The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-11-20

Superintendent Discuss Normal
School and Hear Papers.


Town and city school superintendent are
at skies and sevens over the proposition to
establish another normal school in Indiana
similar to the institution for the training
of teachers at Terre Haute. The report of
the special committee, appointed one year
ago to investigate the feasibility of asking
the Legislature for the school, was pre-
sented to the Superintendent Association
yesterday morning at the second session of
the thirteenth annual meeting of that body.
The discussion that ensued, while charac-
terized by dignity and temperatures, was
none the less warm. Apparently half the
members were warmly in favor of a new
normal school and half were opposed. The
situation that developed was a surprise,
not only TO the special committee, but TO
superintendent who had been led TO be-
lieve that the appreciation of the plan was
general among public school men.
Superintendent John w. Carr, of Ander-
son, chairman of the committee, made
speech of two hours in length presenting
the report. The urgent need that exists
for more trained teachers and therefore for
the State was set forth by Mr.. Carr with
all the facts learned in the committees
investigation. The point was presented SO
strongly that almost every public school
man in Indiana whose opinion had been
asked by the committee agreed that the
new normal is a necessity. Leading edu-
Gators in other States whose ideas were re-
quested also answered in the affirmative.
Following Mr.. Carr, Superintendent Nc
Daniel and Superintendent Ogg, the other
members Of the committee. spoke for the
normal, giving their reasons specifically.
NO ACTION TAKEN.
The entire morning session was devoted
to consideration of the question without
any action being taken. Sperintendents
from all over the State took part in the
discussion and the views of different sec
lions were apparently pretty we'll set forth.
The opinion of many was that the entire
question should be laid on the table, and
If the State Teachers Association desires
to take it up at the next meeting 1t should
do so without any preliminary action on
the part of the superintendents. The I'M
derstanding was that this morning reso-
luton would be presented favoring the es-
tablishment of the normal and that vote
will follow. 1t is understood that the spe-
cial committee is in favor of that action
for the reason that it does not wish its
labors to go for nothing after year s
arduouS investigation.
In the afternoon the Town and City
School superintendent Association met
with the Indiana State Association of
School Boards, which began its first an
nual meeting yesterday morning in the
Statehouse. The joint meeting was held
for the purpose of discussing questions
affecting both superintendent and school
boards. There was great interest taken in
the meeting and almost every city in the
State was represented by member of its
school board. The superintendent and
school commissioners had a number of
heart-to-heart talks and the belief is that
with the two associations working in per-
feet harmony none but a good effect can
be created in the close relationship between
the school executives and the boards con-
trolling school affairs.
w. III. Anderson, of Wabash, vice presi-
dent of the School Boards Association,
addressed the joint meeting on School
Janitors," and the paper discussed by
| Supt. c. n. Kendall, of Indianapolis; Supt.
w. II. Wiley. of Terre Haute, and Supt
]. N. Study, of Fort Wayne 1.-THE Relation
of the Superintendent to the School Board
was the other topic of the joint meeting
| presented by Theodore Shockney, of Union
City, which was discussed by the same
superintendent and by others selected
| Stress laid on the Importance of super
| intendents and school boards working in
| perfect harmony.
There were 400 superintendents and school
commissioners in attendance at the meet
| ing, which was presided over by the two
| presidents, Superintendent Wood, of ths
| Town and City School superintendent AS
| ISOLATION, and Andrew M. Sweeney, of the
| State Association of School Boards.