Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, August 10, 1902, Page 30

SSessramers MONG the many Institutions of learning in the state none takes o higher rank than the Fremont ldu“.‘" Normal school, Commercial In- stitute and College of Pharmacy. Through its methods, thoroughness of in- struction, and close application to economi- cal principles, It has won for itself a state pride, Its many students speak In words of praise of its merits and through them positive enthusiasm is carried not only into every county In the state, but to the ad- Jacent states, It Is fast becoming national in its usefulness. It is easy to understand why thie growth when you examine iuto the merits of the Institution. The faculty i# composed of men and women of ripe scholarship and teaching power. The com- mon branches, which are the basis of an education are taught practically and thor- oughly, No time is lost In useless expen- diture of energy. Every moment ls de- voted to that Information which will be useful In future life. The teacher puts his search-light of intelligence on both lesson and pupil. The questions are adroitly put and the answers are clear and concise, so Intensely Interesting Is the re- citation period that the quiz hour seems to be but a few minutes in length. The student is taught to think and act for him- self. Encouragement is properly given, not only along the lines of thorough investiga- tlon, but to the actual expression of that investigation to others. It is a pleasure to visit the school. The first thing to which your attention Is called is the pleas- ant but positive industry of both faculty and student., The students derive great pleasure from work, are happy and In- tensely interested. In the practice rooms we found a bevy of little fellows in- teresting and interested. The Instructors were completely lost in their gocd work and well wishes for the mental growth of the little sons. The teachers who were observing the work could not but other- wise be greatly benefited as they observed the work of tralned and skilled instructors manipulating the thought and molding to a great extent the future of the coming man and woman, In the Department of Phar- macy everything was work and order. A spirit of true rivalry pervaded the well equipped and capacious rooms. Bverything was done with dispatch and precision. Here as elsewhere I found teach- ers not only masters, but endowned with the power of imparting that mastery to others. At the close of each recitation, the large hallwaye are filled with students moving to their recitation rooms and you are not able to discriminate teacher from pupil, REveryone is on an equality, but the moment the bell rings for class work, that positive dignity conduclve to success is not only seen but felt. Thus each hour in the day, from 6 o'clock in the morning to 7:30 o'clock in the evening, is occupled in unfolding and mastering the subject as- signed. The organization is such that stu- dents are required to take but four hours' work and cne drill per day. The 1,000 stu- dents In attendance are most beauti‘ully ard Judiciously cared for. The management tells me the work ls so arrang-d that gov- ernment {8 a secondary affair and that true interest in studies is the proper antidote for mischief. Work Inclucates manly and womanly attributes, gives mental culture and power and thus paves the way to suc- coss. Everything Is kept scrupulously c'ean and in order; nothing goes to waste—true economy and not parsimony is practiced in every sense and at all times. Students are surrounded with every fac'lity for good work; fine school rooms, excellent labor- atorles for thorough investigation of all solentific studies, a well selected library and a beautiful campus kept in perfect order. The homes of the students are neat and commodious and an atmospher:f o kindness pervades all. The school is offi- clally recognized and issues three grades of staie certificates: One for two years, on? for three years and one for life. This priv- flege backed by the personal pride of the management and faculty to bulld a good school and the realization of what true merit means in battling with the things of life toward a successful issue, combine to The Fremont Normal School MAIN BUILDING. bromden iis fieid of useiuiness. To meei these requirements and advantages the school has fitted up the most beautiful prac- tice and observation rooms, it has been our privilege to visit. The appliances are com- plete and the teachers in charg: are mas- ters of the situation. The work embraced in the observation department includes everything from the kindergarten to the elghth grade. Those seeking professional training will find no better anywhere. Being greatly surprised, I asked to know the secret of success, quickly the reply came: “It 1s due to three causes; first, raising the scholarship of the faculty; secondly, lowering the rates to the puplil; last, but not least, to the many good friends of the Institution in the state and west. The school SECTION OF men, business men and public generally have been very kind to the institution in speaking pleasant words for the good work done here."” As to expenses, $123.76 pays for fifty weeks gchooling including board, room, tuition and electric light. I was surprised to find that it was a trifie over $2.40 per week and when I examined the accommoda- tions and saw for myself the commodious dining room and tables, I was indeed sur- prised to know that it could be dome for 80 small an amount of money and at the same time give everything first class. The tablgs were well laden with the best of food, well prepared, served in famlly style, neat and clean. The problem was solved when I noticed the industry and cleanliness which pervaded everything. My visit to this institution demonstrates the fact that education llke any other industry to be ) SECTION OF COMMEROCIAL ROOM. the mosi successiui to 1ts patrons the man- agement must be run on strictly business principles. The student leaves this institu- tion imbued with the idea of economy and industry well woven into his mental and physical makeup. The scope of {nformation glven here includes a pharmacy -course, where students are fitted for regularly r:g- istered pharmacists, the commercial course, shorthand and typewriting course, a course in fine art, school of music, literary courses, didactic and civil engineering. On inquiry I found that many of the students had been in school from three to four years of fifty weeks each and reflected an air of refine- ment and culture in a high degree. The management told me that the large and commodious halls were being rapidly filied LABORATORY. by next year's students; that the certificate, sclentific and classic courses were never better in the history of the school; that the fall term opens September 2. It would be well for persons desiring further information concerning the school to write to the president, W. H. Clemmons, for a catalogue, which will be mailed free. Camping Clubs The percentage of middle class families able to leave the large cities for the summer or even for a month, is comparatively small, yet at no season of the year do mothers find themselves confronted by so serious an aspect of the ubiquituos boy question, Particularly is this true of those in mod- erate circumstances, but possessed of a keen wense of their chiidren’'s rights. Only the mother who is established in a six or seven-room flat can fully appre- clate what it means to have a restless, un- occupled lad at home all summer. If he plays in his own rooms the tenant on the fioor below complains to the agent or jan- ftor. If he plays on the stoop, the jan- itor is promptly on hand to warn him away. If he wanders up to the enticing flat roof, there again looms the janitor. And while the janitor may not follow him to the water's edge when he goes fishing in the river his mother's tearful prophecy of death by drowning does. Unfortunately for boy and mother, hospitable grandmothers and aunties on farms seem to be growing fewer at an alarming rate. And here it is plain that the camping club offers a place of refuge to the city boy. There are clubs—and clubs, varying not in their natural advantages, for Dame Na- ture is no respecter of persons, but rather in the matter of equipment and manage- ment. Some boys there are who make the membership exclusive and limited by the expenses attached to the jaunt, but in these the generai run of boys take small interest. It Is to the chap who saves every penn) he can during the year that the ocamp- inx trip means most. Sometimes the clubs are formed by or- of Fremont, Neb. SECTION OF MAIN BUILDING—DORMITORY, ganizations, church or otherwise, interested in work among boys. Nearly every large city choir sends out its club when the churches close for the heated term, or at least abbreviate their services. But per- haps there are no more representative clubs than those managed by the boys’ branches of the Young Men's Christian as- sociation. At various times this summer the organization has had 10,000 lads en- camped at different points in the Unitel States. The work is In no sense that of charity. Each boy pays his way and has a feeling of absolute independence. The object is to provide four weeks, or two, according to the purse and desire of each camper, of free, outdoor life, full to the brim with healthy must be heavy army blankets, a raincoat, winter underwear, a swimming suit, a heavy sweater, all the typical camping equipment dear to the boyish heart at that age when fashion and conventionalities are a bugaboo. On the other hand, mem- bers are urged to bring good books to in- crease the camp library, their cameras and musical instrumente, that life may not be all idleness and play. Long tramps in the woods, often followed by making an impromptu camp miles from the central camping spot, jaunts to nearby historical spots and field-day sports add to the reg- ular pleasures of camp life. In the average club of from 150 to 200 members the cost ie a dollar a day, which covers railroad fare and all incidental ex- SECTION OF DRUG ROOM. sport and fun, under the careful leadership of Christian men. As a rule one trustwor- thy man is placed in charge of a group of from eight to ten boys, and these are called leaders or assistant leaders. Self-govern- ment practically prevails and the rules are simple. The three most important are these: “No firearms or air rifles allowed.” ‘“None of the party shall enter the water for swimming or bathing except in the presence of the leader or one expressly designated by him. Ample opportunity is glven to all to enter the water twice dally.” “The use of tobacco is strongly dis- couraged and everyone is expected to ah- staln while connected with the camp.” The outfit for such a trip is as simple as the rules. No duck suits, etiff hats or laundered linen are required, but there penses, save the special trips which fn- volve carriage by wagon or train. Thirty dollars will, therefore, purchase & month of health-giving recreation. The mother at home may rest assured that while her boy will probably have an acute attack of homesickness after his first night of sleep- ing on the ground, rolled in a blanket, h will take to camp life like a duck to water. The food will be plentiful and wholesome and a physician is always in attendance upon a club of this size. How’s the Weather Philadelphia Press: “How's your brother? Last time I saw him he was under the weather."” “‘Oh! that's all changed now; the weath- er's under him. He's got a job as local forecaster,” Y SECTION OF KINDERGARTEN.