The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-01-12
PROFESSOR BLoss' REPORT.
A Large Increase in the Number of Schools
Recommendations of Importance.

The annual report of Professor John NJ. Bloss
the Superintendent of Public Instruction, is now
out OF press and ready for distribution. 1t is 8
volume of over 500 pages, and gives q vast
amount of matter relating to the educational in
terests of the State. In speaking of the school
buildings and school accommodations of the
State the Superintendent reports that during
the year there were302 school buildings erected
and that the total number now numbers 1856
the cost OF which aggregates 1905, 459 "Be
tween the years 500 and 1882" he says, "the
whole number of new houses erected was $3.50
yet the whole increase in the number of houses
is but 1 1925, showing that new houses were
erected to replace those which had first been
built. A careful investigation, covering a period
OF thirty years, shows that the energy of the
State was, for the first thirteen years, largely
expended in the erection of school buildings.
and that during the past seventeen years its en-
ergy has been taxed to rebuild the fragile struc-
lures at first erected. and to build the necessary
new houses We shall never reach a time when
1t will not be necessary to erect new buildings in
order to accommodate ourselves to the increase
in the population, but we have evidently passed
the crisis in supplying the mechanical appliances
necessary to public-sehool system and now it
is hoped that we have reached period when a
more liberal expenditure eau be made in supply
ing That which alone can make an investment of
$4,000 600 in school property really profitable,
VIZ: The placing of q competent teacher in each
school-roOm."
The rest Of the report is devoted largely TO the
proceedings of the State Board of Education.
the financial reports of county superintendent,
concerning school teachers and officers, the uni
Verslty system, and school statistics.
Inc superintendent is of the opinion that the
period Tor which the better class of teachers Is
now licensed should be increased, and that a
license for six months should be regarded mere
~ probatlona. He thinks that the eighteen
months license ought 10 be discontinued, and
recommends an amendment to section 4,422,
revised Statutes of 1881, so that the
state Board of Education may grant three
grades OF incense, viz: one for a period of iten
when the examination shall include the
branches usually taught in the elementary
schools one in which the examination shall
cover the branches usually taught in high
schools, and which shall be valid for the lifetime
OF the holder, to be styled ''life license" and
one which may be granted to those who have at
and distinction as teachers, without an exami-
nation, to he styled n ''fe diploma"
me Superintendent says that the limited
means furnished by the State is not sufficient to
meet the necessary expenses of the county in
stitutes, and therefore recommends the amend
ment OF Its Revised Statutes so that each appli-
cant for license to teach shall be required to
pay the county superintendent fifty cents, which
snail go into the county institute fund to be used
sOlely Tor snch purposes.
In speaking of the condition of the schools,
Pro-; Bloss says:
From the observations made during my term
OF Office find very much to commend and but
lew things to condemn in the workings of the
pnblic-school system, and that which is not
c0mmendable is attributable more to the admin
istratiOn than to any def ect in the system. =
ut is evident that more thought is now given
TO methods OF instruction and to what shall be
taught. Greater efforts are made to train the
pupil to think for himself than to burden his
memory with facts. More attention is given to
the formation OF character, to inculcation OF
right habits IN life and pnre habits OF thought
All these are true evidences of progress, and it
is hoped that in the future the great object of the
teacher will be not only to lay the foundation in
his pupils for intellectual culture, but to prepare
them to be good and honorable citizens"