Page:History of Southeast Missouri 1912 Volume 1.djvu/481

 HISTORY OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 421 seen that the three Normal schools are the re- sult of the same forces and the same agitation for improvement of teaching. Tliis agitation was the result, in large part, of the work of Joseph Baldwin, the founder and first president of the Kirksville Normal school. While we may not withhold from After the organization of the Normal schools at Warrensburg and Kirksville it was plainly evident that a third school was needed to supply that great section of the state lying south of the Missouri river and east of Jefferson City. Accordingly the legis- lature provided for the establishment of such State Nuejial School President Baldwin the just credit which be- longs to him for his work in establishing Normal schools in the state, it is very evident that the demand for improved teaching would have eventually" led to the organization of schools for the training of teachers. The necessity for such training is too great for a public school system to become very effective without the organization of schools devoted especially to this work. a school to be located within the bounds of Southeast Missouri. Under the provisions of this act the first step to be taken in the organi- zation of the school was the creation of a board of regents, which was to consist of the state superintendent of schools, the secretary of state and the attorney general, who were to hold a place on the board ex-officio, and four members to be appointed by the governor of the state. Shortly after the approval of the