The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-06-07
THE SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS
An Important Change in the Text Books
Decided Upon.
A Discussion Over the Proposed Elimination
of Certain Studies-NOrmal and
High-5chOOl Graduates.

uISu-OCHOOl NIduudJeS'
The regular meeting of the School Board last
night was of more than usual interest and inn
portance.
The secretary reported expenditures during
May amounting TO SEC 652 p, of which $50 452. 25
was from the special fund; $825.O6 from the
library fund; and $l3,375.41 from the tuition
fund The superintendent reported an average
attendance of pupils of the public schools of
9,724 During the same month last year the
attendance was 9,04S The suspensions for
absence numbered 80 and for misconduct %.
CHANGE IN TEXT BOOKS.
Commissioners Carey and Thompson of the
committee on text books, recommended the adop-
ton of Whites two-book series OF arithmetics
for in grades 3 to s, inclusive, of the
public schools, in which the board-concurred by
vote of to 2, Commissioners Frenzel
and Stratford voting in the negative. The
terms of agreement upon which the White
arithmetic was adopted provided that the ele-
mentary book shall be furnished in exchange for
the No. L and No . arithmetics now in use upon
the payment of fifteen CENTS and it will be
given in even exchange for No during the
months of September and October next. Whites
new complete arithmetic will be given in ex-
change for any common school or complete
arithmetic upon the payment of forty
cents. An exchange will be made with
the book dealers of the city at an even valua-
ton. donation of $50 volumes is made to the
school board ii addition 1000 copies win be
printed from the revised plates of arithmetic No.
2 which will be placed at the disposal of the
board. The guarantee is given that the retail
prices of the White a1ithrhetics shall not exceed
so and 60 cents. A minority report, presented
by Mr. Frenzel, recommending that no changes
IN the textbooks be made, was not passed
DIPLOMAS FOR THE GRADUATES.
The issue of diplomas to the following named
graduates of the Indianapolis Normal School
was authorized: Lila j. Bartholomew, Mary L.
Bond, May B. Bond, Mary e. Courtney, Mary
F. Fairfield, Allie NJ Gage Julia Hibben, Mary
A Henchman, Mary A. Hyland, Adelina Jones'
Lucy r. Kackley, NJ Ella Lowe, Maria Louisa
Laube, Jennie A. Nicholson, Anna G. Redd.ng-
ton, Georgia A. Ramsey. Cora L. Ryan, Anna
Shea, Lula r. Thatcher, Julia X. Watson Amy
G. Weld, Helen c. Williams, and Clara J. VIII
ans.
The principal of the High school reported that
the following named pupils had completed the
course of study established for graduation; and
them at the commencement on June Is was
authorized: Horace Anderson, Minnie B. Bean
Leah Benson. Jenet NJ Bivin, Annie Burton
Julie H B@tteher, Anna A Broden, Per
NJ. Dwyer, Mollie S. Earnshaw. Rose
S. Foster, Wallace NJ Gray, Jennie Graydon,
May Greene Jennie e. Heller. Della NJ. Hervey,
Bessie b. Hill, Jessie Ingersol Alma T. Jobes
Blanche Hahn. Oliver A. Keeiy, Hattie A. Lang
don, Ruth Ada Martin, John S. Mccullough,
Lewis Medert, Mary Moore George II. Murphy,
Lille Reeves Frank NJ. Reid, Lizzie
A. Regan, Hattie Reinheiiner, Moife
Rosenthal Nettie Seibert, Jeannette Smith,
Laura A Smith, Ada Socwell Ottilie
Schellschmidt, James r. Sproule Susie Dalton
Stewart. Harold Swain, Albemarle {. Tousey.
Sarah f. Wallace, Ada H Warren, Dora Wen
ner and Minnie Wells.
Commissioner Smith was authorized to enter
into a contract to receive the children of Wood
III Place as pupils in the public schools of the
city upon the payment in advance of $lG0 year.
The report of the library committee, recon-
mending the Withdrawal from the library of
tho three volumes of Mrs. H. w. Beecher's
novel, From Daylight to Dawn. for the reason
that it Is made hbelous by key 10 the charac
tiers written on the y-leaVes, was coneurred in.
THE COURSE OF INSTRUCTION.
A lengthy report on the resolution introduced
at a meeting of the board last winter, proposing
the elimination from the course of instruction in
the public schools of the studies in the
general lessons on botany and natural history,
the theory of music and the teaching Of drawing
to the primary grades was presented by Mr.
Bingham, as chairman of the committee of the
whole to which was referred the revision OF the
course of study. The resolution had been sag
gested by the criticism often made that the
riculum of the course of study is overloaded and
that too many branches are attempted. The re
port is devoted to the and discussion
of this question. 1t is easy to criticise course
of study that is the result of careful, intelligent
consideration, and long experience in teaching.
and to theorize upon what it should be, bat it
will be difficult, the committee states, to mark
out ina different line which will not meet with
objections equally tenable. improvements in
our graded school system might be attempted if
the board had the money which is
needed Since the change of administering
the school system in this city thirteen ago much
has been accomplished for the better. The
school buildings which have been erected are
regarded as models of that kind of architecture.
There should be higher standard required in the
qualifications of teachers but the demand for
those well qualified is in excess of the supply,
and they go where they can get the best com
pensation. Too many pupils are crowded upon
the teachers and there is, of necessity, lack Of
that thoroughnesS and individual attention
which is necessary to produce satisfactory re-
suits The supervising principals all agree that
none of the subjects taught can be omitted or
the time given to any materially lessened with
advantage to the pupils. Although in some of
the grades there should be notifications, bet
ter division can not be made. 1t is estimated by
the supervisors that about so per cent of the
time is given to the solid branehes-the remain
der to music, drawing and general lessons. The
supervisors think that none of these branches
should be dropped, or the time de
voted to them lessened, as they
regard them of decided advantage to
the pupils. 1t wasordered that 500 copies of the
report should be published for distribution
among the officers and teachers of the public
schools. The recommendations in regard to the
different studies were referred for consideration