The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-11-03

Suggestions to the Directors.
The school directors comprising the
School Directors Association of Lacka-
wanna county, to the number of over
one hundred assembled yesterday in
court room No. 2 and held their annual
meeting. The meeting commenced at
10 o'clock in the morning and continued
until about o'clock in the afternoon.
The meeting opened with an address
by the retiring president. w. j. Emery,
Of jefferson township. He opened his
remarks by referring to the splendid
system of schools and of education in
Lackawanna county at the present
time and how it stands nearly at the
head of the list of counties in the state
in educational matters.
He then referred to the necessity for
improvement in the line of new school
buildings and how q properly heated,
ventilated and lighted school room IS
as much a requisite towards the proper
education of children as the teachers
or the course of study. He said that
with the rapid advance Of improve
ments in all of these lines that they
should be given serious consideration
There should be progress in school
management as well as in other things.
SCHOOL LIBRARIES.
Mr. Emery also told of the advan-
tages to be derived from a school Ii
brary, no matter how small it might
be, allowing as it does, a chance for
the child to acquire a taste for the
good things of literature which have
such refining influence.
The next feature of the meeting was
an address upon civil government
by DR.. Mowry, repeating many of
the things he said to the teach
ers on Wednesday and telling
of the urgent necessity of teach
ing this study in the schools. In the
course Of his remarks he paid q COM
pliment to this state by saying that
the township system prevailing in
Pennsylvania is much superior to the
district system which Is in use in q
number Of the eastern states and that
this township system is rapidly sup
planting the latter.
A report of the delegates to the state
convention of school directors held last
March was then read by c. V. Decker.
| of Newton. The report was very ex-
haustive and included extracts from
some of the addresses delivered.
When Mr. Decker had finished Pro-
| fessor r. II. Martin, of Moscow, sang
a baritone solo and then the discussion
OF the report was begun.
MR.. TAYLOR'S COMMENTS.
Superintendent Taylor said that the
efforts of the Lackawanna delegation
at the last convention We're cOncen-
trated in an attempt to secure the
passage of a resolution providing that
county directors associations be recog.
nized by law and that state funds be
appropriated to defray the expenses OF
the annual meetings. Mr.. Taylor saiG
that he had offered this resolution bu
that it was lost by vote OF 40 to &C.
Continuing he said that he considered
the question not only feasible bu
necessary. The state gives money Il
meet the expenses Of the county insti
tutes, why not money TO meet the ex
pense of the directors meetings. II,
told how these meetings were of in
calulable benefit, familiarizing the dl
rectors with progressive educationa
ideas and allowing an interchange o
opinion on educational matters.
Mr.. Taylor was followed by Directo
r. II. Holgate, of LaPlumc, who spolS
along the same lines and said ther
was no good reason why law such a
had been discussed should not b
) passed. Other speeches We're made 4
favor the movement and finally upo
motion of Director Watkins, of Blakely
a resolution was passed that it was tn
sense Of the meeting that a law
passed legalizing county associations
OFFICERS ELECTED.
. A recess was then declared an
when the directors again convened i
the afternoon the election of officer
/ was the first order OF business. Th
/ following We're elected, to serve durin
l the ensuing year: President, \. I
, Dean. of Waverly; first vice-presiden
/ ]. N. Growles. of Scott; second vice
president, William Walker, OF May
field: secretary, r. II. Holgate. of L
Plume; treasurer, John c. Tuthill
BlakelY.
, There was not contest except for Il
Z. Office of treasurer. The nominees wei
+. j. c. Northup, of Clenburn and Jot
. c. Tuthill Of Blakely. Tuthil w;
. elected by a vote of "3 TO L..
. superintendent Taylor delivered Il
!. annual address after the election of o
}. ficers was finished. In opening he to
;. of the growing tendency Of parents
). keep their children away from scho
;. and send them to work particularly {
;. the farm and in the breakers and
J. the necessity of meeting this di
!. ficulty.
He dwelt particularly on what
said has been his hobby for numb
W of years, namely, the consolidation
the school districts among ther1se!v,
l. and the establla lmslt Cf one Crad'
Il school for tn higher grades 10 bn a
D tended by the pupils from al Of Il
. combined district, lie also urged thj
= the position of secretary Of the variOl
school boards ha made % Termanei
Il one instead Of changing from ona ma
to another every little while.
:. An Interesting discussion on tex
, books and their purchase followed Il
: superintendent remarks after whiC
the meeting adjourned.