Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-12-27
Outcome the Res g Of a Drawn
Battl :
70 GET SCHOOLS OUT OF POLITICS
Long Step Has Been Made Towards
AboIishins Examinations In Schools
-ottumwa Man in Race for 7resi-
dent.

Des Moines, Dec. 27.-The leading
topic before the second days session
of the Iowa Teachers association was
a paper read by Supt. D. NJ. Kelly, of
dar Falls, upon Some Moral Ques-
tion for Schools" He was followed
by Supt. S. H. Sheakley, of Des
Moines, upon the "school of the Twen-
tieth Century" while Prof w. w. W.Speer
of Chicago, had for his text "Arith-
metic, How to Teach IT.
The report of the legislative COM
mittee contained number of minor
recommendations with regard to a.
change in the school law of the state.
County Examining Boards.
An attempt was made at the meet
ing of the educational council of the
State Teachers association held at
the Y. M. G. A. auditorium yesterday
to transfer the power to appoint coun-
ty examining boards from the county
to the state superintendent with the
purpose of getting the school system
in measure out of the dominion of 10.
cal politics.
Violent Opposition.
The measure met with violent op-
position at the hands of the county SUI.
perintendents who held that to put the
appointive power in the hands of the
state superintendent would not free it
from political Influences
Charges Made.
An hours discussion ensued during
which charges were made by County
Superintendent H. e. Deater that the
educational council had come to the
meeting with a clearly defined pur-
pose to remove all possible power
from the county superintendents.
Then the whole section bearing on
teachers examinations, the fourth sec
ton of the report of the committee on
examinations, was recommitted for
consideration for another year. This
was done upon motion of President G..
e. Shelton of Simpson college when it
appeared at 1890 that there was no
means of arriving at settlement of
the dispute.
Fight an Examination.
The sections regarding school and
college entrance examinations had
previously been adopted after long
discussion in which violent opposition
to endorsing the examination system
even with notifications was deyel-
oped.
Wants no Examinations.
The discussion on the reort is the
most important matter that will come
before the association this year. For
two years it has been in the hands
OF the committee but, Notwithstanding
this, it was freely amended by the
council. President Shelton fought
against declaring for examinations at
every step and was warmly supported
by Henry Sabin and other leading ed
ucators of the state.
Long Steps Toward Adjustment.
Mr. Sabin said at the conclusion of
the meeting that the council had de-
clared in favor of examinations
Others feel, however that long step
was taken toward their adjustment
ard point with qualification to the
adoption of the following sections:
Examinations no Test.
The sentiment of the leaders of the
council was that examination cannot
test which had been going on during
the term and it was even said that
they are libel on the purpose of the
school,
AS to Teachers "Exams."
The recommendations for teachers
examinations were that a county board
Of examiners, consisting of three
members, of which the county super
( in.endent should be chairman, be held
every three months, and that two
members of the county board be ap-
pointed by the state superintendent.
This was regarded as a direct blow
at the authority of the county super.
intendent and was resented by that
body who was represented with consid-
cradle oratorical flourish by Superin-
tendent Deater, who made SO bold as
to state that politics could creep into
4 the Office of the state educational Of
ficer quite as readily as into that OF
the more lowly county official. He
believed county superintendent were
the ones who had the right to say
whether teachers were competent,an
said he had reason to know there were
educators who entertained an unrea
sonable prejudice against the hard
worked county superintendent.
Stuart for President.
The nominating committee of the
association will meet tonight. Its
members were chosen at the meetings
of the different departments this af-
ternOon. Among the men who have
been mentioned for the presidency are