The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-29
Secretarv-Miss 8. A. Riley. Bedford.

Secretary-Miss s. A. Riley, Bedford.
Executive C0mmittee~-O i. Kelso, Richmond: II.
u. Woody. Kokomo. and E.. Il. Griffith, Frankfort.
In the country and village school section, over
which James Fl. Henry, of Martinsville, pre-
sided, about fifty ladies and gentlemen were
present Supplementary Reading was treated
exhaustiyely in a paper by r. NJ. Garrison. of
Morgan county. He did not rely for educational
development altogether on textbooks. Miscel-
laneous books and newspapers were a great aid.
Hasty, thouehtiess reading of anything is un-
profitable; facts from any source are what the
student needs, and those cleaned from the daily
ana weekly papers possess an interest to the
young mind far greater than that which at
taches to those drawn from the histories of an
cient times. 1t is the present which claims first
attention. He has his pupils to discuss current
events, such as the late elections and the unveil-
ing of the statue of Liberty. e. A. Ogden. of
Parke county, and Edward Barrett, of Hen
tricks, expressed favorable views as to this mode
of teaching.
Thesforenoon session closed with a discussion
OF township Principal" whose duties and in
huence in the system of schools were ably pre-
sented in a paper by James NJ. Boyd, of Davies
county. w. b. Carpenter, of Knox, opened the
debate following the reading, which led to some
opposite views. but the tendency was in favor
of the township principal.
L. b. Felter, of Harrison county, submitted
Ills ideas. favoring a uniform course of study for
S~u"tAs SCHOOlS LIS pOsSiUlitGv duu OcSlEdunib5
were comprehensively reviewed by those who
took part in the discussion. No specific point of
debate was held . reach speaker preferring 70
give his or her views rather than to enter into
argument on the question, but a majority coin
cided with Mr.. Felter.
The theme of Township Institutes as a Means
OF Professional Development" was opened by a
paper from Louis q. Chamberlain, of Jay. He
held that associations of teachers are necessary
for mutual understanding, and this is best met
DV the methods of tho ipctitutac Tho 0hiact
should be to instruct the young teacher in the
plan of teaching. He recommended that the
trustees should adopt an institute grade book
where the work of teachers could be accurately
ascertained.
Mr.. Doyle, of Benton county, said younger
teachers should be given a regular work to do.
They would then know what was expected Of
them in their institutes. Many attending the
institutes did not know what to talk about. This
method would give them a gradual development
The Village and District Library" found an
earnest friend Gin S. Deahl, of Elkhart county,
whose paper treated of it's advantages
in carrying literature and general knowl-
edge to those who could not avail
themselves of books in the town libra
ries without great trouble and cost. The discus
on the other hand. it was the idea Of every
speaker that these libraries should be especially
extended and improved. This closed the days
proceedings of the session.
The officers for the ensuing year we're elected
as follows:
President7L G. Chamberlain, Of Jay county:
Vice.presidents-First district, f.. A. White; Third,
A.. Q. freshman, Harrison; Fourth. W. C. Waldron,
Switzerland; Fifth, S. E. Bassett, Hendricks; Sixth,
Z. 3; Collier. Rush; Ninth, G. 3. Perisho, Hamilton;
Secretary-Ella Lindley, Morgan.
Assistant Secretary-W. A. Julin.
Executive Committee-W. J.. Howk, JAY; J, A.
Rothrock. White; Margaretta Kendall, Wayne; ID. F..
johnson, Benton, and A, nj. Sweeney. Dubois.