University of Wisconsin Stevens Point - Horizon / Iris Yearbook (Stevens Point, WI)

Page 21 text:

ANNALS In 1902-03 the course in Domestic Science was first installed. It was a course for high school graduates and was under the supervision of Miss May Sechrist. The three-year course became effective after February 1, 1911. Construction work and manual training followed in the wake of Domestic Science, but it was not until the year 1908-09 that a definite department was organized. Mr. L. G. Flagler, who came to us in 1909, has the distinction of being the first manual training teacher in the normal. In the same year the course for high-school graduates were better adjusted and a four-year Domestic Science course was installed. Though great stress had always been put on physical training, it was now made more necessary. The Practice Department was organized under efficient supervisors to fit all needs. Miss Emma J. Haney was the first director of practice. Before the year was over the duties of the position devolved upon Mrs. Mary D. Bradford, now City Superintendent of Schools at Kenosha. In 1S9S-96, fifty-seven students had practice teaching on an average of twenty-three weeks each. Ten weeks were given to observation in the model school. To Mrs. Bradford is due the fine working organization of this department. It is in three sections, corresponding very closely to the division of common schools into three forms. The Model School has always received such pupils as are sent by parents to enjoy the benefits of the school. In the upper classes are some who arc not yet ready to enter Normal preparatory classes. In 1906-07 Miss Josephine Fitzgerald became Supervisor of Practice. She was followed in the fall of 1909 by Mr. F. S. Hycr, whose clear judgment, kindly sympathy, and firm, guiding hand have made the Practice Department a “model school” indeed, in that inductive methods arc being utilized, and boys and girls with complete fundamental education are being graduated. To satisfy the needs of the school and community a Kindergarten was established in 1902. It has been most interesting and attractive from the beginning, and is today the Mecca of all primary practice teachers. When John F. Sims became our President he at once took steps to inaugurate a summer session of six weeks for all those high school graduates who wished to teach and had no professional training. The first session of this kind began June 22, 1908. It proved most successful and has been held annually up to the present time. Through President Sims’ influence, a course for Rural School Teachers was introduced in September, 1912. Mr. John F. Phelan was chosen to be the first instructor. To whom does the school owe its great development in the score of years it has lived ? Perhaps most of all, to its superior faculty. In the twenty years that have passed more than a hundred people have been on the payroll of the school as faculty members. At present we have thirty-four instructors. Where are the others? Most of them—men like J. V. McCaskill, A. H. Sanford, F. K. Sechrist, are making good in other institutions of learning; some are in business; a few have passed beyond. Of the original faculty we have only two gentlemen remaining: Garry E. Culver and Joseph V. Collins. “Favorites may come and favorites may go, but their unsurpassed popularity with all students goes on forever.” Nannie R. Gray was the next of the present faculty to enter, then Prof. Spindler, Prof. Hyer and Miss Gilruth. I would fain go on and call the names of all the rest, but I hear some one whisper. ‘‘Good friend, why mention more? Their names are on the roll of fame Full a thousand times or more.” But what of the man who was the first head of the institution? Theron B. Pray, was appointed president of the normal at its organization in 1894. Under his steady hand and guiding eye the school soon attained a well-deserved reputation. His great aim was not solely the making of teachers, but the making of men and women. In the fall of 1906, J. F. Sims, our own “Uncle John,” became our head. What firm hands are those on the tiller! No one in school is too insignificant to be sure of his infinite patience and sympathy. Under his tactful and wise administration the school has become famed for its atmosphere of democracy and encouragement. Let me not pass this chapter by without mention of those helpful assistants, who provide for our material comfort here. Those have been Mr. Kelley, Mr. Hunter, Mr. Wilcox, and our own indispensable “Albert” and Mr. Brandes. “When all the world is blue and dreary, They smile, and it makes your sad heart cheery.” Hut the halls nhere the wise ones held their court resound to their speech no more. 21

Page 20 text:

And the slately palace grew and grew, and more splendid its fame did seem. Here wise men came from many lands with a wealth of wondrous lore. ANNALS nasium. The second floor is occupied by the Normal School proper. The science laboratories occupy most of the third floor. The class-rooms are large and convenient. The system of mechanical ventilation controlled by the Johnson Heat Regulator insures a supply of fresh air of suitable temperature free from sudden extremes. The air of the entire building may be changed from five to six times within an hour. The rooms are abundantly lighted. The finish is of Georgia pine. The library is a light, airy place. This description of the original building is interesting to those who now enjoy the use of the enlarged structure. Before the fourth year of the school’s existence five more acres had been added to the campus, so that it now occupies a sward of ten acres. Then the legislature appropriated money for a new wing, which was finished September 1, 1901. This addition was greatly needed. Owing to the great number of students, the building was not large enough to accommodate them. Peter Kelly and family were driven out of the janitor’s quarters and Prof. Swift, with his psychology and theory, occupied their place. Then practice-classes might have been seen roosting on stairways and in hallways, in a literal representation of “sitting at the feet of the master.” The addition provided another assembly-room, several recitation rooms, on each floor, cloak rooms, janitor’s apartments, men’s bathrooms, and other needed accommodations. It also provided us with an Art Annex which in 1908 and 1909 developed into a historical and scientific museum. The various organizations and societies of the school, such as the Iris and Pointer Staffs, the Forum-Athenaeum, and the Y. W. C. A., were assigned rooms on the third floor. During this time the lawn had been greatly beautified by the addition of trees, and shrubs native to this part of Wisconsin. Sumac, witch-hazel, common hazel, winterberry, hawthorn, and alder are the most conspicuous shrubs, though there are also found prickly ash, elder, bittersweet, snowberry, woodbine, spireas, and several others. Elm, maple, linden, ash, white birch, cherry, white pine, and spruce trees are also to be found on the campus. In 1911 money was again appropriated to us for another addition and cottages for the Domestic Science department. Owing to the rapid growth of the Milwaukee Normal School, it became necessary for the Regents to use our appropriation there. However, we were not forgotten, for in 1913 our Madison friends again set aside money for us—this time most definitely and explicitly. Work on this addition was started Monday, May 18, 1914. All of us are eagerly anticipating sitting in an Auditorium” instead of an over-crowded “assembly-room,” and the Domestic Science people are looking forward to Real Homes” at S. P. N. next year. In referring to the beginning of the excavation the Pointer of May 22 says: The beginning of a new epoch in our school history was made by a worthy member of our institution, named ‘Albert,’ when he tore down the scaffolds and teeters representing the primary playground this morning. This was done between 7:00 and 8:00 a. m. At twenty minutes to eight the first furrow was turned. At 9:45 the first shovel of dirt was removed. According to the plans the excavation will be 180 feet 8 inches long and 80 feet 2 inches wide.” Last fall, through the powerful influence of our present regent, George B. Nelson, and our good President, John F. Sims, the legislature again made an appropriation for Stevens Point Normal. This time it was one hundred thousand dollars for a dormitory to be built as soon as plans and specifications can be made. With the establishment of the Normal Schools the exclusive purposes and objects of each were set forth as follows: “1. There shall be instruction and training of persons, both male and female, in the theory and art of teaching, and in all the various branches that pertain to a common school education and in all subjects needful to qualify for teaching in the public schools. “2. There shall also be instruction in the fundamental laws of the United States and of this state, in what regards the rights and duties of citizens.” In carrying out these purposes, with the opening of the school we find six courses installed. They were: an elementary course of two years, an English Scientific course of four years, a Latin course of four years, a German course of four years, a one-year professional course and a one-year common school course. The courses for high school graduates consisted then, as now, of the last two years of the English-Scientific, Latin, or German courses. The German course remained a dead letter for some time. There were no separate departments of German, literature, psychology, biology, or geography. In the early days we had no librarian. After the year 1900 we find the number of courses increased to ten, those added being-an English course of four years; special preparation for primary and intermediate grades; an advanced post-graduate course of one year; a Domestic Science course; a Manual Training course. 20

Page 22 text:

 The golden words of the orator Once rang in the lordly hall, And well-won shields from gay tournament Hide the tapestry on the wall. Then oft dainty dames and gay cavaliers In the banquet-chambers met, And the silver strain of their mirth and song, Down the corridors echoes yet. ANNALS Early in the fall of 1896 an Oratorical Association was formed. It had charge of all the interests of the school relating to the Inter-Normal Oratorical League, joint debates and other literary contests. Our Mr. Andrew Larkin was the first winner in oratory, taking the laurels on March 19, 1897. Our work in oratory has been a continued success; not that we have always received first place, for we have not,—but our orators have done more, they have won for themselves and the school the name of hard, faithful workers, game participants, and the producers of a finished style of oratory. At first we held debates with Whitewater. Later, beginning in 1898, we also debated with Oshkosh. The debates with the Whitewater Normal gradually grew less frequent until they ceased entirely. The only inter-normal debate we now have is the Junior Debate between the Oshkosh Normal Juniors and the S. P. N. Juniors. This is all that remains of the old triangular system which existed for a short time between the normal schools of Milwaukee, Oshkosh, and Stevens Point. Faithful, energetic labor and unlimited zeal have always characterized these contests. Though we have sometimes been—shall I say blessed ?—with adverse decisions, yet we have found infinite consolation in knowing that our fight had been a worthy one, our cause a most honorable one, and the result only a hair in the balance. Last year’s victory was a memorable one, and will long be a precious recollection to us, because it was won by members of the present Senior Class—Lillia Johnson, Worth Dafoe, Earl Kdes, and Clarence Strand. As to rhetorical , in the early days of S. P. N. we found them given more frequently than now. Then each student was required to give a rhetorical each year. Now, with only one rhetorical, that during the senior year, a little 1914 lass was heard to declaim: “R is for rhetorical, The thing that I hate. Oh, for the time to come, When they’ll be out of date.” Will the little girl get her wish? Not for many years perhaps, for within the last few years there has been a marked improvement in the selection of topics—only those being chosen which are universally interesting and helpful. With these, often, practical demonstrations arc given. From the first we had an Athletic Association open to all interested members of the school. In the earliest days we had home ‘'Field Day” sport, and in May of each year we met the students of Lawrence in friendly contest. Baseball and football teams were early organized and soon won laurels for S. P. N. Later we entertained Whitewater and Oshkosh normal schools in athletic events. At first we had no regular coach, but borrowed one for special occasions. It was not until 1912 that a regular athletic coach was installed. He is Mr. L. G. Schneller, who came to us from Wausau. Under his excellent training basket-ball has developed to a high degree of perfection. Last year we won the Northern championship. This year we lost it because of a “tonsilitis stricken” team. There are also organizations of the girls and less efficient boys into secondary basket-ball teams. All play the game with enthusiasm and are attaining a high degree of skill in the art. Our present popular yell ‘‘Ve! Ve! Ve! Vi! Vi! Vi!” etc., was first heard ringing across the diamond in the spring of 1903. Tennis was organized in 189S. The money for material and backstops and fences for the court was advanced by Professors Culver and Sanford. The courts were soon in excellent condition, and the game became a very popular one. This year a Tennis Association was reorganized under the able direction of Professors Fairchild and Ames. A tournament was held in which the students were greatly interested and enthusiastic. Among the graduates who were tennis stars while at S. P. N. were, E. E. Brown, W. W. Culver, Lucius Allen, Harvey Schofield, Kenneth Pray, Eilida Moen, and Genevieve Miller. Social life in S. P. N. has grown up with the institution. The Arena Society, founded the earliest, and still in existence, had in the beginning the names of both men and women upon its roll. However, within two years, in 1897-1898, the men seemed not to have had a chance to express their opinions quite so freely as they wished, and formed a society of their own called the Forum. This left the Arena girls without any strong men for protectors. Nevertheless they complained not, and before anyone was aware, had elected Miss Maude Brewster, at present one of our faculty, as their first lady President. In 1904, another group of boys formed the Athenaeum. Because of the scarcity of boys in the institution, it was found adivsable to merge the two boys’ societies into one, which has since existed, in spite of its cumbersome title of Forum-Athenaeum. The Clionian society for girls existed for a time, but in the fall of 1906 it developed into the Ohiycsa. After the girls, who contemplated starting the new society, had heard Chas. 22