Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 35, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 January 1903 — A Second State Normal. [ARTICLE]

A Second State Normal.

Z- For quite a number of years past county auditors and county treasurers have been obliged, by law, in addition to their regular duties as such auditor and treasurer, to serve also as members of the county boards of review during their annual SO days session. It has generally been held, throughout the state, that in thus acting as board of review members these officers were not engaged in the work of their office, proper, and for such extra duty they were entitled to the same per diem compensation as the other reviewers, and that such compensation was no part of their office fees. In this county for instance, J. C. Gwin, the former treasurer, and H. B. Murray as auditor were allowed pay as such members of the board of review. Recently suits have been begun in some counties of the state against auditors and reasurere to compel them to pay back to their respective counties the money, they thus received as board of review members. On the strength merely of these suits in circuit courts, and without any decision of the Supreme court, as to what the law really was in the matter, the Jasper County Democrat has been demanding that Messrs Gwin and -Murray refund their pay as board pf review members. The question however is now clearly and fully decided in the Supreme Court, in a case from Dekalb county, the abstract of which decision is quoted elsewhere. This decision settles beyond question or dispute the right ofwuditers and treasurers to this extra pay for this extra service.

Editor Republican: I have noticed in the columns of the Republican from time to time articles pertaining to the present agitation for a second State Normal School. .. ' —.- It has seemed to me that a few words from a person, at present a student in the State Normal and who has made a conscientious effort to acquaint himself with all of the conditions of the problem might be of interest. The first question which arises is:-Do we need more professionally trained teachers? My answer is, certainly we do. The next question, how shall we procure them? It is from this question that the discussion arises.

Two plans have been offered, first there are educators who believe that a new Normal should be established somewhere in the northern part of the state, and secondly there are others who believe that the present Normal school is sufficient. This question not unlike many others is discussed most fluently by persons who know practically nothing about the fads. It is true that the present attendance at the State Normal is not nearly up to the limits of its capacity. There are facilities here for accomodating easily one thousand students. We have at present an enrollment of five hundred. The attendance in the spring term will probably exceed the capacity as there is usually about twelve hundred that term. To increase the facilities so as to relieve this crowded condition in the spring term seems to me all that the state should be to do. It is stated by the friends of the New Normal plan that the conditions for admission to the Normal School are so stringent as to later many people from entering who would do so. That this condition is made necessary to keep the attendance down to the capacity of the school. That this statement is untrue one has only to refer to the catalogue to see the entrance requirements are no more stringent than at any other first class normal school in the United States. It is also argued that the present

normal is unfavorably located, this id in fact the principal thing on which the friends of the plan base their claim. I deny the statement that Terre Haute is a poor location for a state school, there is but one better location in Indiana, this is Indianapolis. The State Normal is well located. The city has the most excellent Railroad facilities, one can reach it from almost any direction equally well. There is not a town in Indiana which is not within a days ride of Terre Haute. Take Jasper county for example what other normal Is more easily or cheaply reached? Supposing that a state normal should be established at South Bend, Ft. Wayne or any northern city of the state. What saving could it be to students outside of that one city. Would the benefit be so great aa to have one well equipped institution and pay a little extra car fare to get to it? The State Normal is asking this year’for $75,000; this appropriation is asked for not so much to relieve a crowded condition as it is to make the school able to do better work with the students which come to it What we need is surely not another normal, but the present one made better. Indiana State Normal stands fourth in the first class of normals in America.

It has bad many struggles to get to its high position. Eternal vigilance on the part of its president and trustees have been necessary to get from the legislature the three or four hundred thousand dollars invested in its present equipment- Does it then seem probable that they would at a single bound establish a school of equal standing. And if the new is not made as good as the old would a student not be foolish to go there even if he did save a small amount in car fare. Respectfully, Isaac Lewis, ’O4. State Normal School.