Evening journal., 1895-01-01

ten delegates from each OF the counties
In my opinion this would give general
satisfaction among the conservative
classes Any system Of apportioning the
delegates whereby any of the counties
would have preponderance OF strength
In the convention would meet with very
general disapproval
Constitutional Amendments.
"At the last session Of the General AS
sembly an amendment TO the Constitution
was proposed whereby the courts should
have the exclusive cognlxance OF
granting divorces, except for the causes
and upon the conditions prescribed by
the Legislature Ia view OF the calling
OF Constitutional Convention, provided
for at the same session, declined TO
approve OF said amendment, as it, among
o'her things, would be the subject OF
consideration by said convention.
Free Schools.
ut Is with great satisfaction that call
your attention to the public schools. But
few, II any, state In the union can boast
Of so good 9 system at 80 little expense
TO the taxpayers, In this department. the
state has made great progress Ia the past
four years, and never in It's history have
the schools been 80 efficient as now. The
making Of all moneys received from the
state payable to the party entitled, by
orders or DRAFTS upon the state treasurer,
has removed the reasons for many Of
those troubles that 80 frequently arise in
the district, and prevent the best results
from the means afforded The furnishing
Of free text books has greatly increased
the attendance In many districts, and has
made possible uniformity OF classifca-
tion that enables both teacher and scholar
to accomplish much more work In
school year. In many instances the work
Of three years Is nos done in two am,
however. of the opinion that the best
possible results from the means furnished
are, IN many instances, not attained
sometimes because the teacher has been
selected by or through favoritism, and
sometimes. because of the want OF a
sufficient number Of qualified teachers to
select from. Stricter regulations should
be made governing the selection Of
teachers, and appropriate legislation
enacted providing the means for the bet
ter preparation OF the teachers of the
state for their work
"The fact that the dsmapdE upon the
| teachers for more efficient teachings are
constantly increasing, that the state ap-
preparations are liberal, that the schools
arc provided with free text books. and
that the school equipments are steadily
growing better, al combine to render
professional training absolutely necessary
to the teacher in order to meet these
demands, TO secure the results commen.
surate with the outlay, To provide BY
lay for a reasonable amount Of inatruc-
tion In school organization, school
government and the art Of teaching, In
addition to the present requirements for
teachers certificates, would In a very
large measure, remedy this trouble
II therefore recommend that you make
provision for establishing and maintain
ing state training school for tcachers,
to be kept open not less than i've weekl
during the enmmer yan8tiou at which
two coarsss Of instruction shall be pro
vided-one on the methods OF teaching
the primary grades, the other on the
methods Of teaching ths grammar grades
and that no one ahall be eligible So al
instructor In this school who is not es-
peciallv fitted BY education and training
TO instruct the teachers in the most Rp-
proved METHODS OF school organization
school government and the art OF teach
ing, to the end that the same degree OF
proficiency along these lines may be re-
quired of those who wish to become
teachers IN the state as are required at
the best normal schools Ia other states,
that this instruction be given free OF
cost to the teachers and that, In ad
dition to present requirements, all
teachers be required to pass an sxaminR
tion at least on ihs methods OF teaching
the primary grades before they shall bl
eligible to the first teachers certificate
and that they shall be required to pass a1
examination on both primary and gram
mar grades before receiving the second
certificate.
in order that the teachers may be-
come better educated in the branches
taught in the public schools, and there
fore better prepared to utilize th'
methods Of teaching, would recommend
that you make provision for extending
to the advRRced pupils Of the rural dis
tricts ths same privileges that ar'
enjoyed by those of 3 corresponding
grade rssidinR In the towns. This plar
would greatly strengthen the schoo
system as a whole. The tendency woulc
be toward the establishment OF numerous
high school departments In the towr
schools throughout the state, within
J Easy IbNCu VI Nuc AANhnNcA pAPlll
OF the surrounding districts, and with
out additional expense to the taxpayers
or to the state
"These central high schools should
receive a reasonable compensation ont o.
the general school fund to dsfrRy ths
additional expense Of the pupils thus
admitted Those pupils Of the rura
schools who are prepared to enter thi
high school departments Of a neighboriuF
town school would thus be afforded
much greater opportunities for acquir
ing knowledge than the district school
could offer The district teacher, being
relieved OF the advanced pupils at timi
when they require much attention, j
enabled TO do much more efficient worl
with those who remain under his care.
Furthermore, as these advanced
,, classes In the rural districts are oftel
limited in numbers to one or two pupils
It would be a matter Of great economy II
the teaching force to sdmit them to th'
town school, where they can receiv
instruction in much larger classes.
well formulated system along these line
would, am sure, bring much NOR
/ satisfactory results to the community a
! large than the establishing Of stat
} normal schools.