The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-12-26

OF the committee and section meetings Will
be held either in one Of the rooms at the
church or at the board OF education build
ing. According to present calculations,
about 800 teachers Of the state are expect
ed to be present, including over 400 who
are employed in this county. Besides these.
nearly all Of the UNCONVENTIONAL institu-
tons of the state will be represented. and
the studets in the normal schools at Che
ney Whatcom and Ellensburg are ex-
pected out in full force.
Interesting discussions upon subjects of
vital Importance in connection with edu-
cational affairs of the state will be heard
at the associations meetings. Several rad
ical changes in the school system will be
recommended. The subject Of free text
books and college entrance requirements
will receive much attention.
County Superintendent Meredith said yes
terday that he anticipates large attend
ance at the meeting.
"Of course, the size of the gathering"
he continued, twill depend chiefly upon the
rates which will be offered by the different
railway and steamboat lines running into
Seattle. We expect 500 teachers from this
county alone, and about 500 from other
parts of the state. There is no better OPP
portunity for the rank and file of school
teachers to give and receive ideas for the
betterment Of education in this part of the
country. 1t keeps up professional zeal and
helps the teachers to become better ac-
quainted. Nothing is of moro value to
teachers than this.
Different questions will be brought up
and discussed, not as set papers on the
programme, b,A individual ideas, which
spring up after these papers are read. I
think that considerable time will be spent
in selecting a course Of study for the COM
ing year. Tho textbooks are changed ev-
cry five years. SO the state board will have
to arrange an almost entirely new curric-
u,um. There will be considerable difficulty,
I believe, on account of the wide range of
choice, In selecting the books The maxi
ing Of school textbooks is becoming a fine
art A large number of bookmaking es-
Establishments will send In samples, and
there will be considerable discussion before
the selection Is made.
IAN attempt will also be made to reduce
the number Of studies. They will be ar
ranged, as far as possible. in accordance
with psychological principles. In mathe-
MATES, necessarily, the course will remain
practically the same, but in history, rhet-
ORIG and geography there may be made a
few changes. We will make an effort to
secure the textbooks which come nearest
to fulfilling every requirement.
Problems of school arrangement and
supervision will no doubt come up. These
subjects have been discussed at almost
every meeting Of school teachers for years,
but each time there are present new peo-
pie, who have new ideas in this line. Dis
cussons of this kind are among the most
valuable we have, as the experiences Of
some of the teachers furnish important
data for others present. Free textbooks
will be considered, but I do not know
what recommendations will be made,
1.-THE new textbooks are expected to
arrive about next May or June, in plenty
OF time for the beginning Of the new school
year, next August. One of the most in
structive features Of our meeting Will be
the extemporaneous discussions which are
constantly arising. One teacher will read
a paper, another will take issue, and al
though the speaker in many cases will d.
gress from the original subject, still many
good ideas are so brought out
1--WE expect to have some of the best
informed and most widely known school
men OF the state at the meeting, among
them Superintendent Saylor, of Spokane,
a new man. who has not as yet taken an
active part In school management in
this state Several representatives of
UNCONVENTIONAL institutions will be in at
tendance. UNCONVENTIONAL schools are
not considered In the establishment of a
course of study, but the teachers in such
places are extremely anxious to keep in