The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-06-11
COUNTY ENTERTAINMENTS.
Annual Meeting Of the State Association
A Reading Circle Organized.

ton Of the Indiana County superintendent AS
ISOLATION began in the Supreme Court room
yesterday afternoon. No session was held in
the morning, as only few of the superintend-
ents arrived before noon. The attendance yes
terday was not as large as last year, but it is ex-
pected that many more will be present at the
session to-day and tomorrow. The county
superintendent who were present yesterday
were John F. Snow, of Adams county; VIM 7.
Hacker, Bartholomew; p. F. Johnson, Benton;
Lewis Whitman, Blackford; Simon P. Neideigh,
Brown; Barton w. Everman, Carroll; David d.
Tickle, Cass; VIM. III. Mushlitz, Clinton; sam
uel P. Boyd, Daviess; Harvey B. Hill, Dear
born; c. NJ. Merica, DeKalb; John q. Lewellen,
Delaware; Andrew M Sweeney, Dubois; Michael
A. Mess, Franklim; George A. Osborn, Grant;
Samuel w. Axtell, Greene; William X. Wilson,
Henry; David M. Nelson, Jasper; NJ. +. Rlckoft,
johnson; Dale j. Crittenberger Madison; Lea
p. Harlan. Marion; Kinsey f. Cornwell, Martin;
VIM. H. Hushman, Newton; Watt L. Denny,
Noble: Robt. II. Woods. Ohio; John Whitman,
Pike; VIM. f. Netherton, Pulaski; Fl. w. Bow
ers, Randolph; Douglass Dobbins, Shelby; Calvin
Moon, st. Joseph; Jas. r. Hart, Switzerland;
Frank b. Crockett, Upton; G.. w. Osborne, Union;
VIM. H. Ernst Wells, and VIM. Guthrie, White.
The opening address was delivered by j. w.
H~olcombe, Superintendent of Public Instruc-
ton. who is SAo president of the association. In
Z CIV MS tGC VI tA1h
the county superintendent, he SAID that the
first was called to order in the Supreme Court
room, where the association is now in session, IN
1862, by the venerable S. X. Hoshour, who was
then the Superintendent of Public Instruction.
1t was at this convention that the use of printed
slips of questions for the eNamina-
ton of applicants for teachers license
was proposed, and a system was formed
out of the chaos that there existed. The second
convention was held in 1866 and among changes
in the school laws which were thea proposed
was one establishing county boards of educa-
ton and one providing for the levy of special
taxes for tuition. In 1S11 the third convention
was held and to it belongs the credit of intro
ducing the system of gradation, which has been
so successful i'll improving the condition OF the
schools.
The afternoon session was devoted mainly
to the consideration and discussion of the subject
of organizing a State Teachers Reading Circle.
presented in a paper read by w. II. Wilson, of
Henry county. Twenty-Five per cent. OF the
teachers of Indiana annually drop out Of the
work, he said, and their places are filled with
raw recruits fresh from the pupils desk. He
believed in teaching fewer things and teaching
more thoroughly. 1t is important in the educa-
ton of a pupil that a taste for reading should be
created, and to accomplish this purpose his ad
vice was to read no mean book; read
no book less than one year; read no
book that you do not like Better a child never
learn to read at all, than, having learned, to leave
school without a taste for good reading.
The discussion Of the subject was opened by
B. W. Everinan, who suggested that the study
Of natural science should be included i'll the
course of literary reading. X. e. Boone. super
intendent Of the Franklin schools, Superintend-
ents Williams, Osborne, Guthrie. Sweeney and
Snow participated in the discussion. Professor
George p. Brown, president of the State Normal
School, thought there should be two lines of
study. and the most important Of these is
professional study. including mental science,
methods Of instruction. pedasogic and history,
of education. The second line Of study should
be general culture, including physical science,
history and literature.
j. J. Mills, president Of Earlham College, and
chairman of the committee on the organization
of q reading circle, appointed by the State Teach
erS' Association. presented tue plan of organizing
the circles which had been decided upon. 1t pro
vides that there shall be Il board
of directors. who shall establish a
central bureau in indianapolis, to be
under the control of a general secretary. The
directors shall prepare the course of reading
which is TO be pursued, but the time TO be given
to Il course shall be fixed in each county by a
county manager, who shall direct the work of
the local organizations. Any one may become
a member Of the county circle upon pledglng
himself to pursue the course of reading and upon
paying a membership fee of twenty five cents.
Where there is no local organization, the
applicant may become a member Of
the State circle upon the same
conditions, and may receive all the benefits
through the managers of the nearest neighbof-
ing county.
A resolution was adopted expressing it as the
Judgment of the convention that in addition to
the professional studies, only one course shall
be pursued at a time. and the order of it shall
be literature, history and science.
Another resolution was adopted approving the
plan for the organization of Il Teachers Reading
Circle, aud pledging the support of the conven-
ton to it.
VENTN SESSION.
At the evening session W. A. Hershman read a
paper on Supervision in the Country Schools. :"
He advised the offering of certificates of honor to
each pupil neither absent nor tardy during the
school term, which had met with marked success
in his county. He also thought that good results
would come from the superintendent requiring a
report of the standing of each pupil, both in
matters of punetuaity and scholarship, so thai
the teacher would be made to domissionary work
by personal visits to the negligent. He suggested
also the holding of a mass-meeting of all the
pupils in the county, with appropriate exercises,
when diplomas and certificates of honor shall be
delivered to all who have earned them. The
discussion of Mr.. HePshman's suggestions was
led by Mr.. AxteL
The convention win continue in session to-day
and tomorrow. The officers for the next year
will be elected tomorrow afternoon.
Crown Hill Cemetery Association.