SUNY at New Paltz - Paltzonian Yearbook (New Paltz, NY)

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052, ' iGN'S'k1JQ!'?'!f'T,GN ' QEQKICFNNKSLJ gm .JCNGKD .. Q CNS-kill! K9 ' Q' E D 1 . fTT3fS'Y.9 Q.!0rJ'DG349K.9 9 QJOKTCNQQJLQWKUCBQMDQIW-fb 'GNNKDQJQJT - x 1 8 8 8 ils ,l:1.f:lz5 or F? N SEPTEMBER, l888, Dr. Frank S. Capen became principal. He had been for many years a teacher of mathematics at Cortland Normal, and was well it qualified for the management of a large school. At this time three courses of study were offered, as shown by the following paragraphs gleaned from the ' Annual Report: Normal Course-two years in length and granting a diploma which permits the holder to teach in the public schools of New York State. FIRST YEAR: Arithmetic, Grammar, United States History and Civics, Zoology, Physiology, Bookkeeping, Rhetoric, Geography, Natural Philosophy, Algebra, Ethics, Geology, Botany, Science and Art of Education, Physical Culture, Composition, Vocal Music, Drawing, Reading. SECOND YEAR: Algebra, English Literature, Studies in Ancient History and Lit- erature, Chemistry, Historical Readings, Astronomy, Teaching in the Practice School. Normal High School Course: one year in addition to the Normal course. The graduate will be permitted to teach in the high schools of the state. Geometry, Rhetorical Criticism, Historical Readings, Mental Science, Physics, English Literature, Moral Science, Geog- raphy, Chemistry, Teaching in the Practice School. Academic Course: Three years in addition to the first year studies of the Normal course. This course is open only to pupils living in New Paltz, who do not wish to teach, and whose parents are willing to pay the fees attached. The Academic Course was designed to prepare those pupils who planned to enter college, and the curriculum was patterned after that of the preparatory school of the day. Requirements for entrance into the Normal department were not rigorous. Regarding the admission of pupils, the First Annual Report says: To be admitted to the Normal department, pupils must be at least sixteen years of age, must possess good health, good moral character and average abilities and must justify the Twcnly-six ' GNVKDQJWKD WGWOQJ 220473 G 'M5N.51iJWfD G'Qv0Mk9'hfQJOfD G'Nf9'K9'0-Qlifb ' At Schioo1By 5 J ffl Z Gqkfiki E06 0 4: f. Q KD' f'D'G SA9 iivlfi TNS' O ,Ay U Uc'T 68'Y..Ji 9' ' 4 6,1-. f, e 'X u

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QJTT T ce.: fs -f. -fs .fwfr - W. if Nw X... - do 1 -2 f wXL 1 .l'L'M'. Lf' 2 1 ' -9 CX-,..e. J ff 2 8 N R U V9X,,...Q.Tf 2 US, 9X.ill1l .' c -1 Q Xi..i'e Cl S iv tx ? Q ff. B 2 fx Lf . 5 li fx ln il uf jf lil nv! 5 VC X, Us iv om 7 Q O 5 21, HY' Ja C1 5 21 l is SX 7 Q 0. 5 gf. 7 Q OS 5, 21 ? KU gt . P Q' Eugene Bouton was graduated 1888 from Yale, B. A., after which he held teaching positions in the Norwich Academy, the Sherbourne Union School, and the Albany Boys' Academy. Later he became Deputy State Superintendent of Public ln- struction. He came to New Paltz Normal School Normal as its first principal in l886, an office he held for two years. He received his lVl. A. from Yale, and Syracuse University granted him the degree of Ph. D. Dr: Bouton now holds a position under the Essex County, New Jersey, 'Board of Taxation. tion, was greatly opposed to the establishment of a normal school at New Paltz. Because the Academy had drawn from a wide territory for its students, a considerable body'of alumni came to the support of the proposed scheme. Many of the larger towns in southeastern New York sent petitions to Albany requesting that a normal school be located at New Paltz. Rivals to the village's claim were the cities of Kingston and Liberty, both of which offered sites for the location of a state school. Bills providing for the appointing of a commission to inspect the New Paltz Academy with a view to accepting it as a normal school were introduced in both the Assembly and the Senate. The commission was appointed, and met in New Paltz. High state officials were pres- ent, including Governor David B. Hill and Lieutenant-Governor Carr. Later the commission met again in Albany and, in spite of opposition, the New Paltz proposal was accepted by the state. The first Local Board was appointed, and the new normal school began its existence February l5, l886, with a provisional organization. The first year the number of students in all departments was eighty-nine, and the faculty consisted of ten persons. Enthusiasm and energy, however, soon had their effect. Those who had been interested in the old Academy lent their support to the new school. ln two years the number of students had been raised to one hundred seventy-one and the faculty increased to eighteen. A suitable practice department was lacking, and accordingly legislation was brought about which placed the village school system under the direction of the normal school. The Academy building and the village school building were soon felt to be inadequate, and the state provided for an additional structure. The old district school house was used for a time for a practice school and an empty carpenter shop was utilized by the drawing and gymnasium classes. These temporary accom- modations were not needed long, however, for the new building, beautifully situated on the placid Wallkill, modern in every detail, complete in its appointments, and furnishing an elegant and commodious home for the school, was finished and ready for occupancy in l889. Twenly-five 1 U ., 3 V W ? X Qi 5 . XD UD fav 7 , QQ, Uri D ,f QD lo fig lsffv 2 Q U. 5 , elf 4 75 .J an 9 is Ok: s il If I AJ the ls. 1, XX ...g 2' ll ff KI lf I Q ., ai wa gy. 2 X Q V s I. if lg.. fm SX: 7 rx. S7 I fl-I X15 'QL SX. ?f Q .ff ve., T..-1 'Y fmu' .T r'a '--fx' 'Q' 'Q' 6'1 N. -.-.. .--..- r1ElQTSX3Q4'W99XfYlfE'i-5la SXg.lf!f8f'aKYXLQJQ D1,sXDlf!,5' 0L,gifQgjppCg

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' 1 MQW., 4 K9 SNS u 'A As fl GN 'I Q1 'GNQK9 fb -KDFNSKSQ GNQKS 0 KIXSNQ-KD' S34 J 'I Frank Sumner Capen was grad- uated from the Brockport Collegiate Institute. He entered the University of Rochester in I863, but after his first year enlisted in the Union army. When Une war ended he returned 1899 and tool: his A. B. degree from the I University. He accepted the chair of T h G W al 1 1 1: 1 1 1 mathematics at Cortland Normal, where he taught fifteen years. For two years he was mathematics in- structor at Colby University. He received his Ph. D. from Colgate University, and in l888 accepted the principalship of New Paltz Normal, where he served until l899. He died at Cortland in l900. expectation that they can, in the allotted time, complete the prescribed courses of instruction. They must at least be able to spell correctly: to pronounce in reading accurately and readily words in common use: to write neatly and legiblyg to pass creditably an examination upon physical, descriptive, and mathematical geographyg and such an examination upon arithme- tic and grammar Cincluding analysis of sentencesl as will show that they can review and com- plete these subjects in one term: they should have given consideration to the elements of natural science, and in general, they ought to have availed themselves of all the advantages offered by the common schools of the state. Even though the building had been enlarged, it soon became inadequate and crowding re- sulted. ln IS93 the entrance examination was done away with, and any elementary school graduate could enter the Normal School. ln the same year, however, the course of study was lengthened, which served to discourage prospective entrants and reduced the total en- rollment somewhat. Dr.Capen's forceful personality madeitselffeltin the ingenuity with which the Normal and its Practice School were efliciently managed in the over-crowded building. Further evidence of his dynamic thinking lay in his departing from the beaten track and differentiating be- tween the professional and academic subjects, and by placing the instruction of the children in the grades more fully in the hands of student teachers. The beloved principal, aside from stressing the professional ideals of teaching, also emphasized the practical viewpoint of teaching as a business. However, Normal students managed to find time for some fun, and the swan-song of the Capen administration may well have been the Class Yell of 1899: Razel, Dazel, Whoop la rool All our hearts are strong and true. We're all right with gold and white, Drop in line, drop in line, ,I-u-n-e-'99 I Twenty-seven ' 'Q.I'0so'Di Q10-fb 6GNWk9GW QJOfDGN6K9Ql0fDQ 6364.23 121015 D630 K2 2 2 Q 2 Q 5 2 3 2 3 -QA an KJ 2.00 O SKS Q2 GN :va K5 'I 5 X. 9 9 Q. G f. 1 A Q a C 6 J C