The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-05-06

the county superintendents may drav
uyon the county commissioners shall be
made proportional 10 the number OF
schools in the ccunty.
Improvensents sugxesfea.
~ further criticism OF our present sys-
tenn relates to ths unsyssematic way In
which much OF the work Is being done In
the institutes. At the present time Al. the
subjects In the eourse OF study are touch
ed upon In every institute, with the re-
ssalt that no really careful work ean be
done IL anything IL the institute work
were confined TO two, or possibly three.
subjects, and a carefully prepared syiia-
bus we're Issued ard sent out 20 al teach
ers beforehand. SO that they might make
some prepare ton and know what 20 ex-
p~ct. tie work Of the institute would Ger
fainiy become mare effective In raising the
standard Of the teaching work Al the
present time, too. no effort il being made
to see that the teachers carry out the
suggestions which they receive during
the institutes, and no premium Is put
upon good. earnest work. TIE teacher
who works faithfully TO Increase aer pro-
feSsioual skill and 10 broaden her educa-
tional outlook receives TO recognition that
IL substantial. A course OF professional
ard institute work should be laid cut,
which. when IL has been satisfactorily
passed. should entitie the teacher to a
higher grade of eertifcatson. grant her
some immunity from the little exaetions
that are made upon her time. and place
her III a position for promotion or to OBJ
tain the best schools where the highest
salaries are paid. Some teachers should
be given some kind OF preferment as q
reward for their enthusiasm and industry.
One other need is felt In many parts
Of the stale. Normal institutes and sum-
rner schools have become an important
part OF the educational work of the East
ern states. In Massachusetts, there are
no less than twelve summer schools, pa
tronized by two or three thousand stu
dents. large proportion OF those at
tending these schools are teachers, some
OF whom come from the best colleges
and universities of other parts OF the
country. Many teachers feel that they
cannot afford to take a whole year OF to
spend In the study of senooi work. and
so they prefer 70 give up a part OF their
vacation to study along some special
lines. The need for summer schools in
the state OF Washington Is great, and
especially In those parts OF the state least
accessible to state schools and educational
centers. The teachers In the small VII
lagos and country schools should be given
an opportunity of attending good normal
institutes located near at home. In some
states when thirty or more teachers come
together and ask for instruction in nor
NAL methods and pedagogy. the state
superintendent is compelled to furnish
them an instructor and proper materials
for carrying on the work, the state max
ing a specific appropriation for just this
purpose An effort Is being made now to
have continuous session OF the state
normal school. the vacation term being
especially adapted TO this purpose Of CIV
ing country teachers instruction In nor
NAL methods.
Several plans have already been sug-
gested by which these suggestions may be
carried out The first would have the
school law so changed thar the members
of the state board of education would con-
stitute an institute board and conduct all
Institutes according as it seemed best The
members OF the board would then be paid
a salary out of an institute fund which
wouid arise from examination fees and
from the appropriations made By the sew
eral counties for institute work. second
plan would have the county superintend-
ents. in their biennial convention now
provided for by the present school law,
acting in conjunction with two representa-
tives from each OF the three state schools,
lay out "a plan and issue a syllabus for
institute work for the coming two years
OF their term of Office. The county super
intendents would better act through a
committee appointed at their convention.
which committee would make out the syi-
labus. select institute conductors, district
the state and apportion the institute
fund. Whatever plan Is adopted. 1t should
provide for the active participation of all
the educational men OF the state. II Is
not necessary that public officials alone
should be fntrusted with the management
of the public school affairs"