Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-05-13
TEACHERS, INSTITUTE.
An IntePestIng Circular from the
state school Commissioner.

The following is the copy Of a circular
received by the Board Of County Commits
sioners and the Board OF Education OF
Chatham county from Hon. Gustavus ].
Orr, State School Commissioner. 1t will be
read with interest:
/ propose to hold three Teachers Ins'i-
tutes 10 Georgia the approaching summer.
Teachers Institutes sre temporary schools
for instructing teachers who are themselves
actually engaged in the work Of instruction.
Many OF our teachers are poorly qualified
for their wOrk-so much so that 10 many
cases the public do not receive an equiva-
lent for the money expended. The best OF
the teachers can be improved.
10 our insti' utes we expect 10 devote the
time mainly TO the following subjects, viz
Spelling, reading, penmanship, English
grammar, geography and arithmetic. Oae
teacher will be put IN charge Of the first
three branches, and one in charge OF each
Of the others. There will thus be four
teachers regularly employed at each insti-
tute. The most experienced teachers Of the
State will be selected for this work.
In addition to the regular teaching, we
shall have lectures and addresses at night
from eminent professors and friends OF edu-
cation.
wish all the County School Commission.
ers to meet me for three or four days in
struction IN their duties. l expect to de-
liver to them several lectures upon the
nroper administration Of the school laws. /
shall also avail myself of the occasion TO
learn from them, by an interchange Of We've,
many things concerning the status Of the
educational work. l hope the boards will
allow the Commissioners their per diem for
the three or four days session, thing which
think they have the authority to do, as we
expect to try to make these days much the
most important days for promoting the true
interests Of the schools Of all those spent
bv the Commissioners in official duty.
The teachers will be taught free. The
only expense to them will be board and rail
road fare The former we will endeaVor TO
secure at the lowest prices, and the latter at
half rates, II this reduction can be obtained.
The colOred teachers will be taught at the
same time, by the same teachers, but In diff
ferent school rooms.
The services OF Hon. James II. Smart,
late superintendent OF Public Instruction
for the State OF Indiana, man OF expe.
rience in this kind of work, have been Sc
cured as General Superintendent. All the
teachers will be 0eorgisns.
hope county boards viii feel the neees-
sity OF cooperating with me In this effort TO
raise the standard Of teaching talent. The
Institutes will occupy the whole OF the
month OF August, ana nope the ooarus
will permit the teachers to attend, by arrang-
ing the school terms to suit, II practicable,
and even by suspendiDg temporarily, If need
be. They might encourage attendance by
announcing that hereafter In choosing
teachers, IS far as there may be authority to
do so. preference viii be given, other things
being equal, to those who avail themselves
of this means Of Improvement.
One of the institutes will be held in North
Georgia, one in Middle Georgia, and one in
South Georgia. This is all that can be said
at present as to location, as sites have not,
as vet, been fully determined upon.
The whole expense Of employing teachers,
etc., viii be paid out Of money kindly placed
at my disposal by DR.. Curry, the General
Agent of the Peabody Fund.
As soon as all the arrangements have been
completed circular will be published, Civ
ing full details as to location, teachers en-
ployed, cost of board, reduction Of railroad
fares, etc.