Dismissal Of Prof. Bellows

At the last meeting of the State 3oard of Education, the last meetng at which the majority of the members present will probably ever e present. Prof. Bellows who has jiven the best years of his life to the Ypsilanti Normal school was dismissed from the school. The students and citizens of Ypsilanti are up in arms on the subject, taking Mr. Bellows part. The difficulty jetween the board and the professor, so far as we can learn, grew out of the fact that Prof. Bellows, an author of a text book himself, did not stick closely to text book work. tie believed that the instruction should be more professional in its character, and that the strictly academie teaching could more properly be done by the public schools. He bad expressed himself willing to comply with the requirements of the board, but they had failed to formúlate what they wanted. The students are circulating a petition which is being signed by nearly all of them asking for Prof. Bellows retention. The townspeople are indignant and Prof. Bellows evidently retain his great popularity. The Sunday News says: Prof. C. F. Bellows, whose resignation has just been asked for by the state board of education, was seen by the Sunday News at his home to-day in regard to the differences that exist between him and the board, He said: "I understand the request for the resignation came because of the objection to the professional work it was alleged I was doing, whereas the board wanted academie work. Strictly, the work of the normal school is professional work, and that is the fundamental object for which the school was instituted, and for which the state is yearly paying out large sums, supposing it is preparing teachers. The common school is what we cali academie. The policy of the normal is, and has been, too largely of the public school, and to do district and graded school work. It should be above this. I have always been a zealous advocate of doing specifically professional work, because that is the foundation of the school." "What was the recent trouble concerning the signing of diplomas?" "The students, according to the arrangement of the school, were (Conc'uded on Fourth Page) iCntinued from First Page.) graduated without examination in a number of studies which they had pursued at the public schools. As a member of the faculty I feit that in signing the diplomas I was iinplying the existence of something of which I had no knowledge. I protested. That led to the plan of having diplomas signed by the board and the principal only. This, however, had no connection with the present matter, but I find myself obliged to say that I am not in favor of graduating students from the normal school on their standing in public schools. I don't feel that the present policy of the normal is the proper one, in that so much attention is given to the mere academie scholarship, and so little, relatively, to professional work. Now that the matter has becorae one of public interest, I predict in a short time the board will hear the voice of the people in regard to the matter. "I have expected the board action for the past two years. Influences have been brought to bear in the direction of my discontinuance, simply because all was not harmoniouj." Prof. Bellows stands very high as a mathematician. At his home, in Ypsilanti, he is esteemed as a citizen andhighly respected by his students. He is 59 years old, and graduated at the normal in '55, the second class to receive diplomas from the institution. Mrs. Bellows was also a gradúate of the school, and their marriage was a college match. He was present at the dedication of the building, and" has taught his own branch for 24 years. He has always taken a great amount of interest in the success of the institution, but he lays great stress upon the present policy, making his point that there is something radically wrong when only one out of a hundred of its graduates are teaching in the public schools of Michigan. As the two new men on the state board of edncation are both normal graduates, Prof. Bellows may fare better at their hands.