A meeting of citizens of Keene was held on Saturday, February 9, 1907, at which a desire to have a normal school established in the city and a willingness to provide a location were affirmed and the county delegation to the legislature was asked to press the case for Keene.
Keene Evening Sentinel
February 11, 1907
Page 5
FAVOR NORMAL SCHOOL
Mass Meeting in City Hall to Consider the Question.
Meeting Votes Unanimously to instruct Our Legislative Delegation to do What it Can to Secure School – Expresses Willingness to Provide Site for Buildings.
A meeting of citizens was held in the city hall Saturday evening to consider the normal school question and much enthusiasm in favor of such a school was manifested.
The meeting was called to order soon after 8 o’clock by Senator Shedd, who explained how and why it had been called and the object for which it had been assembled. An organization was at once effected, Hon. Bertram Ellis being chosen chairman and Fred E. Howe clerk. Representatives Madden, Aldrich and Benton. Principal Cleveland and Superintendent Keith were invited to occupy seats on the stage and did so.
Senator Shedd then briefly summarized the present situation in the legislature relative to the establishment of another normal school or school in the state, repeating the facts he gave at the meeting of the councils Thursday evening already reported in these columns. He explained that the five bills now pending were likely to lead to a new bill on which all could unite providing for a school to cost perhaps $75,000 and to be located by the governor and council and normal school officers, the understanding being that the town or city where the school is placed will provide a suitable lot therefore and will turn over a certain number of its schools to be used as training or model schools for normal school teachers. He said the Keene delegation wished to know what the feelings of the people of Keene were and for that reason he and Representative Madden had presented the matter to the councils.
Representative Madden said the state teachers’ association had recommended the establishment of normal schools in the southeastern and southwestern parts of the state and on finding other bills pending, he had introduced one for such a school in Keene. He had a conference with Chairman Toothacre, whom he believed thought well of Keene as a location. It was conceded, he thought, that the state needs another normal school, one large enough to accommodate 150 or 200 pupil teachers. He thought a fine lot could be secured for say $25,000. The bill to be introduced would probably provide that the town furnishing a normal school lot would be authorized to issue bonds to pay for the same. And the town or district would be expected to turn over to the normal school teachers and pupils a certain number of its schools for the normal school pupils to work in. Plymouth turns over all her schools under the high schools and pays the normal school $1,000 a year. It is estimated that if maintained by the town the schools would cost $3,000. Prof. Fawcett thought such an arrangement would save the town where the normal school is one-half the cost of maintaining the model schools. The normal schools in Massachusetts are considered a great benefit to the towns in which they are located. Dover, Portsmouth, Farmington, Chester, Nashua and probably other towns will strive to get a normal school if one or more are authorized and the Keene delegation, if the people here so desire, will do all they can to get a school in Keene.
Rev. E. A. Renouf said normal school teachers were preferable to others and asked what proportion of such teachers we have. Superintendent Keith replied from one-fourth to one-third.
Rev. J. L. Seward said that in case of the passage of such a bill as is suggested it would be important to consider how the two systems of schools suggested in town would mix. Mr. Madden understood that elsewhere the normal and local schools worked in perfect harmony, using the same text books and courses of study and being under the general supervision of the local board of education.
C.C. Sturtevant made another inquiry as to the supervision of the training or model schools and Chairman Ellis said that two years ago when it was proposed that Plymouth send some of its teachers to Keene the normal school managers said Keene would have to furnish the equivalent of an 8-room building and its pupils, that the normal school would put in its own text books and its own course of study and the district would be expected to pay for the books and a good share of the ordinary cost for teachers. How much the idea then expressed to him had since been modified he did not know. It would be important for the city to retain control to a considerable extent of its own schools.
Dr. Seward said we must not forget there are always two sides to a contract and the city ought to thoroughly understand what it is expected to do before committing itself. It was certainly a question whether the pupil teachers of a normal school who would be placed in our schools to teach to give them experience, would give such good results as the teachers we now have. Yet the plan often works well. We must remember that there are schools and schools, and that all would depend on having a first-class normal school and on having the teachers placed in our schools therefrom satisfactory to our own school board and superintendent.
H. W. Lane of the board of education said he had been quite familiar with the normal school in Fitchburg, whose work had proved most satisfactory to the city. The schools in Fitchburg that are taught by the normal school pupils are rightly termed “model schools”, for they have been models in every way. Before the normal pupils undertake the work of teaching they have to watch the work and criticize and study it. When they begin to work they do so under the eye of a trained teacher. The pupil knows she must do her work to stand the criticism of her teachers and of her fellow pupils, who are watching her. Excellent work results and the people of Fitchburg are proud of their normal school. He did not know just how the matter of text books was arranged, but everything is kept in harmony with the other Fitchburg schools.
Representative Madden introduced the following resolution as expressive of the sense of the meeting:
Resolved: That the citizens of Keene in mass meeting assembled request the Cheshire County delegation in the legislature to request the location of a normal school at Keene, and pledge ourselves to do all in our power to provide a suitable site for a normal school building in Keene and to furnish other needed school facilities, provided that such arrangement shall be acceptable to the city authorities of Keene.
Hon. Frederic A. Faulkner expressed himself as decidedly in favor of securing a normal school for Keene if proper arrangements could be made. We could present a most desirable location and every needed facility. He thought there would be no danger to our schools in doing what would be required.
Superintendent Keith spoke of the normal school in Bridgewater, Mass. Being a native of the town and a graduate of that school he was quite familiar with it. Twenty years or so ago the state asked the town to turn over 250 scholars to be taught by its normal school pupils. The town did so and after two years found them so far ahead of their other pupils that they wished to turn over more. Now the town furnishes 450 scholars and parents are anxious to get their scholars into the schools so taught.
The school committee did not lose control of its schools. The course of study and text books are the same in the model schools as in the others in the city. The normal school details thirteen of its best teachers to take charge of the work and the students work under these teachers, taking first one class a day and later more. If the student cannot carry on the work the teacher in charge knows the reason and sees that faults are corrected. For one or two terms the pupil teacher is not left alone. When she has sufficient experience and has shown her ability she may go on and take charge of a room alone.
William P. Carr thought all would agree that the best thing to do would be to get a normal school here if we can, under proper conditions. The main question would probably be as to securing a lot. The sum of $25,000 ought to be enough to buy pretty nearly a whole street as houses have been selling here. As he recalled how a schoolhouse on Main Street was once torn down by the authorities he should hardly think a Main Street location would be favored by the people living there.
Brief remarks were made by Mr. Madden, G. H. Eames, Wm. C. Hall and others and it was stated that a legislative committee was to come here to look the ground over and that the city councils would probably designate a committee to meet them.
Mr. Madden’s resolution was adopted without a dissenting vote and Mr. Prentiss moved the following which was also passed and the meeting adjourned:
“That the board of education delegate a committee to meet the committee which is to visit Keene to inspect the lots and advantages of the city, as a site of a normal school, and to
cooperate with the city councils or any committee appointed by them for that purpose.”