The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-05-06
FOR TEACHERS INSTITUTES.
WAYS AND MEANS On MAKING
wORK MORE EFFECTIVE
smals Gosstfes. Witt Most Need. Are
Least Able to Hear the Aee~ssary
Expeuae-Stst~ 10 Me- Divided inso
Districts - DIR. Bottoms views

For some sins paa. the prominent edH-
Gators Of the state have ssis that the WORK
OF the Institutes. though good In many re-
spects. was not bringing as good results
a. otherwise might be expected. The
smaller counties. whiea need the institute
most, are rot very well able to afford the
expense attendant. wt1f.e richer ones can
more than bear il easily. An effort Is
now being made to syssematize the diztri-
button Of the work THIS attempt VIII be
made Under the direction OF DR.. 7. L.
Bolton. Of The university. who Is sending
out sas feiisw4sg notice:
"At i recent meeting OF the King County
Teachers institute q committee 81 persons
promtuenf In the educational work Of
the State OF Washington was APP
pointed for the purpose OF devils
Ing ways and means Of making the
institute work Of the state more esfec-
tuaI This committee IL composed OF the
following persons State Superintendent
Of Schools Frank J. Browne. r. l. Bolton.
University Of Washington ". j. Spiiiman.
agricultural college r. A. Gesz, normal
school, County Superintendent r.. Il.
Friars. Everett: Superintendent j. NJ.
HIT. Port Townsend: Principals o. 3.
Tones and W. ID. Girard. Seattle: County
superintendent V. III. Hobson. Spokane .
County superintendent John l.. TAFT. Ia
coma. This committee will report at the
State Teachers Association meeting IN
Tacoma dtring the month of June. .aae.
and will probably make some such sug-
gesilnns AZ these with regard TO institute
work.
An institute baard should be organized
which should have charge OF the work Of
teachers instru,as. II should he the duty
OF the board 10 sfieet and recommend 70
county ssnesinteHdents sui,able institute
conductors. and shsuId find ways to ere
ate aHsnsiltute fund. 80 that the smaller
c0unfics OF the state, as well as the larger,
msy enjoy the advantages OF good insti-
ifate conductors.
THE state should he divided into insti-
eute districis. each consisting of. several
counties or parts of counties. The snssl-
futa should he held In neixhboring eoun-
ties. so that the same conductors may
work in several dissriets, without loss OF
time
info I've Divisions.
institute work having naturally dlvsd-
ed itself into two divisions. the first In
spirational, and given before the whole in
s;itute; the second. meteorological. and
given before the sections In the larger
counties. ii aight he well to Narrow the
scope OF the work In the sections by Sc
lecting several subjects from the course
o. STUDY laid out for all the Institutes
throughohe the state during the follow
ing year. The work should consist of a
careful and systematic presentation of the
best methods Of teaching all phases of the
subjects under con siferntion
syllabus should bss prepared and ser.
out to all the teachers OF the state before
the assembling of the Institutes. Local
teachers should be encouraged 10 make
observations and experiments along the
lines laid down In the syllabus and TO re-
port the same ut the institutes
County superintendent should look
affsr the teachers to see that they carry
out the work suggested by institute CON
ductors. They should also keep records
OF the carnestness and enthusiasm shown
IN the work TIE records should he used
as basic for granting to teachers renew
ais OF certificates and promotions In school
work.
state course Of professional and in
etifute work should be drawn ND which.
when u has been completed and satisfae
sorily passed upon by teachers. should ex-
empt snem from 80 strict attendance upon
he
highest grade Of cer;lneation.
Normal institutions lasting from four 70
fix weeks should be provided for by the
state. and should be held I'm those PARTS
or the state least accessible 10 normal
schools and educational centers. They
sheuld furnish academic and professional
traJninE. valuable 10 teachers In small vii
iaaes and country. schools.
The committee solicits suggestions with
n fur gyrsF If
suggestions and with regard TO other sub
jects aos aforementioned. All com,nuni-
cations should be addressed 10 pr r. l..
Bolton
In an interview yesterday with Post
Intelilseneer reporter Or. Bolton said:
There has been a growing feeling on
the part of many educators OF our state
that while our institutes are doing good
work they might be conducted 80 as so
yield even better results. The chief reason
fer the effort that is being made is that
the smaller couatiea wnTra need tAe In
atttutes most are unable 70 pay for good
conductors. SEINE plan 81 Capitalization
or OF cooperation by which the state or
larger ard richer counties may be made 10
assist the smaller counties Is inpeYstsyeiv
demanded II l. thought that by dividing
the state into institute districts
which will ignore county lines and
cca!orm 80 the topography OF the
country and hy Adding the
several institutes 81 any district IN serial
order, the same conductors may be able
30 work In all The institutes Of the district
without loss Of lime and with ax littla ex-
pense as possible for travel. Economy is
large item III educational matters IN
Washington. The staSe law allows 20 each
superintendent: all the money arising frcns
exaussaatian fees ana permits him "a draw
on the county commissioners for a sum 81
$50. IN some counties the examination
fees do not amount 10 more than 81 or $40.
and Il Is msnlfestly unjust II allow the
county superintendent 20 draw upan such
a county for she ftsIi amount, ssta. Good
institute conductors must be paid In all
,sisen ~ their expenses, 4 SUM nearly or
quite easai 10 the amount Of thesr salaries
fer the time they work ~ the Institutes.
II is suggested by several iserSoEss that all
examination feex should he turned over
10 the state treasurer fer ~ institute fund
and paid eus by him en- orders ~}gned ~
tie state superintendent, who should ap-
pegfioa the fund 10 the several counties
according - their needs. And Il IL fur
Their suggested saat the amount Tor which
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