The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-08-31
In Secret Session.

Atwinkle of gas-light through the tight
ly closed blinds of the office of the superin-
tendent of city schools at 9 o'clock at night,
with an air of mystery shrouding the place,
attracted the attention of a Journal re-
porter last evening. Entering the library
building he found the door leading to the
superintendent office open and walked in.
AS he did so the occupants of the room
loOked first at the reporter and then at
each other, betraying much the same agita-
ton and discontinue as is shown by a lot
of boys discovered by a farmer in his water
melon patch. Looking about him, the re-
porter saw the following superintendent
of city schools: Irwin. of Fl. Wayne;
Layne, of Evansville; Taylor, of Vim
cennes; Stultz. of Jacksonville, Cox,
of KokOmO; Study. of Richmond; Sny-
der. of Muncie, and Jones, of Indian
apOlis. When these able educators had
somewhat recovered from their surprise.
one of their number approached the aston
ished reporter and motiOned him to follow
into the hall.
"Wh-what is it," inquired the reporter.
Just q little private meeting" replied
the educator nervously, "hai ha! hal That's
all; nothing else; nothing for publication"
Isn't it rather an unusual thing for the
superintendent of eight or ten of the cities
of the State to come together secretlyf
What is there in the educational matters of
the State that o meeting of superintend-
ents should take on the air of q secret So
cietyPn
The educator then made n feint of Civ
ing the reporter his entire confidence,
and told him that for several years past
there had been number of associations of
city superintendent; there had been one in
northern Indiana that was connected with
Michigan superintendent. one i'll eastern
Indiana that was connected with an
ern Indiana with Kentucky, and
one in western Indiana with Illinois.
The reporter was informed that the
educators had recently learned that Indl-
annapolis was centrally located in Indiana.
with railroads converging to. IL from all
parts of the State. like the spOkes of a wheel
to the hub, and that this discovery had
suggested 10 them the idea that it would be
good to have an indian association of city
superintendent, and that they meet here.
"Have you selected officers for your asso-
ciationf" was the next inquiry.
We'll, all, no. This meeting is informal.
At n subsequent meeting a permanent or
ganization will be made"
WAS anything else d0nei"
well, no. not much; except a number of
questions were discussed as TO attendance
and regulations of various kinds peculiar
to city schools.n
lut reporter, an HOuT idttT, Htt some or
those who had been in attendance at this
secret meeting. One of these said that
nothing but educational matters were dis
cussed. and would say no more. Another
acknowledged that the Becktold-Williams
series of school books had been one of the
topics OF the meeting. but refused to say
what action was taken. 1t is understood
that q number of these gentlemen are much
disturbed over sorne recent phases taken
by the schoolbook question. and that the
meeting was 10 devise some plan of action
that would he safe and conservative. Prior
10 the introduction of the Becktold- Will
Jams series il has never been considered
necessary for the school superintendent of
any of the cities of the State to come up to
the capital with gum shoes and dark Ian
terms like a lot of pedagogic Guy Fawkeses.
Hope the Books Will Not Come.
Eeciai 90 the indianapolis Journal