I beings, cannot > essential to the n is felt, and a it have to awae in the green ommunity where will not fail to the highest demands of an enlightened humanity, true patriotism and social good. Our School Fund should be prized as a rich inheritance to ourselves and our posterity; but still more ought we to appreciate and rejoice in that high-toned public sentiment which determines that Education shall be universal-that this Fund shall never be perverted from its original design and greatest possible influence, and that the noble sentiment of our fathers, whose hands gave form to our institutions, that "Religion, Morality, and Knowledge, being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, SCHOOLS and the means of EDUCATION shall forever be encouraged," shall never be repealed or disregarded. THE STATE NORMAL SCHOOL, AND ITS FUNDS. All the legislation of our State, from the commencement, upon educational affairs, seems to have contemplated, not only the necessary pecuniary aid for Primary Schools, but the highest grade of talent and aptitude in their vocation, that could be secured in teachers. This in our legislation was but the reflection of sentiment manifested by the active friends of Popular Education, among whom the teachers themselves stood foremost. Instead of leaving the district officers, who are usually elected more with reference to their business activity and financial skill, than to their education, to judge of the qualifications of the teachers they employ, as has been, and perhaps still is done in some States, our State has made provision for the election of officers who are expected to be chosen for their ability to judge of a teacher's qualifications, to examine every person proposing to teach a Primary School, and without whose certificate of fitness, no teacher can be employed, on pain of the district's being deprived of its proportion of the public funds. This was well calculated to stimulate teachers to a desire to excel, and Associations and Institutes were organized in many places by them, for the purpose of improvement in their profession. With these organizations the Superintendent of Public Instruction gave a hearty co-operation, and recommended legislative aid in their behalf; cause, the means of concentrating public opinion upon subject of a State Normal School; showing as they did necessity of such an institution, and to some extent, might be expected from it. The State Normal School was established by the L lature in 1849; and its main design is to be a School Teachers; where they may receive instruction peculi adapted to their profession; though the law contains s rhetorical flourishes about giving "instruction in the chanic arts, and in the arts of husbandry, and agricult chemistry, in the fundamental laws of the United Sta and in what regards the rights and duties of citize The Normal School is to the Primary Schools, what T logical Seminaries are to the Churches-it is simply Teacher's College, and a school for professional training The law creating the Normal School of Michigan pla it under the direction of a Board of Education, consist of three persons, to be appointed by the Governor, approved by the Senate; one of which was to retire f office each year, by one new appointment being mad each year. The Legislature of 1850, made the Lieuter Governor, the State Treasurer, and the Superintenden Public Instruction, ex-officio members of the Board. Superintendent was made the Secretary of the Board, Treasurer its Treasurer, and it was to elect its President. All this, however, was changed by the Constitution the same year, which provides for a Board of three m bers, elected by the people, to hold their office for years-one being elected at each biennial election. Superintendent is ex-officio a member, and Secretary of Board. Ten sections of Salt Spring lands were appropriated meet the expense of buildings, apparatus, &c., to be nominated the "Normal School Building Fund." The Salt Spring lands consisted of seventy-two sectic pinion upon the as they did, the me extent, what ed by the Legis be a School for ction peculiarly w contains some tion in the meand agricultural United States, es of citizens." pols, what Theo it is simply the Eonal training. Michigan placed ation, consisting • Governor, and s to retire from being made in the Lieutenant perintendent of he Board. The the Board, the elect its own granted by Congress to the State, in connection with the salt springs, which it was then hoped would become a source of wealth to the State in the production of salt. In appropriating the ten sections for the necessary improvements to put the Normal School in operation, they were not offered for sale for cash. But all labor and materials were to be paid for in warrants on the Commissioner of the Land Office--which warrants alone could be received for the land. In addition to the above, fifteen sections of Salt Spring lands were appropriated, subject to sale, for an Endowment, which was made inalienable for the support of the School. The proceeds were to be placed in the State treasury, like the other Trust Funds, and upon which the State was to pay six per cent., annually. This interest, with that received on unpaid balances from purchasers, was to constitute the "Normal School Endowment Fund." The Board of Education held its first meeting in May, 1849. The location of the School became a subject of interest to the citizens of different localities, and at the next meeting of the Board in September, propositions were received from the citizens of Ypsilanti, Jackson, Marshall, Gull Prairie, and Niles; each tendering to the State a site for the buildings, together with large subscriptions in money. Upon a full comparison of these liberal offers, and upon a general view of the subject, the Board decided to locate the institution at Ypsilanti, upon the following proposition of the citizens of that place: They were to give a suitable plat of ground for a site for the buildings, a cash subscription of $13,500 to be paid, one-third in September, 1850, and the remainder in one and two years thereafter, the use of temporary buildings for the Normal and Model Schools until suitable buildings could be erected, and the payment of the salary of the teacher of the Model School for five years. The site consisted of four acres, beautifully situated |