St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-12-29
COUNTY sUPERINTENDENTs.
They Want Some laws Changed.
The old Trouble of the Text Book

ne Ol0 OF the heAt hOOA
TTonopefy.-Officer Elected.
The convention of county school suDerii-
tendents reassembled at 9 o'clock yesterday
morning in representatives. hall, President
Cowing in the chair. Supt Kiehle read a
paper considering the matter of state aid
for common schools. and submitted the
draught of a bill covering his ideas. COM
polling pupils to attend school sixty days in
the wear in order to get the appropriation
of state money. The bill was referred to
the legislative committee A. E. EIgstrom.
of Goodhue county, read paper on
School Libraries, endorsing the plan rec
commended in Supt. Kiehle's annual report.
reassembled Assistant Supt. Pendergast
read bill prepared by Supt. Kiehle relay
tive to common school Libraries. The bin
provides that the state shall give $50 the
first year, SO the second year and S. each
year thereafter, provided the districts raise
the same amount, to be expended in FORM
ing Libraries in the common schools. The
bill was discussed by Supts. Sperry, James
and Sanders and referred to the standing
committee on legislation, consisting OF
Supts. COWing. Eddy and Blake. The
township system of organization as dis
cusSed in Supt. Kiehle's annual report, was
taken up and discussed by Supts. Eddy and
Engstrom. Atty Gen. Hahn explained
how the transition from the present district
to the township system could be made. The
object is to have township school officers
instead of district officers, ETC., enabling
pupil to always attend the nearest
school, and giving better distrl-
button of taxation. On motion OF
Mrs. Rice the plan was Endorsed and
the superintendent requested to draw bill
embodying it for presentation to the legis-
lature. The convention unanimously in
dOrsed the plan of furnishing free text
books for the schools. The forenoon ses-
sion adjourned while discussing the COM
pulsory education law. which was resumed
in the afternoon. 1t was decided to pro-
cure amendments TO the present law, If
possible. placing the age at from s to Is
instead of to 16, or that the equivalent
OF a common school education be specified.
After some discussion on the law as relat-
ing to truants. Supts. Gibbon and Green
ough and Mrs. Rice were appointed COM
mittee to report on the ACCESSIBILITY of
changing the law IN this respect. Supt.
Kiehle said the schools were
VERY MUCH IN NEED
of a good, progressive text book on
arithmetic and good grammar. There
was some general discussion of text
books and the way in which
changes could be made, etc.
President Cowing said the text book queS-
ton was good deal like Banquo's ghost,
and the understanding was general through
out the state that the text books supplied
by the contractor at stipulated price must
be used to the exclusion of all others. If
any other book was wanted in the school
it could only be used as reference. He had
always endeavored to live up to the law,
and he thought the best that could be done
was to submit to it and hopes the fifteen
years would pass as soon as possible. The
committee appointed on truant reported
that in case the district system be continued
the Geacher and clerk report delinquents to
the county attorney through the superin-
tendent in case the township system be
adopted then the constable be made tru-
ant officer in each township. The report,
after some discussion, failed of adoption.
The convention expressed itself in favor
of legislation requiring each county to fur
nish an Office at the county seat for county
superintendent. The convention then
elected as officers: President, A. NJ.
Sperry, Dodge county; vice president. Miss
Emma Allen. Fillmore; members of the
executive committee. c. l.. Greenough,
Dakota. and V. D. Eddy, Chisago. d. d.
Merrill distributed tickets to the Battle of
Gettysburg and all were invited to visit
the panorama at O'Clock this afternoon,
when Mr.. Gross will give a special lecture.