The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1875-08-26

nigh school law, the Legislature made 9
liberal provision for the growing want
of our present prosperous University
Women were made eligible to all school
Offices except that of State Superintend-
|ent. School districts of more than 1000
inhabitants were freed from the limita-
tions as to the amount of tax they can
levy and collect for scheol purposes.
Town and school districts were author
lied to purchase textbooks, and loan
them to the pupils or furnish them sree.
| doubt not that under the head OF
Educational Intelligence we shall
hear that the schools throughout the
State are in a prosperous condition.
Thus il Will be seen, the past year Is
not fruitless. In sits unselfish efforts to
advance the cause at popular education
the Association bestowed but little at
tention to perfecting its own organiza-
ton. At the last annual session com
mittee was appointed to report upon the
matter Of procuring charter for the
Association. That committee reported
at the meeting last winter and it will be
remem bered that the record show that
a charter was once procured. That
charter is to be found in the special
laws of 1855 1t will thus be seen that
the Wisconsin Teachers Association has
been chartered for twenty years.
The Wisconsin Journal of Education
for August, 1874, commenting upon
the Association, says.
There can be no bought, we think,
that 1t would be we'll to effect some
change in its organization and mode of
working. Why should it not, like the
State Agricultural Society, for instance,
have its permanent and its transient
charact eristics; its life members and it's
yearly members ?**We think the time
has come for the Association to have
more solid and more permanent organi-
zation. To this end we think il would
be well to make its officers more per
manent. HIT is in vain to expect the
good results that ought to flow from
such an organization of teachers as we
now have, with change of officers, Of
purposes, of methods and of programme
each year. There is no proper consecu-
tivenass of ideas or aims. No conscious
ness of an organic and permanent ex-
istence.
| do not know how it may APPEAR to
others, but to me it seems that the points
OF criticism are such as TO entitle them to
ourthoughtful consideration.
1t is hoped that the topics upon the
programme for consid Grafton at this ses-
sion will prove to have been iadlcially
selected Discussion may shed good
deaf of light on methods Of teaching
primary reading Is this body willing to
lend It's counsels to those needing them !?
Is the matter of teachers examinations
and State certificates as it should be?
Ii not, What is wrong? How can it be
made right? "Have we a State system
of education ?" III so. is it properly
ABUSED? Is there anything lacking
in it? Are there any redundancies I?
1t so, what? Is the ''district school cur
rlculum" suited to the highest interests
of the pupils and the State? IF not,
what changes should be made? Do the
interests of education require that there
should be State school tax? Have We
State library system? If not, why?
All these topics seem worthy of our at
tention and careful consideration, and
the records of the Association in past
years give us reasons to hope that, if we
do not effect any immediate reforms in
these things, which saem to need them,
we may at least be instrumental in
creating public sentiment that shall in
time lead to their proper adjustment