The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-06-07
FOR COUNTY CONVENTIONS.
SUPERIyTENDENr MEREDITH Ar
RANGING FOR FIVE.
latfng Interest-Free Text Books
Finding Favor With the People
Closing Up the school Year.

County Superintendent OF Schools Msr-
annual reports to the district clerks of the
county in order TO gather in the annual
census. The school elections will be- held
next Saturday. and every effort Is being
made 10 close up the years work by that
time. To Post-Intelligencer reporter
yesterday Mr.. Meredith said:
I'VE are now gathering data for text
book plans for the coming year During
the past year free text books have been
introduced into forty-two districts in the
county, and We are now trying To find out
how the measure pleased the people~-an
exceedingly important question for the
life of the movement, inasmueh as IL Is
one of district local option. Thus far the
testimony has been entirely in it's favor.
Following close upon the decision TO adopt
free text books GENES the question of
providing books which are best fitted to
the needs of the district. Heretofore the
plan has been 10 fit the curriculum to the
books-a most unsatisfactory and some
times dangerous procedure. II has been
proposed by some OF the prominent coun-
~ educators that the difficulty can be
done away with by employing some OF
the educators OF national repure who be-
long 10 Washington to frame and make
text books which shall be especially
adapted 10 the varying needs of the sew
erai districts In which they are TO be
used, and so obyiate the necessity for fit
ting the foot TO the shoe, or, TO speak
more accurately. the brain to the book.
For my OWL part. I look upon the sug-
gestion as an excellent one and we'll worth
serious consideration. There can be no
more question that We deed just such
books than there Is that We have within
our state men of the ability to produce
them. Why should not the states de-
mand be filed by the states supply?
Il am planning to hold school board
conventions here ard there throughout
the county during the summer months.
just where they will be held has not yet
been dfinitely decided but there will be
probably five in all, held at suitable times
in several towns and villages IN the re-
been definitely decided, but there will be
new departure for King county. We
tried some years ago TO get the teachers
together during institute session, but the
attempts failed in any material result.
Those districts Of the county most need
ing the benefits Of school conventions are
the most inaccessible. 1t is seldom that
their teachers can afford the time or
in institute place like Seattle. conse-
quently We must take the institute 10
them / have no doubt that five Or six
We'll arranged conventions held thus will
result in greatly increasing interest and
stimulating action in all school work.
especially II, as / intend they shall. the
programmes are made particularly adapt
ed 10 the needs and circumstances OF the
several districts
The closing of the present school year
is being marked by the usual signs-ex-
aminations, graduatious and general
preparations on the part OF the teachers
for the work Of the ensuing year. and Oh
the part Of the scholars for vacation. On
Friday evening last the graduating ex-
ercises OF the Kirkland school were held.
six pupils taking diplomas The Column
bia school examinations will be held some
time next week. These teachers have
been re-engaged for next year: South
Seattle school, ". W. Head; Columbia
school. J. G.. Lawrence: Issaquah, q. r.
Wetherhy.