, 1863-10-24
STATE CONVENTION OF SCHOOL
COA1kIISSI0NERS.
The Duties OF CommfssionersD Defloed
-~ChanRes and Notifications tf
tho school LAW.
FULL REPORT OF THE
PROCEEDlNG GB,

use the time In yisitfng the Normal Univeraity. |
At 3 O'Clock the Convention resumed busl- |
ness, md the AFTERNOON WIS spent BY, the !
Commissioners giving their experiences in
their different 1abora.
Messrs. Waldo, simonds and Taggart were
appointed q committee to prepare a pro-
gramme of business. Meesrs. Gardiner, Pace |
and McC1eery committee to report portions |
Of the school Ian for discussion, and Messrs.
Brooks, Merriman and Leal, a COMMITTEES on
resolutions. 4
The evening was spent in discussions upon
various topics, that Of third grade certificate
occupying considerable time. Hon. Johu r.
Brooks thought it should not be used; other
members wished 1t retained, but intended to
make it Of very little honor to the holder:
Il was generally admitted that the School
Commissioners could be the most uaefn IN
visiting schools, and that no person skould
hold lie ofItce Who was not capable of max
ing proper suggestions and giving suitable
objections for teaching the branches required,
and the successful management OF schools. 1t
was also admitted that those Commissioners
who retain the Office and do not ylsit the
schools, are damage to the cause Of ednSa.
greatest benefit expected Of Commissioner:
The duties Of Commissioners Ia the Echool
room u ere defined as fellows: To carefully
direct in the course Of Instruction,
make suggestions In counsel With the teach
era IN regard to the order and kind Of
studies to be pursued by the scholars, to sug
ges1 practical lmpf ovenents In the seating or
Arrangement Of the room. to suggest meth.
ods for the management ard government; OF
/ the echool, and recommend to the Directors
such books, charts, or apparatus as may be
| thought useful for the dietltct. Commission
1 In 4ho hnr1Cf hRC
come as their friends, and wish to coun-
| sci ri ith them rather than dictate to them;
| they should be careful not to EtSe 0ttn6e
| willie making recommendations, hence many
| Of the suggestions should be made privately
! to the teacher.
| TIE forenoon Of the next day was mostly
Fpent in discussing resolutions and making
| prerarations for another convention.
A Committee appointed to examine Adams
| school registers, tablets ard class books,
highly recommended their general uEe, and d
resolution was unanimously adopted by the
Convention, desiring the directors Of every
| district in The State to purchase them. Some
OF the Commissioners bad made considerable
sacrifice to be present, one from the extreme
southern part Of the State, (aIr. ". q. Cul-
vcr), walked over twenty miles to get to the
among the members, and all felt well paid for
attending, and better prepared for future du-
ties, After the adjournment, all went to the
Normal University, to hear the address ot the
sssts S Superintendent on "fhe Bible and the
CHANGES AND NOTIFICATIONS OF TIE SCHOOL LAW.
/ .Ktstxred. That we requeet the next Legislature
to take action on tha following points relative to
" i, Tbat Sec. 20 be 70 amended as not to recog-
| rize third grade certificate
3. That SIC. II be 20 amended az 10 allow School
Commissioners to hold their office for four years.
g. That Sec. u be 70 amended as to require the
the School Commissioner or Board Of Super
yisors,, the condition Of. the school fund
IN their bands the amnunt loaned, to whom
from what sources. the amount and how dlsbnrsed,
| and the caeh In hand
i. That section 81 be 60 amended as to allow
are paid, to be equally divided among districts
tavipg telool houses, and the other half according
| to attendance certified on schedule.
g. That section n be 70 amended as to grant the
School Commissioner an annual salary en ticcut to
eLah1e him to devote hta entire time TO the duties
Of big Office; that he receive no per centaee tos
cates; the School Commissioner to use one day In
each mcnth for examining teachers at Euch places
The comfy as M best assoTmoato y y ths, 5a1
&. That section bc added. requiring the Board
q coaaty coa5s to te Rasl1sn II
Of money received by the School Commissioner,
lbs source from which received, the amount paid
different townships, and the amount paid him 1o1
!. That section be added making provision
for the Recommendation Of uniformity OF text
books, to be used In all schools Of tho State, ex
ccpt in incorporated cities and schools OF fpecia
y. TErt ecct!on be added making provision fo
holding at nually in each county Tsaches's 1nstl
tute; fund to be appropriated sufficient to de
fray the expenses o, euch Institutes.
| d. That Sec. s. be 60 amended as to compel Us
tfces Of the Pence or any county officers into who's
bands flnee and penalties arc placed, to report Il
the School Commissioner once In Elk mouths: tn.
except thoec for violating ordinances Of iucorpo
missioner at ouch times the amonnts collected
aud showing tho amount due Said report to be
certified and sworn 10 by such officer or officers.
On notion Of s. Q. Slmonds, of VIII couu
ty, the above rex olutions on gchool law Eer
10 be referred to committee Of thirteen. th
State SupetinleLden: to be Chairman, and til
remaining twelve to be chosen IRON sehoo m
, | this Committee to act with the State Board c
:: Educat1on in presenting the above or otae
portions cf the school Law for the action {
| tLe Legislature.
GENERAL RESOLUTIONS.
3 Ettolfxa, ]. That We see IN cur State Norn1'
University the dawn Of q glor1ons future fos ii
educational interests Of our Stste: that havln
witnessed its working and some OF the rasults, y
are ASSURED Of tic efficiency Of the Principal (M
= Edwardr) and hia aseocaate teachers, and coas'!
] on. country. we hope, each county will keep Il
full guota Of scholars in attendance.
. That the Iiibslcsl ufst0ry. illustrated by
outline map published BY 4. 3. Israel Is not ad0p
cd to the use OF our public schools, aud are bt
little more than worthless In them therefore =
unanimously urge teachers and school officers
c oppose thelr Introduction in the schools Of o.
i. That the neglect Of come School Commssato
s e1s to visit theiI schools, meets our rnqualIa|
4 fiat We consider the third grade ccrtihca
unneccfes1y and Wish to use 1t only at the spcci
q s. That We consider the uBc OF Adams scho
Registers Tablets and class books benet1t to al
:. SCHOOL and unanimously desire the Directors
d every district in the State TO purchase them
a. That we indorse the Illinois Tcacfer, and ur,
the educational men of our stateto be liberal In
+ That the State Superintendent OF Public I
Champaign county, be invited to prepazetlectur
$ for the next Convention.
That our thanks arc due the propHetor5 or t
AshleY Honee for tile use Of their elegant room
ring our session. -,
epirited. pleasant and profitable session; ont hop
J, fer gyeatC1 improvement IN our common schoe
IF | arc sttorg; our future aims will be to work
the perfection Of Echoo' law as neceaslty shall d
tste, and our desire is 20 to carry out its pror
Is ops shall best serve the educational interests
10. That the papers Of this State friendly
le the cause of education be requested to publish
It proceedings Of this Convention.
(. Adjourned to meet ut the time and place
/, the next State Teachers' Association, t
], President and Secretary to give notice to t
e School Commissioners Of tho State.
e, Jouy F. BROOKS, President.