The Indianapolis journal., 1896-06-26
THE WORK OF TEACHING
COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT MEET IN
ANNUAL SESSION.
some Changes I'm Laws Recommended
I'm a Paper Read Yesterday
Morning.

The Indiana County Superintendents' As
sociation began its thirty-first semi-an-
nual convention yesterday morning at the
agricultural rooms in the Statehouse, with
President w. w. Pfrimmer I'm the chair
and about eighty members of the associa-
ton present. The meeting was rather late
in getting under way, and the only SUBJ
ject discussed during the morning session
was that of penmanship. Prof G.. N.
Michael, supervisor of penmanship of the
Logansport schools, gave talk on the sub
ject and was followed by Prof. w. s.
Hiser. of Richmond. and several other
members participated in the discussion. At
the afternoon session some attention was
given to district school libraries and super
intendents. w. III. Chillson and j. n. N.Y.
ers talked of the value of these libraries
and deDlored the lack of library facilities
in the country schools Superintendent j.
NJ. Sullins read the following paper on
township Institutes:
THE purpose OF the township institute
was or is, / suppose, TO promote educa-
tional growth; to elevate the standard of
the rural teacher by holding model schools
presided over by model teachers; to as
sst the young man and young woman who
have never taught III method. management
joyment; to give all teachers an oppor-
tunity to catch 'on to the wagon of progress
and get in touch with the latest facts; to
give instruction to the weaker teacher and
inspire those who are wanting in profess
sional interest.
las TO results. the township institute has
had as much to do with the elevation of the
standard Of teaching as any other one
move made during during the last Quarter century
though imperfect, have been useful, in
part. for the reason that We see the faults
Of others but not our own. At our insti-
,tute sessions the past year we have heard
discussions on concentration, perception,
induction and deduction that would have
been credit to county institute. 1t is
true all teachers do not take the proper
interest in this work for the reason that
they do not intend to be teachers and were
not meant for teachers.
THE most important factor in the town.
ship institute is its president. If he shows
tive ability. pprepares his own subject and
all other subjects on the programme, en-
courages proper discussion, requests the 4
word or two holds down one or two men,
bers who want to talk all the time and
frequently f, M say i the same me thing two or three
all will be benefited. If the president is in
different. slow in his work. disposed to dis
courage discussions, arrogant and arbi-
trary in his rulings the institute will be a
dead drag. The township trustees pres
ence and his compliance with the law on
terest of the sessions The county superin-
tendent should attend all the sessions but
the impossibility of being in thirteen differ \
ent places at one time precludes this.
THE law implies that the county super
intendent shall hold or conduct the town
ship institute We do not believe that il
is his duty to conduct a session of the
township institute any more than 1t is to
go into the school room and teach school.
He should attend as a member of the in
stitute. take part in the discussions, make
suggestions as. to the work and advise the
intendent has no business in the chair.
How can he criticise management which
he does not see or which does not exist? 4
THE programme should be carefully pre-
pared by able hands. 1t should be q happy
mingling of professional and academic
work including two or three model class
exercises. Our committee has done excel
lent work on programmes. and / heartily
indorse the synopsis of the work for the
coming % year; o, saye they b nave rd placed the
of the year Trees grow in the spring;
planted In the fall, they have all winter in
'sThe law OF 1889 requiring trustees to pay
teachers for attendance at township in
stitutes has not added TO the intrinsic in
terest of the institute. The repeal of the
following part of said law is recommended:
And for each days attendance at such in
stitute each teacher shall receive the same
wages as for one days teaching; provided
that no teacher shall receive such wages
unless he shall attend the full session of
such institute and perform the duty or
duties assigned.
"Our reasons for the repeal of the above
follows
ducing the teachers WAGES. The teacher
who received $50 per month before the law
enacted rule now receives $3.50.
which is in a six and one-haf or a seven
months term a reduction. as few trustees
will hold but six institutes.
''Sccond-The teacher who has profess
sional interest will attend the township in
stitute without pay The teacher who has
mercenary interest II paid for his attend
ance. Hence the reDeal will increase the
wages of our best teachers.
'sThird-We need county supervisors but
for the county supervisor and the township
institute. but ii can be made TO support
one of the two. The fees paid teachers for
attendance at the township institute in
Tippecepoe county for the year 1886 were
81 l04. This amount would pay two OF the
four Supervisors required. An additional
tax of one and one-third of one-tcnth of
mill would provide the revenue for the
'Fourth-The repeal of the above law
would really increase the teachers wages.
and the enactment of county super
visors' law would enable the county super
intendent to grade and classify his schools
TO 2 standard equal 10 our city schools.
Such law will be presented to the Legis-
lature.'f
This subject was discussed at some
length by Superintendent f. NJ. Lyons and
other members OF the association. The
convention will be continued at o'clock
this morning. -.
was held last night. at which a general
REORGANIZATION OF the standing committees
of the body was decided upon. There will
be a committee on questions for sradua-
iy c{amina ations. but the most importanr
committee determined upon was q leEisla-
i've committee which win be appointed ~