The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-07-03
SECOND DAYS sEssIo N.
They Don't Want Much. But Want That
Little Very Bad.


Little Very Bad.
The first business which occupied the atten-
ton OF the convention was the naming Of
supts. Cragun OF Boone, Wiles of
Wayne, Noon Of ST. Joseph, Snyder Of Wash.
ington and Carlin Of Steuben a committee to
prepare outlines for township Institutes The
first paper Of the session was by supt Fl. D.
Worries Of Johnson county on Reading Circle
Work" This paper one of the best of the
entire session, and was so thoroughly appre-
olated that by unanimous consent II was or.
dered published in the LIsdiana School Journal
Below is a synopsis:
'The Indiana teachers reading circle origi-
mated in set Of resolutions adopted by the
state teachers association in 1888 and the first
course was put out to the teachers in ssl. Its
object as set forth in the first resolution, is
20 marguerite an organization among the
teachers Of Indiana for reading and study, 10
be known as the Indiana Teachers Reading
Circle.
''Now the benefit arising from such en- organ.
ization, if carried out in its fullness as ex-
pressed in the resolution, reading and study
and especially study, would be aud think in
q degree have been the following:
's1.) IL suggests good books 10 teachers they
would probably otherwise not know. (2.l IL Il
an excitant 70 systematic study not otherwise
secured. 90 IL gives 20 the individual the en-
thusiam that CONES from numbers. (4l IL
offers special knowledge OF the principles Of
teaching, and a general knowledge of the his
tory and progress If education. 90 IL gives
culture and discipline the teachers would
hardly get outside IL. These are plainly dis
cernibie in the reviews submitted. (6.) II gives
range OF general information and broadness Of
mind superior 90 that offered by any other
agency except the higher institutions a. IL
makes the teacher student and thereby
brings him into more direct sympathy with his
pupils-an indispensable element OF true
teaching. (S) Finally IL offers 10 the ambi
tious but impecunious, teacher an opportunity
10 10 himself for better work aud better salary.
Docs IL accomplish all these In the highest
degree possible? ! think not; IL yet remains
for IL TO do 90. II has not, because the work
has been too heavy; has been crowded out OF
the township institutes because OF is much.
ness, aud Entrusted 70 weekly evening meet
ings, which have proved futile. For whom Is
this work desgneds | think for the average
teacher. But who IL the average teacher? In
1896 77.5 per cent. of all the teachers licensed
IN the state received less than twenty-four
months license, leaving but 225 per cent. who
received more than twelve months license.
Now the whole number of teachers employed
10 the state IN 1856 white and colored) was
1898. Counting that all who held the high
grade license were employed. have 3,0O2,
while we must have had l0,3fl teachers EN-.
ployed who held twelve months license or less.
The average school term tor the state, for the
came year, was 100 days-six months-making
six township Institutes Here we find the
average teacher and the average time allowed
~ do this work now let US see what has been
required ol him in ms SIX lessons.
an 1885 We had Brooks Mental Science.
3i5 pages; Barnes General History 600
pages; Parkers Talks on Teaching 152 pages;
total Of i.i00 pages. In 1856 we had SO