The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-07-20
THE SCHOOL CONVENTION.
The Meeting OF School Teachers nj Harrisburg
Questions 10 be Discussed-The Superin-
tcndents Ofthe Stnts Schools.
nm flaia IlanaI Inr.an ll..al


tondents Ofthe State schools.
From Our Ot0n Correspondent
HARRISBURG, July 20, 1869.
The annual State Convention Of county, city, and
borough Common School Superintendents will be
called to order by Professor wckersham, superln-
tendent OF Public Schools, in the Senate Chamber OF
the Capitol '-'": rr"r' afternoon at o'clock
These conventions have been held for some years
at tne State capital the call Of the State Superin
Jendent to consult to the best method OF alvan-
eng the educational interests OF Pennsylvania and
nave been conducive Of much good. The superin-
Vehuents though not bound by legal statute to
attehu ana Notwithstanding the ugly fact that their
travelling expenses and their hotel bills while in
atCenuance must be betrayed by themselves there
Deing no fund or appropriation from the State for
the purpose, have very generally and largely at
tended these annual meetings. Questions OF vital
interest TO the welfare OF our free educational
system are brought before them for discussion
anu aiIhough their resolves and determine
LIONS nave no binding force, their expe-
rehce In their various departments, and their
ADVICE as representatives, to some extent of the
popular Will, have been OF incalculable benefit to
MIN who may be said to be the centre of the sys-
TEN, VINO administers the school law and calls the
attention of the Legislature to such changes in the
law as he may deem necessary Thus indeed have
nearly all the important progressive reforms in the
common School System OF PENNSYLVANIA been
originated. These county city, and borough SUPER
mtendents, nearly all paid comfortable salaries now
present quite an array of talent and experience or
ganized and worked by the late Hon Charles r.
COburn, former State Superintendent whose decease
mas make vacancy in the Common School Depart
nent winch is universally felt, and by our present
elncent State Superintendent, Professor j. p
WlcKersham. The great interest taken in securing
good men In the various counties to fill this position
and the spirit with which the contests are carried
on, show with what rapid strides the cause of tree
education has advanced in the popular mind
lhs convention, 1t is probable, will continue over
uhtl thursday noon, holding morning, afternoon
ana evening sessions, until all the questions to come
before 1t are fully discussed and determined upon
Dy vote. The questions and topics to be brought
before the present convention are very much the
same as those brought before similar conventions
during past years couched, too in nearly the same
language, but they really standing questions
which the experience of years is necessary to pro-
perry eucidate. Each meeting presents some new
phase IN their consideration worthy of the attention
of the public and of the Legislature
The first question on the programme will be one
reatlng 10 examinations OF schools. Should there
be any change in the character Of examinations or
IN the modes of ofconducting them? Can we improve
our mode of Certi6cating teachers Can our stand
ard of estimating the qualifications of teachers be
made more uniform? The points likely to be in
volved in this question whether examinations Of
children should be public or private singy or by
classes, written or Unwritten; how teachers should
be graded, and if our present system Of graduation is
ngh or low, Just or unjust, compared with other
States and whether there is not too great disparity
between certificates of the same grades in different
counties Mr. Henry w. Fisher, of Bedford, and Mr..
Jesse Newlin, of Schuylki will open the discussion
on this question.
The second question will be in reference to vista
tions of schoOls-Can superintendents employ their
time better than in visiting schools? How can the
most good be done on the occasion of visit to q
school? This is old question, and will attract to
its discussion many who have spoken earnestly upon
it years before. 1t will be introduced by Mr. Henry
NJ Jones, of Westmoreland and Mr.. David Evans,
of Lancaster.
Third question-Institutes. When should our
county Institutes be held, and how should they be
conducted? Can anything be substituted in cities
and large towns for the county institutes as now
conducted, which will be more to The professional
advantage of the teachers? This is also old
question, and will be opened by Messrs. A. T. Dou
theft, of Allegheny and Stephen G. Boyd, OF York.
Fourth-RepOrts. What facts is it most essential
for superintendents to report? ? Are the forms for
reports now in use the best that we can adopt?
Have we any forms that are unnecessary, or are
others needed? To be opened by Messrs. II. d.
Persons, of Crawford, and Abel Rambo, OF MOntgo-
merry.
Fifth-The General Interest in Education. What
can superntendens do to induce the people to elect
better school directors, to induce them to take
more interest in education? To be opened by
Messrs. w. w. Cottingham of Easton, and William
G. Lehman, OF Lebanon.
The following new topics will also be introduced
l. Superntendents in Relation to County lnsti-
tutes. To be opened by Messrs. Thomas j. Chap
man of Cambria and George w. Snyder OF Cleardeld.
2. Superntendents in Relation to State Normal
Schools. To be opened by Messrs. George j. Luckey
of Pittsburg and Charles II. Dale of Venango
g. Defects in Our School Law and Remedies for
Them-a most important question, and likely to
elicit most interesting discussion. To be opened
by Messrs. Charles g. Barkley OF Columbia and c.
V. Gundy OF Union
a. Defects in the working agencies provided by our
school law, and the remedies for them. To be
opened by Messrs Thomas Teal OF Greene and W.
NJ Lindsey OF Warren.
g. The educational work before us for the next
three years. To be opened by Messrs. r. X Buehre
OF Allentown and Horace Armstrong of Luzerne
A number OF principals OF normal schools and
| colleges are expected to be present
A resolution will be offered to attend the State
Convention OF Teachers in body at Greensburg on
the 10th proXimo.
The following is list of superintendents, all OF
| whom are expected to be present.
" Salary
| County. Name. this term
Adams ..,.,......,.J.H Howard Wert.......... $500
Allegheny ........, A. l. DoutneGI' ''''''''''' ZOOO
Allentown. IL ~ DueHTle' '''''''''''' lZOO
Altoona ......... John Miller. ............. 100
| Armstrong. Sanuel murphy. .'''''''''' lOOO
| Reayer George M. Fields ......... 1900
| bedford ......... Henry W. Fisher 1000
| BerEs David B. Brunner. 1850
| INSTRUMENTATION Ohm b. Holland .......... 1000
Bradford. Austin A. Keeney. 1000
| Stephen II. Kirk. ......... 1000