New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-01-11
THE TOWNSHIP SYSTEM FOR SCHOOLS.
STATE COMMISSIONERS DISCUSS 1T AS REM.

STATE COMMISSIONERS DISCUSS 1T AS REM
EDY FOR EXISTING EVILS.
The last days session OF the State Association OF
School Commissioners and supcrntcndents opened yer
teraay morning at the Museum OF Natural History,
with the usual largo attendance. Tho commissioners
wore all IN good humor. and large amount OF ousi-
ness was crowded into tho forenoon and afternoon ses
sions. Tho first paper IN the morning was by Com
missioner g. whitford Maxon, Of Adams Centre, on
How 10 Awaken Public Sentiment In Rural Schools
Mr. Maxon said that the majority OF farmers knew
mora about the condition Of tho IRISH In ireland than
about the condition Of their own educational affairs,
and no thought that the apathy with which the rural
schools wcre regarded could only DO removed by sub
stltuflng the township system for the district system
A. p Marble president Of tho National Educational
Association, made an urgent appeal 10 tho members
attend tho annual meeting OF tho association, WHICH
Is TO be held at Nashville, Tom. July 1919.
A resolution offered by Principal Cook. OF ne Pots
dam Normal school. expressing the loss the associa-
lion felt In the death Of DR.. John II. French, Of
Rochester, a we'll known educator was unanimously
adopted.
The @Townshp System again came up for dis-
cusslon when DR.. J. II. Hooso, OF Cortland read n
paper on "The Relation Of Normal Schools to tho
Rural Schools OF tho staieS Dr. Hoose said that tho
rural schoUls were declining, and that theTo were
many in the State which had three and two pupils,
while some kept open for days with only one, and
Others as long without any. lie thought this was
partly owing to the ineflcency OF the teachers. be
cause trained teachers would not consent TO accept
positions in such small schools. To remove the
difficulty no proposed several remedies lie thought
the normal schools should be made integral part
OF the school system, and that union FREQ schools
should offer preparatory normal course Tho lower
class of teachers could then have training and
tho normal schools would DO relieved OF their no
paratory work. This chang could only be bro ght
about by the adoption Of the township as tho unit of
school government instead II the district. The COM
missioneIs were unanimously In favor Of tho change,
and after considerable discussion Committee was
appointed 10 draft bill on the township question, 10
DO presented TO the commissioners within thirty days,
and afterward TO be reported to tho Legislature The
following were named NJ c. Fndlay, OF Wayne; DIR.
r. A. sheldon Of oswego; J. j. Kenncy of Richmond
J. II. Sanford, Of westchester, and W. J. Barr, OF
GcHesee.
Professor A. s. Bickmore gave short talk on the
proposed aleraiio.is and additions 30 tho Museum,
bis remarks being illustrated by means Of store
opticon. Adjournment for luncheon followed
At the afternoon session the following officers were
elected President, Edward u. Knapp, OF Onondaga
first vice president James b. Lockwood, Of West
chester second vice president, Miss Ida l. Grhn. OF
Oswego: secretaries. j. j. Callahan. Of Albany, and
j. J. Moran of Ulster; treasurer, H. II. SANFORD, OF
OnOndaga
Commissioner Knapp read paper advocating some
maor changes In tho school laws, particularly In uie
then the meeting adjourned. The next convention
will be held at Cortlqnd In January, 1890