Facts about McCook Junior State Normal School

Friday, October 31, 2014

Susan Doak

SW Nebraska

Genealogy Society

McCOOK, Neb. -- In the McCook Tribune's Friday Evening edition, May 11, 1906, the headline proclaims: "McCook Junior State Normal -- Fourth Annual Summer Session to Open June 11- Teachers Will Be Here Until August 17 -- Prospect Excellent for Greatly Increased Attendance Over Former Years.

Normal schools came into existence in the late 1800 to early 1900's and their name originated in France. They were established to educate and train teachers as "public education" grew in the United States. As such, they were often the only means by which a young woman could continue her education since most professions taught at universities were closed to them. My Grandmother Davison was a school teacher in Nebraska's Cheyenne County, carrying with her seven shot revolver for protection as she traveled back and forth to the schoolhouse.

In McCook, the Normal school had been developed the county superintendents of Dundy, Chase, Hayes, Hitchcock, Red Willow, Furnas and Frontier counties, all of which belonged to the McCook junior normal school district.

The Tribune's article goes on to say that three classes each will be organized in the five essentials: Reading, Arithmetic, Grammar, Geography and History. The Nebraska State Department of Instruction's superintendent oversaw the program and several of the county superintendents were also instructors at the normal school.

Miss Nellie E. Dick, Chase County Superintendent, had reached her position through attending the first year's classes in McCook. An Illinois native, Miss Dick had moved with her parents to Chase County and had graduated from Wauneta High School in 1899. In 1906 she had twice been elected as Chase County's school superintendent and had seven years' experience teaching in western Nebraska and eastern Colorado.

Red Willow County's superintendent was Miss Flora B. Quick who in 1906 had held her office for three years and was filling her second term under the unusual circumstance of having been nominated by all three political parties and elected without contest! Miss Quick, an Iowa native, had come to Nebraska with her parents in 1878 and was educated at Doane College, the Franklin Academy, and the University of Nebraska and finally obtained her teaching certificate from the Peru State Normal School. She taught primarily in Indianola.

The Tribune proclaims that Mrs. Margaret E. West, superintendent of Hays County schools, is: "a self-made teacher. Her growth and development in educational work have been simultaneous with the growth and development of Hays County and the west. She is a proper person to become a leader for she has worked her way up from the ranks: she has labored while others have slept: she was unceasing in her endeavors better to prepare herself for the teacher's vocation." Mrs. A. L. West was born in Illinois, moved to Hays county in 1885, graduated from the Fremont Normal and had taught in both McCook city schools and in the Hayes Center area.

Dundy county's' superintendent was Miss C. Estella Goodwin, at native of Iowa, who had moved to Nebraska as an eight year old, attending graded and rural schools there before returning to Galesburg, Illinois to graduate from high school in 1898. She returned to Nebraska and obtained her first grade county certificate, teaching for two years in Dundy County before she went to Western Illinois Normal and graduated with her state certificate in 1902. She was a popular teacher according to the Tribune, "because the counsel and encouragement she gives young people are inspiring and vital".

The normal school required several additional teachers to carry on the classes each year but these four women served our developing southwestern area with determined dedication ensuring the next generation would receive a good education. To read more concerning the normal school you can access the records at: http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov. Search the McCook Tribune pages for May 11, 1906.

SWNGS regular monthly meeting will be this Saturday, 110 West C, Suite M-3 starting a 1 p.m.

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