The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-11-09
SCHOOL BOARDS WORTH
1T HAS GREAT INFLUENCE on THE
SCHOOL SYSTEM.
William O.. Bruce Address Before
the Superintendents-Most Inter-
esting Session Yet Held.

perintendents at the Statehouse thus far
was the address delivered at last nights
session on the subject, 1.-THE Relation of
School Boards and Superintendents," by
William G.. Bruce, editor Of the School
Board Journal, of Milwaukee.
Mr.. Bruce said that the school board is
the motive power TO the life and activity
Of the school system and as a legislative
body ought to be not only a reflex of the
community average, but several strides in
advance of it in intellectual strength and
moral worth. A progressive board, he de-
clared, endows the superintendent with en-
larged powers and the competency of a
board may be measured by the degree with
which it bestows recognition upon its SUI
perintendent.
Mr.. Bruce asserted, however, his firm
opposition to placing absolute power to hire
and discharge teachers in the hands of the
superintendent. He does not believe in the
"one-man power" The superintendent
should take the initiative in these matters,
but the school board should nave the final
voice, in his opinion.
The discussion of Mr.. Bruce's forceful
paper was led by Andrew NJ. Sweeney,
newly-elected member of the Indianapolis
Board of School Commissioners. who de-
clared himself as decidedly in favor of the
so-called one-man power. Mr.. Sweeney
commended the plan pursued in the Indian
apolis school system of allowing the super
intendent to engage and discharge teach
ers. Mr.. Sweeney commended the modern
tendency to place responsibility upon indi-
viduals rather than boards. He said the
result has been an increased efficiency both
in the boards and in the individuals ap-
pointed by them. Speaking of the advan-
tage of putting the responsibility upon the
superintendent Mr. Sweeney said: The
weight of responsibility is upon him, and
he who carries a great burden walks with
most cautious tread"
The sentiments expressed by Mr.. Swee-
ney were heartily Endorsed by w. f. Ellis,
of the Anderson Board of Education. and
Rev. Wilson Blackburn, of the Mount Yer
non Board of Education, who followed him
In the discussion of Mr.. Bruce's topic.
DEFECTS IN TEXTBOOKS.
Another interesting matter before the
superintendent was the report of 1. V.
Busby. of Alexandria. on defects in text
books used in the schools under State au-
thority. Mr.. Busby founded his conclusions
as to these books upon sixty-nine replies to
letters sent by him to superintendent of
the State, requesting their opinions as TO
the books. Criticism of all the school read
ers except the fourth and fifth was made
III the report. 1t was stated that the first
leader is too complicated and that its
vocabulary is larger in proportion than its
reading matter. The report said the gap
between the first and second readers is too
great. 1t was also asserted that the read
erS contain too many and too extended
selections from the classics. j. n. Study,
of Fort Wayne. and w. A. Hester, of
Evansville. members of the State Board of
Education, defended the readers from crit
icism. 1t has been generally admitted, they
said, that these readers are the best ever
used in the Indiana schools. and hey fur
ther stated that in all probability any read
ers that might be prepared would be open
to some criticism.
The association took no definite action on
Mr.. Busby's report for the reason that the
schoolbOOk contract has five years yet to
run. 1t is understood. however, that when
the contract expires the Superintendent
Association will have something TO say
about the new books that will be placed in
the schools of the State.
Much of the session yesterday morning
was devoted to discussion of II. Il. Wilson's
report on a course OF nature study for the
common schools. The discussion was led
by Prof. Charles NJ. Mcdaniel, of Madison,
and j. w. Hamilton, of Monticello.
Yesterday afternoon w. r. Snyder, of
Muncie. submitted the report of the COM
mittee on art and schoolroom decoration"
in which it was shown that very few
schools of Indiana pay much attention to
instruction in art. Several schools, how
ever, notably those of Indianapolis, pay
much attention to the subject. A paper on
Art in Connection with the Teaching of
Geography and History was read by Mrs.
Della q. Stabler, of NObleSVille.
The association will hold its final session
this morning, at which officers will be
elected for the ensuing year.
From remarks made last night by several
School Board members in attendance at the
meeting, it is understood that an organiZa-
ton of members of school boards of the
State will be effected along lines similar to
those followed by the superintendent AS
ISOLATION. The latter association extended
the prospective organization of school
board Members a cordial invitation to hold
its meeting next wear in In0iananOliS at
the same time as the meeting of superin-
tendents in order that the spirit of cooper
alton between superintendent and school
boards may be promoted.
THOSE IN ATTENDANCE.
The following is a complete list of super
intendents, member of school boards and
visitors who are attending the convention
of city and town superintendent at the
Statehouse:
E. A. F. Porter, Cincinnati; A. G. Nc
Gregor, Rushville; r. A. Ogg, Kokomo; f.
G; Gray, Dunkirk; c: n. Kendall, %Indianap-
hall, Sheridan; COlfax Martin, Cayuga; w.
A. Hester. Evansville; H. L. Baltimore,
louisville; w. A. Jessup. Westfeld; Lin,
naeus Hines, Union City; H. B. Brown,
president Normal School, Valparaiso; w.
T. Hart, Covington; w. A. Mills, Craw-
fordsville; R. L. Thiebaqd, Rising Sun; Q.
Michigan City; A. f. Humke, Vincennes;
J. +. Haynes, Noblesville; j. f.. Orr, Red
key, j. IL. Je1rey, Gas city, III. >. Smith,
Brookville; s.. b. Plasket, Broad Ripple,
III. c.. Weber, LoganspOrt; d. NJ. Hoke,
Amboy; F. S. Hoyt, Indianapolis: A. ].
Cheney, Chicago; George Teeter, Atlanta;
7. II. Meek, Lawrenceburg; r. r. Smith
Chicago; j. f. Robinson, Martinsville; O.
l.. Watkins, indianapolis; j. j. Copeland
Paoli; Thomas Scott, indianapolis; c. II
Drybread, Hartford City; w. II. Kelley,
Winamac; William S. Mock, Chicago;
j. b. Percy, Anderson; F.. L. Jones
state superintendent public instruction
Indianapolis; L. l.. Goen, Crothers-
Vile; II. A. Foresman, Chicago; w. F.
l.. Sanders, Connersville; j. w. Carr, An
derson; H. G.. Woody, Greencastle; w. II
Mount Vernon; o. l.. Voris, Hagerstown.
j. w. Hamilton, Monticello: T. A. Mott
Richmond; Charles S. Meek, Elwood; H. S
Kaufman, Albany; G. y. Peterson, Leb-
anon; George L. Roberts, Frankfort: ]. b
Pagan. Frankton; George B. Asbury
Flora; J. c. Weir, New Castle; John \
Wood, Laporte; II. H. Coffman, Middle.
Z town: II. b. Dickey, Greentown; 3. +
Moore, Marion; T. F. Fitzgibbon, Column
bus; D.. w. Thomas, Elkhart; E. j. Lew.
elyn. Arcadia; j. A. Scull. Rochester: A
pelier; w. +. Alexander, Bedford; o. +
, Hogler. Warren; w. A. Writ. Bluffton
Oscar r. Balser. Winchester; j. r Hous.
ton. Aurora; Frank f. HIGHWAY, Crown
Point; c. NJ. Mcdaniel, Madison; Charles
+. Miller. Boswell; w. II. Brandenburg
Lagrange; V. Hedspeth, Goshen; II. G
Schell, Clinton; j. H. Tomlin, Shelbyville
r. /. Hamilton. Huntingdon: James II
Gray, Earl Park; r. w. Himelick, Jones.
borO; +. II. Drake. Attica: L. V. Busby
Alexander; II. S. Hippensteed, North Man.
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