isa-normaladvance-1913-00215

Description:	THE NORMAL ADVANCE215lish the principle of board control and theboard will find the teacher. To us that seemsunnecessary of demonstration, but that is because Miss Lyon in New England and Benjamin Godfrey and his co-Avorkers at Monticellodemonstrated it at least two generations ago.It is the Avay of the Avorld to assume that allour ideas and ideals have prevailed since theGarden of Eden and to forget to be gratefulto those Avho have prepared our spiritual inheritance for us by dint of hard work whilethey bore the sting of ridicule as leaders in anunpoplar movement. So well did those educational pioneers lay their foundations when theylifted up in this empire of log cabins a colossalbuilding of stone devoted alone to Avomens education, that Monticello has not only been permanent through seventy-five years, but has beenlike a tree planted by the rivers of Avater.Whatsoever she has done has prospered. In1838 when Monticellos doors Avere opened forthe first time to students no trammels Avere imposed by existing institutions in the same general region, and the field Avas open for theadoption of any system that might be judgedbest. True, Oberlin founded in 1833, admittedAvomen, but one must cross tAvo states to reachOberlin—not so simple a matter in the days before railroads.The folloAving principles Avere at the outsetfixed upon as fundamental to the proposed system: 1. That it should be based upon the greatprinciples of Christianity. 2. That the education furnished should be substantial, exten-siAe, and practical. In other Avords, that itshould develop harmoniously the physical, theintellectual, and the moral powers—and prepare the subjects, not for the imaginary state ofexistence—but for the sober realities and dutiesof actual life. 3. That it should be an en-doAved institution. In order (1) that theremight be given to it the same stability and prolonged existence Avhich characterize colleges formen. Two hundred colleges for men werethen in existence and many of them were endowed. (2) That it might be furnished with alibrary, philosophical and chemical apparatus,and such other facilities for the business of instruction as are deemed indispensable appendages to institutions of a high order for the education of young men. (3) That it might, toa proper extent, be independent of a fickle public sentiment. (4) That the means might existof acquiring a corps of experienced and competent teachers, so that neither the existencenor prosperity of the institution should at anytunjB depend upon the life, health or presenceof an indiAdclual. The loss of either of theseoftentimes speedily obliterates all traces of aflourishing and useful institution. (5) Thatsuch a division of labor might be secured thatan extended and substantial course of studyshould be ably taught, and the institution thusbe made worthy of extensiATe patronage. (6)That the advantages of such a course might beafforded on such a scale as to bring them Avith-in the reach of the mass of the community.But as no one could be asked to place theneeded endoAvment on a private foundation,the founder committed all the grounds, buildings and appurtenances to a Board of Trusteesin trust, to be used in perpetuity for the purpose of female education.As to the methods of instruction—eachteacher was to be independent in her OAvn department, and to sustain to her associates andthe institution, relations similar to those of aprofessor in our colleges. Here are no specifications as to the course of study—its length—the branches that shall compose it—or themethods of teaching. All is left to the discretion of the conductors of the institution. Soof other and numerous points. But the greatand leading ends aboAe specified, and for whichthe institution was founded, are not left discretionary. Let it be particularly noticed herethat this deed of trust very Avisely avoids needless and embarrassing specifications in respectto these great points. All that is unchangeableis based upon the immutable Avord of God. Theinstitution is committed to no particular classin society—to no specified line of descent—to noorganization, political or ecclesiastical—thingspre-eminently mutable—it is not so bound upas to destroy its power of adaptation to ineAdta-ble changes in human societv.
Source:	http://indstate.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/isuarchive/id/34660
Collection:	Indiana State University Archives

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