The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1895-08-29
COUNTY EDUCATIONAL MATTERS.
BY SUPERINTENDENT MORTON.

ing Circle work in our county. A few
of'our teachers are members already
and have pursued the course with
PLEASURE and profit. One of the
books for the past year is especially
worthy OF favorable mention; i. e.
Whites School Management.
It's name is suggestive OF its con-
tents: 1t deals with the different
methods that are used to accomplish
the best results; and, so fresh is it
with the realities OF the school-room,
that to pick one up casually means
a desire to possess it permanently.
Thispline OF reading is especially
interesting to those who expect to
teach because OF the help which it
renders them in passing the exami-
nation. | believe that | am safe in
saying that the teacher who fails to
take this course in reading, will not
beable five years hence to geta certi-
ficate to teach in this state.
| speak this from experience: A
few years ago a state reading circle
was organized in Indiana. 1t was
my pleasure to be II OF the charter
members in our county. On leaving
for Dakota, | also left the circle work.
This summer a set of Indiana ques-
tions for a certificate to teach was
sent me and | found that | could not
have. passed the examination
cessfully on this part OF the work.
SO, let us Take time by the fore
lock- and enter heartily into the
work. We propose to devote the
principle part of the time of the H. c.
Il. A. to a discussion of these useful
books. | am sure that we shall be
amply rewarded for so doing.
copy from circular letter as fol-
lows: SIN respect of it's Reading Cir
Gle, South Dakota is far in advance
OF many of the older, Weather, and
more populous states, and stands
indeed among the foremost. Ours is
the first state to recognize by law
the ~eXistance and permanence OF the
Reading Circle, as Il part of the es-
tablished system OF public education.
The management and direction OF
the Reading Circle are committed to
aboard OF Directors, selected by the
State Teachers Association. One
half the number of directors are elect
ed each year. AS for the Circles IN
the various counties, they are to be
considered us always organized. No
formal action is necessary to the in
ception of the work i'll any locality.
Individual reading is what is desired.
The local Circle is merely an aid or
stimulus.
Every teacher should enroll as a
member of the Reading Circle. The
enrolment blanks are printed in
duplicate, and one leaf OF each should
be detached by the County manager
and sent to the State Secretary later.
No one shall enroll in more counties
than one.
Formerly questions were sent by
the State Secretary to the various
County superintendent for the re-
quired examination OF the Reading
Circle members upon the work OF the
year. 1t is now arranged members
shall be required only to submit q
few pages of notes on their readings
for the coming year. These notes
should include, in simple language,
the teachers estimate OF the leading
features OF the books read.
Each member OF the Reading Circle
presenting acceptable notes OF the
work at the close OF the Reading CIR
cle year, or satisfactorily answering
80 percent of the questions submit
ted will receive from the State Secre-
tary a card OF credit. On receiving
four successive cards OF credit, ne will
be entitled to receive the diploma of
the oganization. To those pursuing
the course after rpcnirinm this 6i-