While  it  is  true  that  in  some  localities  these
schools  are  not  what  they  should  be,  and  that  those
who  have  charge  of  them  do  not  furnish  suitable
buildings,  apparatus  and  appendages  necessary  to
secure  good  results,  yet,  as  a  whole,  the  system  has
been  productive  of  much  good.
These  schools  do  not  merely  provide  for  primary
training,  but  also  thorough  instruction  in  some
of  the  higher  branches  of  literature  and  of  the
sciences;  for  the  common  schools  are  not  composed
merely  of  the  district  schools  of  the  country,  but
include  also  the  primary,  graded,  and  high  schools
of  the  villages  and  cities.
Many  of  these  high  schools  have  so  advanced  the
standard  of  their  work  that  courses,  parallel  with
that  of  the  first  work  in  the  University,  have  been
arranged,  and  graduates  from  these  courses  are  re-
ceived at  the  University  without  further  examina-
tion in  the  work  thus  completed.  This  plan  has
had  an  elevating  influence  upon  the  common  schools
whose  field  of  usefulness  is  thus  extended  and
broadened  so  that  they  furnish  a  liberal  education
for  the  sons  and  daughters  of  the  State  who  receive
instruction  in  them,  and  who,  because  of  these
advantages,  are  characterized  b}^  their  earnestness,
energy,  and  intelligence  in  all  fields  of  useful  labor.
CHAPTER   IV.
HIGHER  INSTITUTIONS,


THE  STATE  NORMAL  SCHOOL.
