The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-04-06
County School Omcers to Meet at Olym-
pia Tomorrow.

County School O6icers to Meet It Olym-
pia Tomorrow.
v. A. Pusey, county school superintend-
emit, will attend the first biennial conyen-
ton of county school superintendent at
Olympia tomorrow. The convention has
been called by R. b. Bryan, state superin-
tendent of public instruction. In an invi-
tation sent out to each county superin-
tendent Mr.. Bryan explains that the pur-
pose of the convention is to acquaint' the
various superintendent with the manner
in which school work is carried on in the
several counties of the state. He says:
While the convention win possess NO power to
enforce its DEGREES. yet its Intelligent action may
be productive of most excellent results. It's de-
Eberations viii form an important part Of the
educational history OF Washington, aud aside
from bringing about greater uniformity of
work, many OF its ideas will be crystaiiized into
laws in the near future. It's history win serve
as guide to future conventions OF this char
acter.
Mr.. Byran enumerates the following
topics, which will furnish food for discus
sion in the convention:
l. How may greater promptress and greater
efficiency be accomplished in the work OF school
district officers especially in the matter Of re-
ports from school district clerks?
. Powers and duties of county superintend-
ents under existing laws: What are they Arc
they ample, or should they be increased? Should
county supervision be more thorough than it
can be made under existing laws.
s. school visitation: Its objects; frequency:
duties OF county superintendent by way OF in
speetion; by way of criticism.
l. Should county supervision extend to the
inspection of the records of school district OIL
GERS, and the direction of these officers in the
transaction Of their official business? Is such
authority conferred by existing lawss
5. Duties OF teachers in regard to the keeping
OF records according to law and the instructions
OF the superintendent of public instruction:
Are they faithfully and efficiently discharged?
If not, what is the remedy? Should more be re-
Quired of them?
6. Teachers associations: Are they advan-
tageous? Are they practicable at this time in
this state? What should be the scope of their
work? How can they be made more efficient
and more stable in character?
Z. Teacher institutes: Should they be held
during term time or during vacation? What
should be their duration under existing laws?
What should DO the character of the work
attempted; largely an exemplifcation Of pro-
cesses and methods, or largely didactical z l. e.,
conductors and instructors should home talent
be relied upon, ii good, or should talent from
abroad be given the preference? Why or why
not give the preference to home talent? Should
the same conductor and instructors be employed
year after year, or is u change preferabler Com
pulsory attendance: To what extent should it be
enforced? Is the present law satisfactory?
s. County superintendcnts records: should q
uniform system be adopted throughout the
state; i. e., should state authority prescribe
forms and manners Of keeping records in all the
counties, or should each county superintendent
be left free to adopt his own methods? Do
existing laws authorize the state superintendent
tn diefnfa in, this u,attep9
9. How much of county superintendents
time should be devoted TO Office work? In what
classes of counties should he devote all his time
to the duties of his Office? Can he teach with
out certificate?
10 Teachers examinations: What is the real
purposeg Is greater frequency desirable?
Would fewer examinations be sufficient? Are
existing rules for the examination OF teachers
satisfactory? Ii not in what particular should
they be changed. Why? Are the lawful re-
Quirements OF certificates satisfactory?
IL. appointment OF examiners-eonstruction
OF the law relating te their appointments:
Should the term "highest grade Of certificate in
his county be construed as TO give prefer
cnee to state and territorial certificates and
diplomas, to the exclusion Of frstgrade county
| certificates?
L. Issuance of certificates without eSamina-
ton: What grades Of certificates should be so
issued to graduates OF the normal department OF
the University of Washington To graduates of
state normal schools? To persons holding state
| or territorial certificates from other states ?
| Should the word estate be construed to mean
only the states of the American union, or should
| it be construed 10 mean civic organization in
| its broadcast senses
| Is. Endorsement OF certificates from other
/, counties OF this state, for full time for which
| they were granted: Should il or should il not
| be rractieeds If practiced, should it be uni
yersal, l. G., apply to all counties? Why or why
| not practice Il:
IA Temporary certificates, granted by county
surerintendents instead OF indorsing, as hereto
| fore: should the restrictive clause, s.the re-
| quircments TO obtain which shall not have been
less than the requirements TO obtain certificate
in this state. be strictly or literally construed.
Should such subjects school law and state con-
stitution be held to be contemplated BY that
| clause
Is. County superintcndents' annual report
| Should il be compilation of the reports of
school district clerks, in the aggregate as here
tosore, or should 1t embrace the essential facts
| pertaining TO each individual school districts
| Ii. The practice OF teaching without certif-
cate, i. c., the practice Of commencing work be-
| lore being qualified according to law: TO what
| extent is ian e,iif What is the remedy?
Columbia. Watch il grow.