University of Wisconsin Oshkosh - Quiver Yearbook (Oshkosh, WI)

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Hire {Irrsiftrnt The Oshkosh Normal School offers to its students the advantages of a professional and technical institution. Unlike the student body of a liberal arts college, the men and women of this school have determined upon their life work and their thought and effort lie in a certain direction with a definite end in view. This results in a professional attitude of mind and an esprit « « corps that is impossible in a heterogeneous group. The school offers two courses that arc proving very attractive to young men. The Manual Arts course, with its well-equipped shops and its corp of efficient instructors, presents to those who are mechanically inclined an opportunity to become expert craftsmen and at the same time to broaden themselves academically and acquire skill in the art of teaching. The demand for the graduates from this department testifies to the high regard in which its work is held. For those who prefer class-room instruction or who aspire to administrative positions, the High School course offers a wealth of opportunities. That this course is an inspiration to high achievement in the field of education is proved by the large percentage of alumni who have acquired higher degrees and who occupy positions of leadership throughout the state . Practically all high school teachers are required to manage some extra curricular activity and this school offers to its men a wide choice in these activities. The Oshkosh Normal holds an enviable record in athletics, debate, oratory, music, dramatics and publications, and her students can acquire training along these lines that will l»c of inestimable value. Very few professional schools have so nearly an equal enrollment of men and women, ami this provides for a more normal social life within the school and also offers a valuable training in social usages and customs. The teaching profession demands a high type of individual both as to ability and character anil the young man of exceptional ability, fine ideals and high purpose who enrolls here will find himself in congenial company. ’age twenty

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JJrrflibntt’s fRraaag? 'OUR EVENTS liavc occurred during the last twelve months which mark this if year as one of the epoch-making periods in the history of the State Normal School at Oshkosh. 1 believe that future generations of students and teachers will Ik as much interested in the historical record of these facts as in anything else which may lx said at this time. I. The legislature of 1925, by amendment of the statutes, enlarged the powers of the B ard of Normal School Regents by inserting the following words: u. -AND TO ADOPT SUCH DESIGNATION FOR SAID SCHOOLS AS IN THE JUDGMENT OF THE BOARD BEST FITS THEIR FUNCTIONS AND PURPOSES AS INSTITUTIONS DEVOTED EXCLUSIVELY TO THE PREPARATION OF TEACHERS. ’ b. AND UPON COMPLETION OF A COURSE FOR PREPARING TEACHERS. TO CONFER SUCH CERTIFICATES. DIPLOMAS. AND PROFESSIONAL DEGREES IN EDUCATION. IN TESTIMONY THEREOF. AS ARE CONFERRED BY OTHER INSTITUTIONS OF LIKE CHARACTER AND RANK. PROVIDED THAT NO PROFESSIONAL DEGREE SHALL BE CONFERRED EXCEPTING THAT OF BACHELOR OF EDUCATION AND SUCH DEGREE ONLY UPON COMPLETION OF A FOUR-YEAR COURSE ABOVE HIGH SCHOOL OR ITS EQUIVALENT.” These two provisions authorize the Board of Regents of Normal Schools to change the names of Wisconsin state normal schools to state teachers colleges, and to confer collegiate degrees, whenever the Board deems such action advisable. II. On February 20. 1926. The American Association of Teachers Colleges, in annual convention at Washington. D. C.. took epoch-making action with reference to standards for normal schools and teachers colleges. At this meeting new and higher standards for teachers colleges were adopted. These new standards define the characteristics which an institution must possess in order to he ranked as a teachers college. The effect of these new standards will lx- to place the preparation of teachers in Wisconsin and throughout the nation on a very much higher plane. III. On January 26. 1926. the Board of Normal School Regents placed the State Normal School at Oshkosh on a higher level for the preparation of teachers for the elementary school. On and after September 1. 1927. two-year curricula for grade teachers will he discontinued and only three-year and four-year curricula for elementary teachers will he offered. There was thus established here the same standard for preparation of elementary school teachers as has prevailed for a great many years in the preparation of high school teachers. IV. The Legislature of 1925 made an appropriation for purchase of additional land for the development of our campus and for the construction of a modern training sch«x»! building. This building will enable this institution to do a quality of work in the training of teachers which will far surpass what has been accomplished in past years. These things mark an era in the development of this school. It is hoped that these steps may lead to still greater service to public education in the state on the part of this institution. H. A. Brown There is a pleasure in the pathless icooii.’ Page nineteen

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Dean nf DJmnrn Girls from all communities, all walks in life, and with varied amounts of home training enroll in a normal school. Through the necessary associations with students and certain responsibility toward housemothers, they receive a valuable type of training. Suggestions are made through a scries of girls’ assemblies or through individual conferences to encourage girls to conduct themselves in a manner becoming to those of the teaching profession. Such ideas as correct business dress, courtesy toward ami co-operation with associates, a proper selection of social activities ami various forms of social training are presented to the girls of the school. In societies, especially those in which all suggestions are made and carried out by the students, an unlimited amount of experience and training is gained. The responsibility of one girl for another in a society makes her forget self in her interest for others. The efforts made to earn a name for the society and for the school in scholarship, oratory, debate, drama ami music, in athletic contests and other worthwhile activities tend to develop a certain amount of initiative, self-possession. and self-control—qualities necessary to every teacher. Girls who were more or less dependent upon others gradually realize the necessity of independence. Through the responsibility thrown on their shoulders, by serving on committees such as the Student Council, the Entertainment and the Social Life committees, the girls are made self-reliant. Serving upon committees, they have not only carried the responsibility of each party, but have also acted as hostesses. It is needless to say that such experience will be of value to them after leaving school. Our aim is to develop healthy, happy, charming young women, equipped with poise and self-control and inspired by a definite purpose. Ruth S. Mack PagrJtcfHiy-cH