The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1884-01-11


care and skill be employed in the
construction of our school buildings,
in order to secure the most favorable
conditions for the preservation Of the
health of the children, not only in
general, but especially of that delicate
and extremely useful member, thu
eye.
Thursday evening the mastery ad-
dress Of Hon. Edwin Willis, upon
"The individuality of the Teacher"
commanded the wrapt attention of
large audience. The subject was
developed SO as to show that the
world is moved, and men and nations
led by persons of clear-cut individu-
ality, such as Clay and Webster with
their commanding positive personal
magnetism; and, later, by Garfield
with his broad culture and strong
moral force. We need cultured, and
finished" men in every department
of life, and especially in the teachers
profession.
The audience was highly enter
tained. also, by some select reading
from Mrs, Edna Chaffee Noble, of
Detroit.
On Friday morning Prof. S. G.
Burkhead, of Traverse City, read a
paper upon the subject "Defects in
Our Present System of Examina.
tions." Some of the defects noticed
were lack of competent and thorough
supervision of county ,schools; the
insufficient and unreliable knowledge
of County Boards in regard to the
real work of the teachers; and the
unprofessional character of many of
our County Boards of Examiners.
The speaker held that the State took
a long step backward when the Coun.
ty Superintendency was abolished,
and, although something had been
gained by the establishment of the
present system, that the results were
not all that could be wished or 'ex.
pected. The examining and super
vising authorities cannot be divorced
with success to the system of public
schools.
A report of the "Committee on
Institute Work." was. presented by
J. G.. Plowman, Of White Pigeon, in
which it was urged that the present
system OF County Institutes is defec-
tive in that the same theories are
briefly discussed year after year to
about the same set of teachers: that
there is too little normal drill in
methods; and thus the people do not
see the results desired, which are, in
deed, unsatisfactory to Institute
workers; and that we cannot thus
keep pace with other States.
1t was thought by the committee
that the sessions of the Institutes
should be at least two weeks; that
the best instructors be procured, and
one-half of the time he devoted to
Normal class work.
Prof. Daniel Putnam, Of the State
Normal School, read paper upon
Grading District Schools. - In this
paper was first shown the difficulty
of securing and retaining uniform
graded system throughout the State,
or even the county under the present
condition of school districts and
boards. 1t was maintained that
courses of studies should be pre-
scribed and demanded in every dis.
trict; teachers and pupils should be
held to these courses; that proper
systems of records Of pupils ad-
vancement should be required in
every school; and that there should
be proper and qualified authority to
supervise and carry out these re.
quirements. The paper would rec
ommend that this State adopt plan
which should combine the merits of
the systems carried out in some of
the other states, namely: that the
district be abolished, and the town
ship made the unit, with system of
graded schools eliminating in one
High School for each township of
500 or more pupils; that the author-
ty for grading, supervising and main
tanning this system be placed in the
hands of County Superintendent
together with township trustees.
This plan it was thought would Sc
cure greater uniformity; give to each
pupil of township the free privilege
of High School; and secure more
thorough supervision. The trouble
is we cannot have thorough work
done unless that work is the business
OF some competent person, and that
person is remUnerafed for his work.
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