I. L. Ellwood drew his check for thousands and lent many weeks from an over-burdened business life to carry the fight to a successful issue. Mr. Jacob I-Iaish, grateful for an excepe tional success in a fine financial enterprise, devoted other thousands to the endowment of a noble library. Mr. joseph F. Glidden, the venerable and distinguished inventor of the famous barb-wire fence, donated the beautiful campus of more than sixty acres, bought from the Government with his earliest earnings, to the great cause of the scientific education of the children of the people. But space would fail me were I to attempt to do full justice to all to whom honor is due. VVherever they are they have the gratitude of all who wish well for their kind. A glance at the building as shown in these pages will give at best but an imperfect idea of its size and fitness for the purposes for which it was intended. In many ways it is quite ideal. Its extreme length is three hundred seventy-five feet and its greatest depth

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THE NORTHER I3 two hundred fifty. It is not surpassed, so far as I know, by any other State Normal School structure in this country. The fine auditorium comfortably seats twelve hundred. Its laboratories, gymnasium, library, society halls, school rooms, and all of its appointments, leave little or nothing to be desired. A telephone system connects all of the school rooms with the central office. A dynamo in the power house furnishes light for the entire building, runs the ventilating fans, and furnishes power for the shop. The Practice School is especially well supplied with quarters, seventeen rooms being devoted to its exclusive use. Since Northern Illinois abounds in good high schools the student body, composed very largely of their graduates, is of superior quality. The courses of study are intended to meet the demands of the modern school, hence much stress is laid upon nature study, litera- ture, and practice work in the graded schools of the town. It goes without saying that the modern Normal School must never forget its primary function. Every subject is approached from the teacher's point of view. XVith a thousand children at our command it is possible to test the teaching power of the pupils to such an extent as to determine their fitness for the work of their chosen profession. Ample opportunity to talqe charge of rooms for a con- siderable period is thus afforded. It is needless to burden these pages with a detailed state- ment of the courses of study and practice, since a postal card will bring to those who desire it a completer account of what is attempted than would be fitting here. It is worth while.to devote a little space to the town in which the Normal School has found a home. It is conveniently connected with all of its tributary-territory. Railway accommodations are excellent. A ride of an hour and a half takes one to the metropolis of the great Northwest, with its libraries, art galleries, and schools. The location is healthful. The town is large enough to care for a student population as great as the school should ever attempt to accommodate. Material for the study of nature is abundant and at hand. There ,gnqg . . -.-.---was-.,...,. - -