1

upon the high grounds on the west border of the villag now city of Ypsilanti.

By an act of the Legislature of 1850, the ten section land appropriated for a building fund were consolida with the other fifteen sections, to be denominated Normal School Endowment Fund, and made inaliena except so much of the same, not exceeding ten thous dollars, as might be required to complete the buildin purchase necessary books, apparatus, &c., after exhaust the amount of donations.

The minimum price of the lands was fixed at four doll per acre; but the Commissioner of the Land Office v required to procure an appraisal, below which none co be sold. An appraisal was made in 1850. A large porti was appraised below the minimum price. Some we valued as low as $1 50 per acre. These, of course, mu remain unsold until they rose in value, or till the minimu price should be reduced.

In the same year, the Board added four acres more land to the site for the buildings, and contracted for the erection for the sum of $15,200-of which $12,000 was be paid by the citizens of Ypsilanti.

An act was passed by the Legislature of 1853, appr priating to the Endowment Fund the moneys arising from the Swamp Lands previously sold by the General Govern ment, not exceeding $30,000. From this the School re ceived no benefit.

After the grant of the Swamp Lands to the State, it was supposed that the General Government had disposed o enough to reach the above amount; and that, as the lands had been granted to the State, the money would be refunded. The amount of lands thus sold was afterward found to be comparatively small, and no money has ever been received by the State on their account.

The Legislature of 1853 also appropriated $2,000, annually, for two years, from the State treasury, to the Endow

ment Fund, and $3,000 to the same, to be applied to the purchase of books, apparatus, and improvements upon the grounds.

But the income of the Normal School Fund, notwithstanding these appropriations, was inadequate to the wants of the institution. At the beginning of the year, 1855, it had exhausted its funds, and had contracted a debt of $2,000. In this embarrassment, it encountered the evils that have attended the first years of every State institution, of whatever kind, from the organization of the State. It was found that the School must have further aid, or its usefulness would be so circumscribed that it could not accomplish half its work.

The Legislature of 1855, appropriated $7,700 for that year, and $6,000 for 1856. This gave relief for those two years; and in 1857, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, the same sums were appropriated for 1857 and 1858.

The following table exhibits the amount of sales and receipts of the Normal School lands, and the expenditures for the several years named. The expenditures include the appropriations from the State:

Of the lands sold, there have been forfeited 720 acres, valued at $5,580, whieh amounts deducted from the whole. amount of sales, as above stated, leaves 14,713.96 acres, sold for $73,246 51, which constituted the real amount and value of sales at the close of the year 1857. From this value of the sales, deduct the $8,096 64 endowment fund expended in buildings, &c., and it leaves $65,149 87--the present

amount of the fund. Of this amount, $17,57 hands of the State, upon which it pays six annum-$47,577 32 remaining in the hands and upon which they pay seven per cent.

This makes the income from the Endowmen present year, $4,384 76. But 1,277 acres of propriated remains unsold; therefore, the i School can be but slightly increased without

It is an old saying, that "there is no royal edge." Every child must think for himself. edge can be attained only in the narrow pat is yet doubtless true, that path is made mu more attractive, for the pupils in the Prima the present day, than it was when trod by This is owing in part to the improvement in construction of School-houses, by which they more conducive to health, and more inviting of the young; but also, in a great measure, to skill of their teachers. In proportion as Teach a profession, instead of an incidental and tem pation, will the teacher's powers of imparting be increased. Men who are not yet very old ber when their "teacher" appeared to hav thought of teaching ideas, than had the mistre the spelling book reversed upon her knee, rep impatient child, "What's that A, what's th that C," &c. Who that attended the Com thirty years ago, cannot remember the man "master" worked out his "sum," and never first word as to why it was thus and so? W employment called "keeping school." Words -ideas came, as the pupil could find them! teachers were thus deficient in the first qual their duties; but it was true to a very great e years ago.

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The great change which has taken place, is attributable in part, perhaps, to the general progress in all the improvements of the age; but more directly, to the association of teachers with each other, the exchange of ideas, and to the professional training which they undergo in various ways. To secure this professional instruction to the teachers in this State, is the design of the Normal School. In the short time since the School was opened, several hundred have already received the benefits of its instruction. These go forth to impart the knowledge they have gained, to others; by their personal intercourse, and by Teachers' Institutes and Associations. The Normal School is believed to be doing all that its early friends promised for it; and the future will doubtless make it still more efficient in securing to professional teachers, the highest attainable qualifications for their important and responsible duties.

That this School will be sustained, the general appreciation of the importance of education for the masses, as manifested by the citizens of this State, is a sure promise. The main expenditure for buildings, &c., has already been made. A very slight amount hereafter, in addition to its annual income, will supply all the necessary material aid for its highest success; and its whole tendency will be, to make teaching a profession, to dignify it, and call into its ranks a higher order of natural talent, and give to that talent its highest efficiency.