The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-30
NEW COMPULSORY LAW.
County superintendent Agree as 10
the Benefit of 1t.

the Benefit of 1t.
The compulsory education law came in
for share of the discussions Of the county
superintendent yesterday afternoon. For
once there was a unanimous expression in
favor of the question under consideration.
The paper on the subject Does Indiana
Need Another Normal SCHOOL," was not
read, and in its place there was what some
of the superintendent termed an expert
epce meeting, and many of those present
gave their views on the educational law
passed by the last Legislature. There was
no dissenting voice on the main question as
to it's benefit, and the desirability of main
tanning it as permanent feature of the In
diana school law. All agreed that the prin-
ciples embodied in the law and purpose
were good but there was some difference
of opinion in regard to other questions. The
township trustees are opposed to the meth
cd of appointment of truant officers, but
want to have charge of this work them
selves Such was the gist of resolutions
passed at the trustees present meeting.
The resolutions We're considered by the SUI
perintendents, and only five persons present
voted with the trustees on the proposition
The others thought it best to continue the
present system of truant officers.
Another point on which the superiintean n 4,
should be amended SO az to provide that the
pupils should attend school during the full
school year, instead of twelve weeks as is
new provided. The original draft of the
law contained this provision, but 1t was
changed to twelve weeks by the House
committee. There were only a few dissent
ing votes when the question of extending
the age to sixteen years was considered.
The superintendent reported that there
was a considerable increase in the school
attendance, due to this law. No superin-
tendent estimated the gain in his county at
less than one hundred, while In sev ERA
In this city 1t has been fully one thousand
From these figures Superintendent Goss es-
Inmates that the increase in the State has
been fully fifteen thousand and probably as
much as twenty thousand.
Papers of technical character were read
by superintendent A. l.. Gary OF Rush
county; Isaac +. Myer. of Carroll county,
and Lawrence McTurman, of Madison
county These papers We're devoted or s 70 she
teachers and it's benefit to the teachers
and to the superintendent. general dis
cussion of these papers was led by Elmer
u. Jerman. of Decatur county.
A legislative committee. composed OF one
member from each congressional district
was appointed. Suggestions by the diner-
ent county superintendent of the various
districts are to be made to the district
committeeman relative to desirable leglsia-
ton in the interest OF the superintendent
The committee will meet In this city the
day prior to the June meeting, and, from
the various suggestions made by the su-
introduced in the Legislature. One subject
will be with reference to authorizing the
superintendents to exercise their discretion
In disbanding district schools and consol-
idating them in graded township schools.
w. e. Wineburg. of Wayne county, Is
chairman and George r. Wilson, of Jasper
county. secretary of the committee, other
members of which are: F. J. Young or
omew county: Charles A. Van Metre. of
Delaware county; H. E. Cushman. of
Greene county; r. A. Hutchins. of Hamilton
county; c. w Worley. of Kosciusko; W.
n, Landes, of Marion county; w. O. Baker
of Morgan county; w. w. Pfrimmer OF
Newton county; ]. n. Meyers, of wabash
county. and j. r. Wilson, OF WarrlcK
county.