The Indianapolis journal., 1885-06-30
MEETING OF EDUCATORS.
The State Association ofCounty Snperintend-
ents Holds Its Annual Convention.

The Indiana County Superintendents Associ.
alton met. Yesterday afternoon, at Plymouth
Ct:.ircn, 4. reeuia~ annual session. large del
egation was present, including several visitors
among whom were Professors DeMotte Carharte
and Parr of Greencastle. The organization for
the present year has for IT'S president, Hon. John
W. Holcombe; first vice president, A. II. Morris;
second vice president. John o. Lewellen; secre-
tsry, William Guthrie; treasurer, John P. Carr.
The first paper read before the association was
on the subject "How the County Superintendent
May Secure the Cooperation of the People" by
A. Z. Rodgers, of III endricks county. He spoke
of the necessity of the superintendent build
ing up sentiment for thorough education,
and advertising the school. The superintendent
must be mixer, and become personally familiar
with the people Worthy work must be done
by pupils, and teachers should be recognized and
rewarded. In order tosecure the good will of
the people the superintendent must prove his
ability as an officer and solid standing as a man.
The people must understand that he knows the
laws and is familiar with school machinery
The cooperation of the people may
pS eiicCltu only an ilid!i, WIN
good teachers and conducts profitable institutes.
vEe superintendent must ue on intimate work
ing terms with the trustees. and see that their
finances are properly managed, and that good
school buildings are erected The speaker ia
.vored the prize system in schools and thought
that certificates OF commentator should be
issued to pupils of regular attendance. He also
urged teachers to form local associations in the
interests of education.
In the discussion on this subject, which fol-
lowed G. A. Osborne. of Grant county, S. S.
dolph, FL. B. Hill of Dearborn, w. r. Wilson,
of Henry. w. H. Ernst, of Wells, Thomas
Shakes of Marshall, and j. NJ Olcott took an
active part and made interesting suggestions.
How to Make Visitation OF Schools Effect
ive," was the subject of the second paper, read
by d. J. Crittenberger, of Madison county.
Visitation, he held, is required by law, and is
the most important duty of the superintendent.
He must observe the condition of school-houses
and examine into the proficiency of both the
teacher to do good work as the strict surveil-
lance of the superintendent. To get at the true
condition OF a school the superintendent must
enter the school-room without CIV
ing previous notice, hear classes himself,
and examine the books of the teacher.
Criticism should be administered to the teacher
in kindly spirit, and in private The superin-
tendent should become familiar with his teachers,
so as to help them and correct their errors. He
should however, be authoritative so far as to
strictly enforce the law and his rules and regula-
tions
A lively discussion followed this paper in
which l.. III. Scott. of Floyd county. c. w. Os-
borne, of Union, ]. A. NARROW, of Sullivan, and
W. J. Howk of Jay. participated
The next paper was, IA Further Word on
Gradation of Schools" by d. NJ. Nelson, of
Jasper county. The essentials of gradation,
he maintained, were course of study,
classification and promotion. The course of study
should not be subject to the whim of ignorant
parents or the caprice of the young pupil, but be
regulated by experienced educators. The course
of study should be based upon the laws of mental
growth, and text books should follow in their
logical and psychological order To enforce a
course of study. it should be outlined in detail,
so that the parents and pupils can readily under
stand it. When different years are combined
into the one grade, the combination should be
effected in the higher classes as ex-
perience teaches that the primary depart
ments are generally overcrowded In grading
new students. age, ability and scholarship should
be taken into consideration. A boy Of good ability
should be classed rather with his super;ors than
interiors Teachers do a criminal act who make
their personal relations with parents the basis of
gradaton. Promotion from one grade to an
other should depend upon the merit of the stu
dent, and if the standard OF per cent. is not at
tanned to, there should be no advancement
Teachers should keep monthly record of the
standing Of each pupil, and at the end of the
year the record should be summarized. This
method will show the relative efficiency of the
pupils. The speaker believed in programmes of
study. and thought each text should be allotted
a certain time for recitation and completion.
S. d. Auglin led in the discussion Which fol-
lowed, and spoke in favor of the system Of
graduation from schools, claiming that it en-
thused the teacher, pupil and the general public
The evening session was occupied by III. NJ
Skinner, who read paper on Horace Mann
and His Work, and Miss Mary Rar;den, who
read an interesting paper on 'The Vatican and
Raphael"
The session opens to-day at $3.50, and will con-
clude this afternoon.
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