School: Taylor Co. Teachers College (School Curriculum-  1959)

Contact: Robert Lipprandt
bob@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Allman, Becher, Casey, Doyle, Drost, Hessing, Kohn, Laurent, Prochnow, Schueler

----Source: Taylor County Teachers College Yearbook (Medford, WI) 1959/1960

Teachers College Board: Ernest R. Kohn, Jr., President; Paul L. Allman, Treasurer; Arthur A. Prochnow, Secretary.

Teachers College Staff: Eugene Laurent, Principal; Mattie E. Casey, Assistant; Minnie D. Schueler, Assistant; Irene Becher, Assistant; Florence Doyle, Assistant; Mrs. Eleanor Drost, Custodian, Mrs. Louis Hessing, Cook.

The purpose of the County Teachers College is to educate teachers for teaching in elementary schools.

The new Taylor County Teachers College, a beautiful structure in a lovely setting, is situated on a spacious campus of 22 acres on the southern city limits of Medford. In keeping with the atmosphere of the Northland, the college is encompassed by a wooded landscape. The building, completely equipped and up-to-date in every detail, consists of a modern library, spacious classrooms, practices rooms, storerooms, offices, typing room, workroom, model kitchen-cafeteria, adequate restrooms and shower rooms, and a gym-auditorium. This impressive, worthy accomplishment exemplifies the courage and magnificent spirit of the enterprising leaders and citizens of Taylor County, serving as an inspiration to the future teachers of America.

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. Three 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.

Five 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. The faculty will be increased in accordance with the growth in enrollment.

Training consists of observations and teaching classes of children in the Campus 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 college training students are sent out on occasion to observe the work being done in key schools.

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


Schol 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 ten school years have been climaxed by bus trip to the west, to the east and to New England and Canada, to the southwest and the deep south.

• Location

Taylor County Teachers College is located in the City of Medford, an enterprising 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. For people who treasure the woods, lakes, and streams of the lovely vacationland of northern Wisconsin, Medford offers a choice setting.

• Purpose of the College

1. To improve teaching efficiency in elementary schools by placing in them teachers trained specially for elementary 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.

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 Teachers College.

• Term Fees

A term fee of $5 includes payment for book rentals and entertainment furnished as part of the school program.

• College Credit

Credits earned in the two years of work in the Taylor County Teachers College 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. Also, we have experienced acceptance of credits in full by numerous colleges and universities throughout the United States.

• Living Expenses

Light housekeeping rooms may be secured for a price ranging from $3.00 to $3.50 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 allocated in the order in which these cards are returned. Some part-time employment in the city of Medford is available. The college will be glad to help you secure employment if you make your wished known. However, unless it is absolutely necessary in order to attend school, outside work is not recommended, since it generally detracts from the quality of classwork done by the student. Furthermore, participation in extra-curricular activities, which is considered of vital importance or future teachers, is necessarily reduced to a minimum.

• How To Enroll

A College Admission Form, to be completed by you and your high school principal, will be sent to you upon request. When this form is returned, you will be notified of your acceptance or rejection.

Our enrollment for the past year represents six counties.

• Qualifications of Graduates

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

1. The one-room rural school.

2. Elementary grades in multiple-teacher school. There is a big demand for young men who can direct athletics.

Upon presentation of certificate of graduation and a $2 fee, the graduate receives a two-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.

After two years of successful teaching, the graduate, upon evidence of having earned 6 additional semester hours of college credit, and upon recommendation of his county superintendent, will receive a five year certificate qualifying, as before, for elementary teaching 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.

• Annual Tours

Each year the college sponsors an extensive tour for students and alumni. Young people who participate for five successive years have an opportunity to visit practically the entire United States, including glimpses of Mexico and Canada, at a minimum cost. These experiences, we think broaden teacher for their future work. Tips have included:

1950 - Badlands, Black Hills, Yellowstone, Omaha, Madison.
1951 - New York City, Philadelphia, Washington, Gettysburg, Richmond, Nashville.
1952 - Carlsbad Caverns, Mexico, Grand Canyon. Painted Desert, Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Taos, Denver.
1953 - Chattanooga, Atlanta, Okefenokee Swamp, Miami, Key West, New Orleans, Vicksburg, Springfield.
1954 - Niagara, New York City, Lexington, Concord, New Brunswick, Quebec, Montreal, Ottawa, Mackinac Island.
1955 - Denver, Central City, Salt Lake City, Jackson Hole, Yellowstone Black Hills, Badlands.
1956 - Similar to 1952, including Pike’s Peak.
1957 - Similar to 1953
1958 - Similar to 1954
1959 - Similar to 1955

• Curriculum 1st Year

First Semester:
Number, Courses & Credits
113 - Elementary Education [3]
113 - Reading Techniques [3]
113 - Physical Geography [3]
111 - Library Science [1]
113 - English [3]
113 - Child Growth & Development [3]
111 - Physical Education [1]
111 - Music [1]
110 - Chorus [0]
Total credits: [18]

Second Semester:
Number, Courses & Credits
122 - Art [2]
123 - English [3]
123 - Regional Geography [3]
123 - Psychology of Learning [3]
123 - Mathematics [3]
121 - Physical Education [1]
121 - Practice Teaching [1]
121 - Music [1]
110 - Chorus [0]
Total credits: [17]

• Curriculum 2nd Year

First Semester:
Number, Courses & Credits
213 - Biology [3]