Page:A history of the Michigan state normal school (now Normal college) at Ypsilanti, Michigan, 1849-1899 (IA historyofmichiga00putniala).pdf/13

 Education Library

PREFATORY NOTE.

It is not easy to write, with entire impartiality, the history an institution in which one has been, for any considerable time, a personal actor. The writer has been connected, in various relations, for thirty years with the Michigan State Normal School. He has known pretty intimately all the Principals of the school, and has taught with all these except Principal Welch. With a very few exceptions he has known personally all the teachers who have been connected with the school.

Under such conditions it will be difficult to exclude the personal element from the narrative or from the discussions which now and then occur. An attempt has been made, however, to prevent this element from giving any unfair or unjust coloring to any statements or conclusions in regard to persons, events, or the policy and administration of the school. It is too much to expect that the attempt has been in all cases entirely successful, but it is hoped that no injustice has been done to any one who has, at any time, been connected with the institution in any capacity.

This service of so many years has created in my mind a strong attachment to the Normal School and to those with whom I have been, for so long a period, intimately associated both officially and in the bonds of strong personal friendship.

To all those with whom I have been thus associated, whether teachers or students, I desire to express my warmest regards, and my best wishes for their happiness and prosperity in all the coming days wherever a kind Providence may lead them.

A few words of explanation and acknowledgment are due to those who have kindly aided in the preparation and publication of this book. It was originally proposed to have a chapter containing a complete list of all the classes graduated, together with