School: Taylor County Normal School (1953)

Contact: Robert Lipprandt
bob@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Becher, Brandl, Drost, Gilman, Hauser, Laurent, Olson, Prochnow

----Source: Taylor County Normal School Yearbook (Medford, WI) 1952/1953

The purpose of the County Normal School is to educate teachers for teaching in rural schools.

Our school consists of a three story building located on the hill overlooking the business district of Medford. The school is one of a group of three county buildings surrounded by a spacious lawn and protected from the north by a grove of trees.

An attractive kitchen and recreation room are located in the basement. The Demonstration Rural School and the college class rooms are on the second floor, while the college library and study, a class room, and the office are on the third floor.

A movie projector, a film strip projector, and a tape recorder are extensively used as teaching aids in the classroom, as well as for recreational purposes. Two electric victrolas enable us to have music for social games and music appreciation.

The school is well equipped with books, magazines, and other materials necessary to college training and enjoyment. The Medford Public Library, nearby, is also at one’s disposal whenever one wishes to use its resources.

Four faculty members comprise the teaching staff. Each student will become well acquainted with each member through classwork, individual conferences and friendly visits. Much personal help and guidance from the faculty are extended to each student.

Training consists of observations and teaching classes of children in the Model Rural School maintained in the building. This part of the training begins as soon as students enter school and is climaxed by three weeks of cadet work in one of the near-by rural schools. If students are from out of the county, their cadet work is done in a school selected in the county in which they reside. During the two years of Normal training students are sent out on occasion to observe the work being done in key rural schools. Additional practice is provided in the Medford public schools.

Our aim is to give each student as much actual practice teaching as it possible, accounting for five terms of observation and practice teaching. College classes are designed to broaden the scope of the field in which one teaches and to provide on with classroom teaching techniques.

Student life is further enriched by social activity and opportunities to attend and participate in entertainment programs. Each class arranges for parties, serious meetings, and various social functions to enliven the interest of all students. Extra-curricular activities consist of music, dramatics, forensics, volleyball, softball and basketball. The last three school years have been climaxed by bus trip to the West, to the East and to the Southwest.

• Location

Taylor County Normal School is located on the Court House Square in the City of Medford, a community of twenty-eight hundred, which as a fine modern theatre, library, bowling alley and excellent facilities for winter sports. The Greyhound busses operating on State Highway 13 offer excellent schedules going both north and south, making it easily possible for students of get home week-ends. The Soo Line Railroad also operates through here.

• Purpose of the School

1. To improve teaching efficiency in rural schools by placing in them teachers trained specially for rural school situations.

2. To offer prospective teachers in this area of Wisconsin an opportunity to meet legal requirements for teaching and at the same time obtain a high quality of training at a minimum cost to themselves and at a school within easy access of their homes.

3. To offer young people preparation for, and a definite start in, the teaching profession either as a permanent choice for vocation or as a basis for future progress toward other professions.

4. To give training in the fine arts - vocal and instrumental music, dramatics, forensics, art, folk dancing.

• Entrance Requirements

High school graduation is required for admission. Students with low scholastic rating should not make application.

• Tuition

Attendance is free to residents of Taylor County. Tuition for residents of other counties is paid by the county in which the student has residence. This is true in the case of residents of any county which does not maintain a County Normal School.

• Term Fees

A term fee of $2 includes payment for book rentals and entertainment furnished as part of the school program.

• Credit In Other Schools

Credits earned in the two years of work in the Taylor County Normal School may be transferred to any State College in full on a three or four year course leading to a bachelor’s degree in elementary education. In other courses credit is usually allowed when courses fairly parallel those in which transfer credit is requested.

• Living Expenses

Light housekeeping rooms may be secured for a price ranging from $2.50 to $3.00 a week per person. Most students from out of town do light housekeeping and are able to complete the year at a very limited cost. Reasonable rates for both room and board can also be secured.

• Opportunities To Reduce Expenses

The school employs a few students to help with routine work. Those who seek outside employment will do well to get their enrollment cards in early, as jobs are allocate din the order in which these cards are returned. Some part-time employment in the city of Medford is available. The school will be glad to help you secure employment if you make your wished known.

• How To Enroll

To enroll, simply fill out the enclosed enrollment card and forward it to the school. More complete registration will occur when you enter school in September.

Our enrollment for the past year has been fifty-nine students.

• Qualifications of Graduates

Graduates of the Two-Year Elementary Course are qualified for teaching positions as follows:

1. The one-room rural school.

2. As an assistant in elementary grade teaching in grade schools.

Upon presentation of certificate of graduation and a $2 fee, the graduate receives a one-year certificate from the State Superintendent of Public Instruction qualifying for either of the positions named in the preceding paragraph. This certificate is state-wide and is not limited, as formerly, to county boundaries or jurisdictions.

Upon presentation of evidence of a year of successful teaching, a second one-year teaching certificate is issued by the State Superintendent.

After two years of successful teaching on two one-year licenses, the graduate, upon evidence of continued professional growth, and upon recommendation of his county superintendent, will receive a five-year certificate qualifying as before for the rural school and for elementary grade positions.

The two one-year certificates and the $2 fee are limitation on graduates of all teachers’ courses in Wisconsin, regardless of course or school.

• Curriculum 1st Year

First Quarter:
Art (2 credits)
Reading Methods (4 credits)
Elements of Geography (5 credits)
Education (5 credits)
Plays and Games
Chorus
Total credits: 16

Second Quarter:
Child Psychology (4 credits)
Mathematics (5 credits)
English 1A (4 credits)
Regional Geography (4 credits)
Music (2 credits)
Rhythms
Chorus
Total credits: 19

Third Quarter:
American Literature (5 credits)
Educational Psychology (5 credits)
Mathematics (4 credits)
Teaching (2 credits)
Physical Education
Chorus
Total credits: 16

• Curriculum 2nd Year

First Quarter:
Art (2 credits)
Biology (5 credits)
English IIA (4 credits)
Rural Economics & Sociology (5 credits)
Teaching (2 credits)
Chorus
Total credits: 18

Second Quarter:
Music (2 credits)
American History (5 credits)
English IIB (4 credits)
Management & Guidance (5 credits)
Teaching (2 credits)
Chorus
Total credits: 18

Third Quarter:
American History (4 credits)
Child Literature (4 credits)
Biology (4 credits)
Health & Safety (2 credits)
Conservation (2 credits)
Teaching (2 credits)
Chorus
Total credits: 18

Semester hours are equivalent to two-thirds of the hours per week indicated for a given term.

If you wish for further information, write to Eugene W. Laurent, Principal, Taylor County Normal, Medford, Wisconsin.

• Taylor County Normal School Board
Harold Hauser, President; John S. Brandl, Treasurer; and Arthur A. Prochnow, Secretary.

• Taylor County Normal School Staff
Eugene Laurent, Principal; Glenn Olson, Assistant; Bernardine Gilman, Assistant; Irene Becher, Assistant; and Mrs. Eleanor Drost, Custodian.

Biographical Information
Laurent, Eugene
http://www.wiclarkcountyhistory.org/4data/92/92309.htm
http://www.wiclarkcountyhistory.org/3data/70/70965.htm 

Laurent Family Census
http://www.wiclarkcountyhistory.org/worden/history/1921WordenHistory.htm#Laurent,%20Belle 

Laurent Family Obituaries
http://www.wiclarkcountyhistory.org/3data/75/75252.htm
http://www.wiclarkcountyhistory.org/3data/61/61514.htm
http://www.wiclarkcountyhistory.org/3data/65/65460.htm
http://www.wiclarkcountyhistory.org/3data/68/68588.htm

Laurent Family Cemetery Index, Nazareth Lutheran, Town Hixon
http://www.wiclarkcountyhistory.org/cemeteries/hixon/nazareth/L.htm