Page:A history of the Michigan state normal school (now Normal college) at Ypsilanti, Michigan, 1849-1899 (IA historyofmichiga00putniala).pdf/122



are highly delighted with its arrangements, considering it merely as a small select schoo]. Indeed, in a qualified sense, they regard it a ‘model school.’ But in no sense do they consider it an experimental school for practice, in whose exercises normal pupils may participate, under the directions of a judicious superintendent—an idea which should be inseparably connected with a mode school as an appendage to a normal school."

The Superintendent continues:

‘In this view of the case, and being unable to make the arrangement that seemed tnost desirable, because of the unwillingness of the Union School Board and of the citizens of Ypsilanti to pass the management of their school into the hands of the Board of Education,—an arrangement which would have enabled the Board to have opened a school embracing every grade of scholarship from the alphabet upward to the extent of the Normal School course, through the whole extent of which normal pupils might have had experience in teaching, under the advice and direction of a judicious superintendent;—in this view of the case, it only remained for the Board to do what they conceived to be best for the interests of the institution under the circumstances. They, therefore, decided to enlarge the Model School, to extend the course of study, and, as speedily as practicable, to place this Department of the Normal School upon a basis which, while it shall fully answer the requirements of the law, will, at the same time, furnish a course of instruction equal in extent and thoroughness to that of the best Academies in our country.

In accordance with the purposes thus set forth a course of study was arranged for the experimental school which included the Elementary and Higher English branches, Vocal Music, Drawing, and both the Ancient and Modern Languages. ‘Tuition in the elementary English branches was fixed at $10 per year; in the Higher English at $15, and in the Languages at $20. These rates were, however, soon afterwards modified and considerably reduced.

Mr. D. P. Mayhew, who had been Superintendent of schools in Columbus, Ohio, was appointed Principal of the enlarged Model School, and was to be assisted by an ‘accomplished lady’’ and by members of the senior class. The new arrangement was to go into effect at the opening of the year 1856. In his report for that year the State Superintendent says: ‘Arrangements have been made for the enlargement of the Model School;"’ and in the report for the next year he states ‘that the changes referred to in my former Report’’ have been made and that great benefit