The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-11
NOT BEST TEXT BOOKS
SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTs DISCUSS
THOSE USED IN INDIANA.
Some Division of Opinion. However,
The Revision of School
Readers.

One hundred and twenty-five members of
the Association of Superintendent of the
town and city schools of the State are at
tending the ninth annual meeting of the
association at the rooms of the Board OF
Agriculture in the Statehouse. The meet
ing opened last night and will continue
until noon tomorrow. w. d. Weaver, or
Marion, last night presented the report of
the standing committee on a course of
study. The report was printed several
months ago and sent to the school officials
of the State. The report was adopted. 1t
will form the basis of school work, though
different superintendent will modify It in
their own schools to suit their individual
ideas.
The session last night was devoted to
general discussion of the system OF school,
books now in use w. H. Sims. of Goshen,
was to have read a paper on the subject,
but he could not be present. Many of the
members talked on the subject The opin-
ion was general that the present law gov
erning the schoolbooks should be amended
so that the schools might have the best
textbooks instead of only The cheapest.
Books that comply as to price with the law
are not always the best 1t was evident
that there were two divisions in the assem-
bly, The representatives of one side said
the present schoolbooks are better than
those provided under the old law, and that
the prices paid now are high enough to pro-
cure good books. The opposing division in
sisted that the books in use now are not as
good as the old ones, that the arithmetics
could hardly be worse, and that the first
and second readers are not satisfactory. 1t
was explained that the State Board OF Edu-
cation has employed Prof. S. IL. Clark of
the Chicago University, to revise the third,
fourth and fifth readers. He has sent out
circulars to the teachers of the State ask
ing for their opinions about the readers
what features are commendable and what
Objectionable. A motion was adopted that
the superintendent should urge the teach
ers under them to reply promptly to the re-
quest for their opinions, so that Professor
Clark may have the advantage OF their ad-
vice. The State Board of Education before
awarding the new contract for schoolbooks
will consult the opinions of the workers in
the educational field of Indiana, and, the
members says, will be grateful for ex-
pressions in the matter. State Superin-
tendent Geeting said it was his opinion that
a much better system of schoolbooks could
be obtained by readjusting the prices to be
paid for different books. The prices for
sets, he said, were high enough, but the
prices to be paid for individual books were
higher in some cases than necessary and
lower in others than they should be.
Frank l.. Jones, elected Tuesday to be
state superintendent of public instruction,
was called upon for speech. He arose be-
fore his colleagues and asked for their in
diligence he had the worst cold he had
ever suffered from.
you've been out late o nights, sug-
gested some one, and there was a roar OF
laughter when Mr.. Jones admitted that he
had. Il am indebted TO the school people,
said Mr.. Jones, more than to any other
class for my nomination and election. My
Democratic friends have supported me ana
l wrote letters to them asking them 10 do
So / hope my administration will be sue
cessful. but If you do not help me II Will
not be-"
New officers for the association will be
elected to-day. The programme for to-day
is as follows:
Morning" industrial Training in Public
Schools Prof. c. +. Emmerich, Indian
apolis; discussion led by Supt w. II. Wiley,
Terre Haute: THE Kindergarten as Part
of the Public School System. Supt. w. A.
Mills, Attica; discussion led by Supt. w.
@, Belman Hammond.
Afternoon--"E Extension OF the High School
Course" Principal s. 3. McCrackens Elk