The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-05-03

met al f-tiefl>ourg was important ttot oitis
as affording an interesting and profitable
discussion OF the several topics which
came before the body. but also because
several measures voted upon by the con-
Sentton amount practically 20 flnal action
Notable among these is the resolution that
hereafter pupils shall be allowed gradual
ton from the common or grammar schools
at the close Of the eighth year instead OF.
now. az the close OF the ninth. The state
board of education has already signified
that this measure il satisfactory to the
county superintendent, would De inaugur-
ated, and as il has now received the
formal endorsement of those Officials IL
may be considered as settled.
County Superintendent Meredith. who
returned Thursday evening from the con-
vention, says that the proposed change
will have several advantages. At present
he says the ninth year is practically the
first year of a high school course. and as
such occupies an anomalous anu useless
position.
MIR. Meredith reports that there was
fair attendance at the convention, more
than two-thirds of the superintendents
being present. The body met on TUESDAY
and continued in session for two days,
closing with an evening session Wednes-
day night. State Superintendent OF PUB
lie instruction Frank J. Browne presided.
Lewis county, the youngest member Oh the
convention. was chosen secretary.
The first topic discussed formally was
that of common school graduation, led
by Superintendent e. l. Colhurn, OF
Kiickitat county. His paper and the dis
cussion which followed lead TO the action
already stated above. the convention
unanimously deciding in favor of gradua-
ton at the end of the eighth year. rms
graduation will admit the pupil. without
further examination to the state normal
school at Ellensburg. and by special ar
rangement to the various high schools
This special arrangement is a matter TO
be determined on in each high school
The two next topics were so intimately
blended that they may be practically re-
garded as one. Superintendent Mereditn
led in a discussion of teachers reading
circles and Superintendent j. l.. Tate. OF
Pierce county, led in similar discussion
of pupils reading circles. The papers
and discussion crystallized In the appoint
ment of a state reading club board COM
posed of the following county superin-
tendents: r. w. Brintnall of Thurston'
William j. Meredith. of King. and X r.
Friars, of Snohomish, representing the
western part of the state; and MISS Alice
Neal, of Lincoln. and G.. S. Bond. OF
walIa Walla, representing the eastern
This board met and organized by cnoos-
ing Mr.. Friars president and Mr. brint-
nall secretary and manager IL VIII hoid
its first meeting for the transaction or
business In this city ON May II. when Mr..
Friars and Mr.. Brintnal viii meet Mr.
Meredith in the iatter's Office 10 give
shape to the plans laid at Eliensburg-
OF course there are already such things
as reading circles among the teachers and
pupils Of the public schools, but Mr..
Meredith states that the new plan VIII
rest on an entirely different basis. III viii
be modelled largely after the great Chau-
tauaua plan which has proved such uni
verSal success in encouraging cfuh work
and home study. For the present atten-
ton will be given to three courses. viz;
Professional. or such as bears directly on
the work OF teaching. literature. and gen
eral history. To these may be added sucn
other branches as the board may from
time TO time see fit. AS reward Tor TINS
work and an incentive. teachers VIII ne
credited per cent. on their regular ex-
aminations for simple membership in the
club. apart from any work done. In adj
dition to this they will receive due credit
for all work done in any or all OF the
specified branches. Thus. for instance,
Ii will be entirely. feasible for teacher
to do the entire work required in litera-
ture a part of the club course so that
no further examination on that topic VIII
be required So with pedagogy and so
with general history.
A plan was also set on foot for the es-
tablishment of pupils clubs throughout
the state the matter or course of reading
10 be selected partly by the reading club
board and partly BY the state board Of
education. The details of this plan, how
ever, remain yet to be worked out.
The reading Of paper on "our Normal
School," by G.. S. Bond. OF Waila Walla.
and lis discussion. in which President
Getz and Prof St John. OF the normal
school participated. resulted in criti-
cism of Gov. Rogers recent veto OF the
appropriations for the schools AT Cheney
and whatcom. and the criticism was not
altogether favorable 10 the chief execu-
tive In fact IL was very far from favor
able. The general sentiment In the con-
vention was that the combining of the nor
NAL work TO EIlenshurg would not mate
rally help the institution at that place,
but would simply result in a decrease In
the number Of teachers engaged In pre-
pairing for their life work.
Superintendent Friars. OF Snohomish.
read paper on the standard of certifica-
ton Of teachers 4 recommendation that
current events and physical geography be
added 10 the present requirements was re-
ferred 10 the state board OF education for
action.
y paper on county supervision. by Su-
perintendent b TT. Hopson. Of Spokane
dealt with methods Of supervision, school
room work. and the like, and was fol-
lowed by discussion
Official Record Books. was the title
OF a paper bv Superintendent James Phil
lips. - Whitman II raised the interest
ing question as TO how much Of super
intendeuts correspondence Is Official how
much ~ IL private. ard how much semi
Official Incidentally Mr.. Meredith re-
marked yesterday that or conference
With other sBnerintendents he found the
once here as well equipped with records
as any other in the state.
a paper on Text Books" by Superin-
tendeut Alice Neal, of Lincoln. brought
ont some sharp criticisms OF existing
texts, especially those on arithmetic spsll-
ing. primary geography and history and
discussion 81 the free text book plan
70 be voted on al the next election. IL
vas reported that the plan where tried in
Mkssachusetts. Pennsylvania and Ohio,
and IN parts of this state. had proved sat-
lsfactory and would not be abandoned.
Al the session wednesday evening there
vas a discussion Of the new school law.
the state superintendent leading All the
salient features OF the new law were
brought out and plans for conducting In
ssi'utes hereafter IN accordance with thu
new law wera sketchef.
We were treated royalty by the Elieus-
burg citizens" said Superintendent Mere
9TH Yesterday in speaking Of the c0nven-
ton. and the pupils OF the normal school
gave - al enyoysbse literary entertain