Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1877-02-02
Convention OF school Omcers Of Du.
chanan County,
INDrpENprNcr, Iowa, JAN. cath, 1877

Convention, and Wilson Palmer, Secretary.
Immediately after the organization recess was
taken until half past one P. NJ
Convention met at half past one according to ad
journment. On motion Of Mr.. Ely the programme
for the forenoon was taken up. The first question
1.-THE length and time Of school time, was brought
before the convention by Lyman ]. Curtis, who
lead in the discussion. Mr.. Curtis briefly review.
ed his own experience in teaching in New York
and stated somewhat, at length what then was ex
pected Of teachers they were expected to be In
school for eight hours, besides doing work for the
| school outside Of school hours. Mr.. Curtis II
heartily OF the opinion that six hours are amply
sufficient for the pupil to remain in school. Mr.
Curtis is also Of the opinion that the months Of
| July, August and September should be arranged
for vacation. The discussion was continued BY
| Mr.. Arson.
| The next question was Visitation of schools by
school officers" opened by Mr.. Curtis, Mr.. Boon
not being present. Mr.. Curtis said that he greatly
objected to paying secondcla teachers first class
prices, believing that no school is preferable to
poor school; that school officers should more fire..
quently visit the schools, and give their moral
support to teachers. The discussion was carried
| on by State Superintendent, Van Coelln, Mr..
Scett, of Des Moines, Mr.. Jakeway, Of Buchanan,
DR.. House, Mr.. Ely, Col. Lake, of Independence,
| and others.
The next question, ''School legislation" was
opened by M. W. Harmon. The discussion was
continued by Mr.. Van Coelln, Col Lake, Mr. Ely,
PROT Piper, Mr.. Curtis, Mr.. Caldwell, Mr.. Arson,
and others. A motion by Mr.. Ely was passed for
the appointment of committee Of three on reso-
lutions, and that school legislation find place in
those resolutions.
| The question of uniformity Of text books" was
opened by Mr.. Pierce, and continued by Mr.. Ely,
Mr.. Van Coeln, Prof. Piper, Mr.. Parker, and 9TH
| ers.
The president appointed the following names as
the committee on resolutions: Mr.. Ely, Mr.. Par
ker, and Mr. Pierce. Adjourned until half past
seven.
Evening session Lecture by Prof. Won Coelln
Subject, The Schools. Practical life is to be the
results of the schools when they are properly con-
Quoted. The schools are but the means. We es-
| tablish schools and employ teachers for the sole
purpose Of having our children settled for life
We need to give especial attention to the age at
which now we admit the children to the schools
Six years is sufficiently young to admit the chill
dren to school instruction, and then we should
pay particular attention to the convepiencies of
the school room for the children, in relation to
seats, &C., and besides we should instruct the chill
dren what to do and how to do it, Under ten years
| Of age, children should not be detained for more
than an hour at time and not for more than four
hours in one session. 1t is not for the time en-
ployed by school teachers in school work that we
should pay them, but for the kind Of work done.
The lecturer then spoke Of the studies to be pur-
| sued:
Reading and spelling were discussed somewhat
at length as was also the art of penmanship, and
very great importance given to all these branches.
The lecturer stated: Arithmetic is as poorly
taught, probably, as any other study; the object
being, in most cases. to secure the answers. The
lecturer insisted upon logical reasoning in the
study Of mathematics, independent Of results as
written out in our text books.
| The Superintendent further stated that no per.
son can expect to read in any intelligent way with
out knowledge Of the construction Of language
and hence the importance of the study of Gram
mar.
The speaker would prefer the name OF study OF
language instead of Grammar. That individual
whose habit is to speak correctly is better gram.
marian, although he my be ignorant of all rules,
than he who may know all rules and yet murders
his language. Geography and History were dis.
cussed somewhat at length. Physiology also re.
ceived its proper attention. Drawing and music
should find place in schools The lecturer stat
ed that good and just salary is cheerful aid to
the teacher who has competent ability To the
school directors the Hon. Superintendent said, EN-
phaticaly, do not secure teacher by reason Of
low salary, for the lowest salaricd teacher is
ally the dearest.
ha v,ryntla ha Of IN, kon lo Of he
teacher, both as to morals and manners.
The lecture was we'll received. Mr.. Ely, Col
Lake, Prof. Piper, and Others spoke in relation to
our school interests. Adjourned until half pas,
| nine, January 25th.
Thursday morning, January 25th. The first
question Of employing teachers, and how shall
competent teachers be retained, was opened BY ex
County Superintendent, Mr.. Pierce. He emphati
cally stated that no teachar should besemployed,
who is remotely even connected with the Sub.
Director. The teacher should be employed accord.
ing to all the laws Of trade and retained long
that teacher does his or her work properly.
The discussion of the question was continued by
Mr.. Won Coelln, Prof Crosby, Of Davenport, editor
Of the Common School. Mr.. Crosby said he great.
ly desired that the teacher Of his childred should
be SO long continued, that he will become thor.
oughy acquainted with the disposition OF his
children their wants and needs. Mr.. Pierce fol.
lowed in the discussion and also Mr.. Ely, Mr..
Risely Rev. Mr. Brntnall, Prof. Piper, and 9TH
| ers.
Afternoon session. The question OF the morn
| ing was continued by Dr. House, and Mr.. Jakway.
County High School and Township Graded
| Schools. Discussion opened by Col. Lake, in q
| concise and elaborate manner. On motion Of Mr..
Ely, 1t was voted that Mr.. Lake be requested to
furnish his paper County High School and
Township Graded Schools, for publication in the
| County Journals. The discussion of the subject
was continued by Rev Mr. Brintnall, Mr.. Van
Coelln and others.
| The report OF the committee on resolutions was
received by the convention, accepted and the CON-
mittee discharged. A motion then followed to
| adopt the resolutions, article by article: First
article lost second passed third lost; forth pass
| ed fifth passed; sixth passed; seventh passed !;
| eighth passed Adjourned until half past seven.
| Be it resolved by the School Officers Of Buchan-
an County, in convention assembled:
| LIST. That School Officers should be paid fair
remuneration for actual services rendered. Lost.
| End. That School Officers should systematize
and regularly visit and supervise the schools un-
der their jurisdiction. Carried.
| 3rd. That County Superintendent should be
employees, as City Superintendent are, appointed
| by the Board Of Supervisors Of the County. and
their term Of Office be determined by said Board.
Lost.
4th That while county uniformity of Text
| Books is not sttainabe, if desirable, that each
| school should and may have uniformity Of Text
| Books. Carried.
n al. 4 IL. 49, 4
uniformally, and by all legitimate means, sustain
the County Superintendent in his efforts to obtain
better class of teachers for our schools. Carri-
| ed
| 9th. That we request our County Board OF Su.
pervsors, to submit the question of establishing q
| County High School in Buchanan County, to the
electors Of said county, at the next general cleo.
| ton. Carried.
7th That frequent change Of teachers Is not
desirable in any school. Carried.
| 9th. That some law compelling children be-
tween the ages Of six and sixteen years to attend
school for at least four months each year, should
be enacted. Carried.
| Evening session. Lecture by Prof. Crosby OF
Davenport, Subject: The family, the school and
the state their relative duties in the education Of
the youth.
The question OF education is an exceptional one
inasmuch as it lie everybody's business, but the
main parties interested are the family, school and
| the state