CD 
 
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REPORT 
 
 OF 
 
 YVtt 
 
 THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE, 
 
 APPOINTED BY 
 
 THE GOVERNOR AND COUNCIL 
 
 TO EXAMINE INTO THE 
 
 CONDITION OF THE STATE NORMAL SCHOOL, 
 
 &c, &c, 
 
 TO THE LEG-ISLATIJRE, 
 
 JUNE SESSION, 1877. 
 
 CONCORD: 
 
 EDWARD A. JENKS, STATE PRINTER. 
 
 1877. 
 
 
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♦?~| At 
 
 OCT 1905 
 D. of 0, 
 
 • • • 
 

 
 REPORT. 
 
 To the Legislature : 
 
 Your committee, appointed tinder the act of July 20, 1876, 
 " to examine into the condition of the normal school, the course 
 of study pursued therein, its system of management, and its 
 financial condition, and report to the next session of the legis- 
 lature," having attended to their duty, respectfully report : 
 
 That what is known as the normal school property consists 
 of the old academy brick building, enlarged so that the whole 
 is now three stories high and 50 by 80 feet on the ground. 
 Entering the building by the front way, we were greeted with 
 odors of a character that enabled us to discover their source 
 without much investigation. To the right, and leading out of 
 the main entrance, are the stairs down to the gents' water- 
 closets ; to the left, those designed for the ladies — both directly 
 under the front hall. From the vaults a flat-bottomed drain 
 leads to the river ; but as all the water for cleansing purposes 
 comes in a lead pipe from one well above the building, and as 
 the pipe is frozen up and inoperative a large part of the win- 
 ter, the benefit derived from such a source is about what might 
 naturally be expected. To one at all mindful of health and 
 comfort, diphtheria, fever, and kindred diseases would suggest 
 themselves ; and we could hardly see how teachers and pupils 
 could get through the year in such an atmosphere, unless it 
 were, as the principal informed us, " by keeping mad all the 
 time.". But we were assured that this nuisance was not longer 
 to be tolerated, and that an architect was on the ground with 
 a view to its removal before the next term ; and that the ap- 
 proaches to the ladies' closets would be concealed from the 
 gaze of the curious or impudent ones of the other sex. 
 
In the basement are two furnaces, both worthless except as 
 the brick of which they are constructed may be of value. One 
 was operated a while before it gave out, and the other never 
 was good for anything. The basement is not under the whole 
 structure, and the walls of the new part of the building are of 
 single brick, wired to a frame. As now constructed, the build- 
 ing contains seven recitation rooms ; two quite small rooms, in 
 which are stored a valuable cabinet of New Hampshire rock, 
 and a small though select and useful library of about 500 vol- 
 umes. In the third story is a hall over the whole building, 
 warmed by a single stove standing in one corner. All the 
 rooms are heated by stoves. The apparatus is in one of the 
 recitation-rooms, in very good condition, and apparently well 
 protected. Possibly in this connection we may be allowed to 
 suggest that in the architectural design, work, and appurte- 
 nances of this building, doubtless some mistakes were made 
 and blunders committed, — as is frequently the case in new enter- 
 prises of this and a similar character, where the labor is all 
 performed at arm's-length, and under the immediate supervision 
 of one intent on his five dollars per day;* and had not the 
 building committee, in their report of 1873 (page 11), affirmed 
 that, in their opinion, all the money had "been expended in 
 an economical and prudent manner," we might have been in- 
 clined to doubt that such was the case in every instance. 
 
 About four rods above the school building is the boarding- 
 house, an ancient though comfortable structure, capable of 
 accommodating thirty-five boarders, a family, and servants. 
 Attached to the house, or rather to the wood-shed adjoining 
 the house, is a small barn, recently built by the trustees of 
 the school to take the place of an old one. These build- 
 ings, with their furnishings, appointments, and about two 
 acres of the best land in Plymouth village, upon which they 
 are located, comprise the normal school property, so-called. 
 The buildings are insured in the Prescott, Fireman's, Girard, 
 and People's companies, to the amount of $15,700. Library, 
 other personal property, and apparatus not insured. 
 
 *We were informed that the building committee of the trustees employed Mr. Dunn, of 
 Littleton, to superintend construction, who received for his services $5 a day. 
 
5 
 
 To pay for all this property, the town of Plymouth 
 
 gave $10,000 
 
 District No. 2 in Plymouth 7,000 
 
 The Boston, Concord & Montreal Railroad 4,000 
 
 Residents of Plymouth 1,100 
 
 State of New Hampshire 13,000 
 
 Amounting to $35,100 
 
 Of the $20,000 appropriated by the state at various times for 
 current expenses of the school, $1,000 went into what is termed 
 permanent investments, making the original cost of the prop- 
 erty a little over $36,000. Out of said $20,000, $3,224 was 
 used in making repairs, so that only $15,776 of that $20,000 
 was expended in school expenses proper from the date of the 
 first appropriation for that purpose (July 3, 1873) until now. 
 Otherwise, the institution has been self-supporting, deriving its 
 funds from tuition, money received for services of its teachers 
 at institutes, etc. 
 
 That the legislature may fully understand the situation of the 
 school matters, we have to say that the town of Plymouth, with 
 a view to the establishing of a normal school in their midst, 
 purchased the premises above described of one Burnham, for 
 $10,000, intending to convey the same to the state, which was 
 done Feb. 6, 1871, by Joseph Burrows, Jonathan H.Johnson, 
 and Joseph A. Dodge, acting for and on behalf of said town, 
 said deed conveying the boarding-house lot, so called, also the 
 academy lot, bell, cabinet, furniture, apparatus, and all the per- 
 sonal property in and about said premises, which was formerly 
 used and owned in connection with the academy, reserving any 
 right of way which James McQuesten might establish across 
 said last-mentioned parcel, with the following provisos : 
 
 (1) That the grantees herein named establish and maintain 
 a state Normal School in said Plymouth village, and shall ob- 
 serve and fully comply with and carry out the following condi- 
 tions, viz. : In connection with said normal school said state 
 shall establish and maintain a model school, in which shall be 
 taught all the English branches of study usual in village high 
 schools, at which all the scholars of district No. Two in said 
 
Plymouth may attend free of tuition, provided the ordinary 
 school money of said district No. Two is appropriated to the 
 support of said school. (2) That if any district school in said 
 Plymouth shall be graded, the state shall permit the scholars 
 of the higher department of such graded district school to at- 
 tend said model school free of tuition, provided such district 
 shall appropriate one half of its ordinary school money to the 
 support of said model school. (3) That if at the expiration 
 of five years, or at any time, the state fails to comply with any 
 of the conditions herein contained, said buildings and grounds 
 shall revert to and reinvest in said town of Plymouth, in as good 
 condition as they are at the time they pass into possession of 
 said grantees, reasonable use, wear, and depreciation excepted ; 
 and in case said district No. Two shall raise and pay over to 
 said normal and model schools, or to the trustees thereof for 
 the use of said schools, the sum of $5,000, and if $4,000 thereof 
 shall be invested in real estate, by enlarging and repairing the 
 buildings and grounds on said premises, then, in case the above 
 premises revert to said town of Plymouth, by reason of the 
 non-compliance with the conditions herein contained, by said 
 grantees, said district No. Two shall own an interest in said 
 premises in proportion of four for said district and ten for said 
 town.* (4) Also provided that said buildings shall be kept 
 insured against loss or damage by fire in the sum of not less 
 than $10,000, or in such reasonable sums as can be obtained in 
 good and reliable insurance companies, at the expense of the 
 grantees, for the benefit of the town of Plymouth, in case the 
 premises revert as aforesaid ; and provided no further contribu- 
 tion shall be required of said town for the establishment and 
 maintenance of said State Normal School. 
 
 We also deem it essential to lay before you the contract be- 
 tween the trustees of the normal school and school district No. 
 Two in Plymouth : The trustees of the State Normal School 
 of New Hampshire, located at Plymouth in said state, in their 
 said capacity, and their successors of the one part, and school 
 
 * It will be noticed, that under this condition, the state has no right in the property com- 
 prising the normal school estate, in case of reversion or removal of the institution. 
 
district No. Two in said Plymouth, of the other part, on this 
 20th day of February, 1871, agree as follows : The said trustees 
 and their successors, that in consideration of the promises and 
 agreements hereinafter expressed on the part of said district, 
 they will locate and establish the State Normal School, under 
 the act of the legislature of said state, passed at the June session, 
 1870, entitled "An act for the establishment of a normal school," 
 and any subsequent legislation in relation thereto, in Plymouth 
 village, and establish and maintain in connection therewith a 
 good and efficient model school, free to all the scholars of said 
 district, which shall take the place of the common district 
 school in said district, and that they will permit all the pupils 
 of said district to attend the model school free from any charge 
 for tuition ; and that said trustees and their successors do here- 
 by accept of the moneys and other good and valuable consid- 
 erations, on the part of said district, upon the terms and condi- 
 tions hereinafter written. And the said district, in consideration 
 of the aforesaid promises and agreements on the part of said 
 trustees, hereby agrees with said trustees and their successors 
 that it will raise and appropriate and pay to said trustees and 
 their successors the sum of $7,000, to be invested in lands, 
 buildings, school apparatus, and personal property necessary 
 for the use of the normal and model schools aforesaid ; and 
 further, that said district shall and will pay all its school 
 money (meaning hereby the amount which it is required to 
 raise by the existing laws of this state when such money shall 
 be raised) , to be a sum in no case less than $600 per year, to 
 said trustees and their successors, the use of the district school- 
 house for the purpose of said model school and of said normal 
 school, subject to the use of the model school for a period not 
 exceeding two years from the time such location shall be made, 
 if so much time shall be required to prepare suitable buildings, 
 fixtures, and furniture for the normal and model schools afore- 
 said. And it is further mutually agreed between the parties 
 that all property of the normal and model schools shall be kept 
 properly insured against loss and damage by fire, by said trus- 
 tees and their successors, at the expense of the state ; and that 
 the interest of the district therein hereafter specified shall revert 
 
8 
 
 and reinvest in the district when the conditions of the agree- 
 ment are not complied with on the part of said trustees and 
 their successors, or when the normal or model school ceases to 
 exist, or shall be removed from said Plymouth ; and that at 
 least $4,000 of said $7,000 shall be invested in real estate, as 
 called for at the discretion of the trustees, and as the wants of 
 the institution require. And said interest of the district, in 
 case it shall revert and reinvest as aforesaid, shall be that pro- 
 portion of each species of property so reverting which shall 
 have been purchased by said $7,000, or any part thereof. 
 
 By referring to chapter 5, section 2, page 16, Pamphlet 
 Laws of 1872, it will be seen that another very important 
 paper is provided for, namely, a "valid agreement" between 
 the town of Plymouth and the state. The following is a copy 
 of said " valid agreement," which is on file in the office of the 
 secretary of state : 
 
 KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, 
 
 That the town of Plymouth, in the county of Grafton, by Jo- 
 seph A. Dodge, Daniel H. Currier, and Lucius M. Howe, all 
 of said Plymouth, a committee duly chosen and authorized at 
 a legal meeting of said town of Plymouth, holden on 
 the 20th day of July, a. d. 1872, for the purpose 
 hereinafter specified, in consideration of the sum of 
 eight thousand dollars appropriated by the legislature 
 of the state of New Hampshire at its June session, a. 
 d. 1872, upon condition that the town of Plymouth 
 enter into a valid agreement with the state that 
 should the normal school cease to exist in said town 
 the state shall be entitled to an interest in the real estate con- 
 veyed by said town to the trustees for the normal school, and 
 the improvements thereof, bearing the same proportion to the 
 whole of said real estate and improvements as the several sums 
 appropriated by the state and expended upon said real estate 
 shall bear to the whole amount derived from all sources expend- 
 ed for the purchase and improvements of said real estate ; and 
 whereas said town of Plymouth, at said town-meeting, holden 
 as aforesaid, voted to accept said appropriation upon said con- 
 ditions ; and in consideration thereof said town does hereby sell, 
 grant, and convey to the state of New Hampshire, should said 
 normal school cease to exist in said town of Plymouth, an inter- 
 est in said real estate conveyed by said town to the trustees for 
 
 U.S. 
 Revenue 
 
 (•So) 
 Stamp. 
 
the normal school, and the improvements thereof, bearing the 
 same proportion to the whole of said real estate and improve- 
 ments as the several sums appropriated by the state and ex- 
 pended upon said real estate shall bear to the whole amount 
 derived from all sources expended for the purchase and im- 
 provements of said real estate, to have and to hold the same 
 with all the privileges and appurtenances to said estate forever, 
 if said normal school ceases to exist in said town. In witness 
 whereof the said town of Plymouth, by its said committee, 
 Joseph A. Dodge, Daniel H. Currier, and Lucius M. Howe, 
 has set its hand and seal this thirtieth day of July, 1872. 
 Signed, sealed, and delivered in presence of 
 
 C. M. Whittier, 
 
 Clark J. Brown, 
 
 Joseph Burrows, 
 
 Daniel W. Burrows. 
 
 Town of Plymouth, 
 
 Seal. 
 
 By J. A. Dodge, \ Committee 
 
 D. H. Currier, > of 
 
 Lucius M. Howe, j said Plymouth. 
 
 Grafton ss., July 30, 1872. 
 
 Then said town of Plymouth, by its committee, Joseph A. 
 Dodge, Daniel H. Currier, and Lucius M. Howe, personally 
 appeared and acknowledged the above instrument to be its free 
 act. 
 
 Before me, Daniel W. Burrows, Justice of the Peace. 
 
 Under these agreements there have come to be the model 
 school, the preparatory school, and the normal school, all in 
 the same building. The first, as will be seen from the con- 
 tract between district number two and the trustees of the nor- 
 mal school, contains the scholars of said district. They occupy 
 two rooms. The district has paid into the normal school fund, 
 from 1 87 1 to 1877 inclusive, about $4,080 ; being the amount 
 of school money said district was by law compelled to raise for 
 these seven years. Whole number of scholars attending model 
 school first year, 77; during the last year, 134. The money 
 received from the district pays two teachers for the model 
 school ; said school consisting of only two departments, — the 
 primary and grammar. 
 
 The preparatory department registered 47 names in all last 
 year, and is a sort of middle ground between the other two 
 schools, being made up of the advanced scholars of the model 
 
10 
 
 school, and of those of the normal school who are hardly up to 
 the standard required for admission to that department. The 
 pupils here pay tuition, and make the school, as we were in- 
 formed, self-supporting. Prof. Kelsey is of opinion, and ad- 
 duced good reasons for his belief, that something of this kind, 
 with a limited number of scholars, should be connected with 
 every normal school, so that the normal pupils might learn the 
 art of teaching in very deed, by being compelled to instruct 
 classes in the preparatory school under the supervision of a 
 critic teacher, and thus bring practice and theory together. 
 This department has only one teacher besides those furnished 
 from the normal pupils, and nearly the same studies are pur- 
 sued here as in the normal school, with the exception that Latin 
 is here taught as far as Cassar. 
 
 The normal school proper for the last year numbered 95 pu- 
 pils, 43 of whom graduated at the last term. Under its present 
 management we are confident that the aim of the founders of 
 the institution to make this a place where the science of teach- 
 ing is taught, is being carried out. 
 
 This department has graduated 214 in both courses, for there 
 are two, the one course extending through only one year, the 
 other two years, and pupils graduate at the termination of 
 either course. As we understand it, there are no provisions, 
 practices, or rules whereby scholars can graduate except at the 
 close of the year. Some schools of this character graduate a 
 class every term, and if a scholar is kept out by sickness, or for 
 any other cause, it does not put him back a full year. It can- 
 not be expected that those taking only the first course are so 
 well fitted to teach as are they who have studied two years. 
 We herewith submit a list of the branches of study for each 
 course : 
 
 FALL TERM. 
 
 First Course. Second Course. 
 
 Arithmetic, to Percentage. Arithmetic, Advanced. 
 
 Geography, General, and of N. H. Grammatical Analysis. 
 Natural Philosophy, commenced. Algebra, continued. 
 Reading. Constitution of N. H. and U. S. 
 
 Penmanship. Geometry, commenced. 
 
 Spelling. 
 
II 
 
 WINTER TERM. 
 
 First Course. 
 
 Arithmetic, completed. 
 Physiology. 
 Book-keeping. 
 Grammar, commenced. 
 Spelling and Rules. 
 
 Second Course. 
 
 Geometry, continued. 
 Natural Philosophy, completed. 
 Physical Geography. 
 Chemistry and Practice. 
 
 SPRING TERM. 
 
 First Course. 
 
 Grammatical Analysis. 
 Algebra, commenced. 
 History, U. S. 
 
 Theory and Practice of Teaching. 
 Spelling and Composition. 
 School Laws of N. H. 
 
 Second Course. 
 
 General Reviews. 
 
 Mineralogy. 
 
 Astronomy. 
 
 Theory and Practice of Teaching. 
 
 School Laws of N. H. 
 
 Reference to chapter 81, section 5, page 169, General Stat- 
 utes, and to section 5, page 16, Pamphlet Laws of 1872, will 
 show that this list of studies may be within the spirit of the 
 law regulating what studies shall be pursued in said school. 
 To a great extent the matter is where it ought to be, — within 
 the discretion of the principal. 
 
 Applicants for admission to the normal school are to present 
 certificates of good character from responsible parties of their 
 locality, and pass satisfactory examination by the principal 
 and state superintendent, — the gentlemen to be at least 17 
 and the ladies 16 years old. At the close of their course they 
 are compelled to a rigid examination by the state superintend- 
 ent and other gentlemen (last term Prof. Knight), before li- 
 censes to teach will be granted them. This examination is no 
 form or idle ceremony, for each student is thoroughly cat- 
 echised as to fitness and qualifications to teach. The school 
 has three terms a year, of ten weeks each. Fall term begins 
 second Wednesday in September; winter term begins first 
 Wednesday in December ; spring term begins last Wednesday 
 in February. 
 
 Seven teachers are employed, and are under the direction of 
 the principal, who nominates them, stating the prices to be 
 paid them ; and a committee of the trustees, chosen for this 
 
12 
 
 part of the business, confirm or reject — as they deem best — the 
 nominations. The object is, to obtain teachers who themselves 
 have had the benefit of normal instruction. Four days out of 
 the week the pupils are taken to the hall, where, in appropriate 
 habit and under a proper instructor, they are exercised forty 
 minutes in gymnastics and calisthenics. So far these exercises 
 have been voluntary ; hereafter they are to be compulsory. 
 
 The entire management of the school is in the hands of fifteen 
 trustees, appointed by the governor, and so apportioned that 
 not less than one nor more than two shall be from each county 
 in the state. The compensation of these fifteen men is in no 
 case to exceed $300 annually. For this amount they are to 
 look after the finances, see to the construction of proper build- 
 ings, that those built are suitably repaired, that the right kind 
 and requisite number of teachers are employed, a visiting com- 
 mittee appointed, and in attendance, prescribe the course of 
 study, purchase apparatus, and have the oversight of the thou- 
 sand and one things necessary to be done in such a school. 
 Were it not for the fact that the Boston, Concord & Montreal 
 Railroad kindly favors them in regard to fare over the road, 
 many of the trustees would doubtless have but little of their 
 twenty dollars left at the close of the year. 
 
 The act of July 2, 1870, section 5, establishing a normal 
 school, provided that it should be u maintained without expense 
 to the state," except the $300 to the trustees, the legislature 
 contemplating, we suppose, that sufficient revenue would be 
 derived from tuitions to make the institution self-supporting. 
 By the act of July 3, 1875, section 1, "tuition and graduation 
 in the State Normal School shall be free to all those completing 
 either or both of its prescribed courses of study, upon condi- 
 tion that they shall, in consideration thereof, agree to teach in 
 the schools of this state for a period equal to the time of said 
 courses of study completed." These two sections of the stat- 
 utes, so antagonistic in their provisions, are harmonized by ap- 
 propriations of the legislature of sufficient funds, with those 
 derived from other sources, to carry on the school. 
 
 The amount received for tuition, exclusive of what has been 
 remitted under the act of 1875, is about $9,700, and for services 
 of normal school teachers at institutes, about $1,000. The 
 
13 • 
 
 boarding-house account about balances. The trustees rent this 
 for a certain amount each year, prescribing rates of board, and 
 in this way are enabled to regulate the price of board for pupils 
 throughout the village, a matter of no small importance to those 
 attending school. 
 
 The whole receipts of the school, from every 
 
 source to date, are $63,793-3° 
 
 , Whole expenses and disbursements 62,530.99 
 
 Cash on hand June 1, 1877 $1,262.31 
 
 Of this balance at least $1,000 is needed in making necessary 
 repairs ; and, if proper heating apparatus is secured, a much 
 larger sum will be necessary. 
 
 We were not disappointed in finding the treasurer's books 
 straight, and his accounts, as well as his system of keeping 
 them, correct. Mr. Whittier has done a large amount of work 
 without compensation, and has done it well. He has vouchers 
 for all moneys paid out. It has been no part of his business to 
 audit, or in any manner pass upon accounts, only to see that 
 they were correctly cast, and then pay the money. Mr. Dunn, 
 the architect, audited his own bills, both for labor performed 
 and materials furnished. While your committee might doubt 
 very seriously the wisdom and economy of all the expenditures, 
 they find no evidence that a single dollar has been turned aside 
 from the purposes for which the legislature appropriated it. 
 
 This, gentlemen of the legislature, about completes the work, 
 so far as we are able, required of us by the resolution under 
 which we have acted. Still we may be pardoned for stating 
 some things, and making a few suggestions, which do not per- 
 haps come strictly within the scope of the resolution. 
 
 The normal school is in want of more room — more for the 
 cabinet and more for the library ; a toilet-room for the ladies? 
 where they can lay off their outer wrappings, and have a place 
 by themselves to change their apparel before engaging in calis- 
 thenic exercises ; also a natural history room, where the people 
 throughout the state can rest assured their gifts of value and 
 interest will be safely protected. 
 
 We were informed that some arrangement is now in prospect 
 
14 
 
 whereby the school district of Plymouth is to be separated from 
 the normal school ; and that committees on the part of the dis- 
 trict and on the part of the trustees of the normal school have 
 been appointed to devise some means of separation satisfactory 
 to both parties. When this is done, as it doubtless must be 
 in some manner, and the sooner the better, with some slight 
 changes in the rooms there will be ample accommodations for 
 the normal school proper. 
 
 It is also for the legislature to consider whether the number 
 of trustees is not so large as to be unwieldy ; whether it is 
 economical to compel men to come from every part of the state 
 to superintend repairs of slight consequence, when the prin- 
 cipal of the school could attend to the matter just as well ; 
 whether it is best that there should be committees for one thing 
 and another appertaining to the running of the school, when 
 once a competent head of the school is secured, — in fact, 
 whether or not the greater part of the management of the in- 
 stitution could not be as safely entrusted to one-man power, 
 located on the ground, as to men scattered from Colebrook to 
 Portsmouth ; and whether, when the schools are separated, it 
 would not be better for the normal school to know at the be- 
 ginning of the year the amount of aid it is going to receive 
 from the state, rather than go on through the year, hesitating, 
 and ignorant of how much help, if any, it is to have. 
 
 We do not at this day, when so much money and effort is 
 expended in training minds for the ministry, the law, the prac- 
 tice of medicine, and a hundred other callings in life, consider 
 it our duty, or at all necessary, to suggest to you the benefits 
 accruing to the state from a normal school properly managed ; 
 nor shall we enter upon any argument to convince members of 
 the legislature of what their good sense and better judgment 
 must have already made clear to them, — that those having in 
 charge the shaping and molding of their children's characters 
 cannot be too well fitted for that delicate and most responsible 
 task, — nor to convince this honorable body of the necessity and 
 exceeding propriety of a generous annual appropriation to the 
 school for this end. 
 
 It has not been thought best to incorporate into this report 
 
15 
 
 much of the matter appearing from year to year in the trustees' 
 reports of the normal school, nor the acts of the legislature in 
 reference to the school, as the reports themselves and the stat- 
 utes are accessible to the members of either house. 
 
 Respectfully submitted. 
 
 C. B. JORDAN, 
 S. L. BLAKE, 
 E. P. JEWELL, 
 June i, 1877. Committee. 
 
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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS % 
 
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