The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-12
Addresses by President w. III. Ander-
son, Prof. Howard Sandison and
several Others.
sUPERINTENDENTs OF SCHOOLS
=. L. HENDRICKs's QUERY To ONE
HUNDRED<sCHooL TEACHERS.
First Session Held mt the statehouse
In the EvenIng-Book Concerns
Represented.

Aa~0 "ANA NAoARAA (AoS
Board members. school superintendent and
agents representing schoolbook concerns
The second annual meeting Of the State
Association Of School Boards and the four
teenth annual meeting OF the Town and
City Superintendent Associations are be-
ing held. The meetings are being held at
the Statehouse. The School Board Asso-
citation held its opening session yesterday
afternoon in the Supreme Court room and
last night the superintendent met there.
The School Board . organization was
formed the 18th day Of November, 1901, at
the statehouse. where a number of city
school boards had met with a view to bet
tering the condition OF the schools of the
State. A. II. Sweeney. of indianapolis. was
elected the first president. and w. H. An
derson. of the Wabash School Board. was
the first secretary. Since then Mr.. Ander-
son has succeeded Mr.. Sweeney as presi-
dent.
ATTENDANCE AT MEETINGS.
The opening session yesterday was called
TO order by the president, who delivered
the annual address. on the subject "Sys-
tematic Methods of School Administration"
Mr.. Anderson said that there should be a
fixed evening for meetings of all school
boards. and that members should attend
these meetings. There should also be a
fixed place for these meetings. He called
attention to the Irregularities Of some Of
the boards in the smaller towns in holding
their meetings. In some places boards
have no regular meeting night and no
/, regular room In which to meet, and alto
gether business Is carried on in a very
slipshod manner. He advised that in the
smaller cities boards should rent a room
where these meetings could be. held. and
should have these rooms fitted up so that
documents could be preserved.
The meetings OF school boards are al
most as important as those of town or
city councils said Mr.. Anderson. The
matter of furnishing fuel and other sup
plies should be well looked after. the presi-
dent asserted. He advised that where nat
ural gas Is not used the board should pur-
chase coal and place IL In the building at
the close OF school in spring. If purchased
In May or June there Is a saving on coal
to the school city of from - to 90 cents per
ton on account OF the advance in freight
rates 10 cents per ton from April until Oc-
tooer, Mr.. Anderson urged that superin-
plies at the close or each school year.
Thousands OF dollars said the speaker.
ARE expended In a purposeless way every
year because the school boards are not in
touch with the real needs OF the school.
and this lack OF knowledge in nine cases
out OF ten comes from a poor system.
. Another error school boards fall
into is in failing 10 investigate the rum
ming of schools elsewhere. / do not advise
the experimenting will new and untried
things, but the lettering of methods al
ready IN use. School boards must adopt
such measures as are consistent with con-
ditions." Mr.. Anderson showed by COM
parison that IL is as important for boards
to well manage the schools as it is for the
owners of big manufacturing establish
n.Snts 20 have a weil-dehned system OF
carrying on their business
PROFESSOR SANDISON TALKS.
Prof. Howard Sandison of the Terre
Haute Normal, followed President Ander-
son. discussing school boards from a psy-
Geological standpoint. He used the child
as the basis of his subject and showed that
the school board, superintendent, teacher
and janitor are selected with a view to bet
tering the child's life. 1t was a strong
address and provoked considerable discus
sion. Professor Sandison based his re-
mark on an experience of thirty years as
a teacher In public schools. also as a MEM
Der OF the Terre Haute School Board. This
talk was followed by an address on the
subject What constitutes an Eflclent
School Board" by Allen Hamilton, secre-
tary OF the Fort Wayne School Board. He
insisted that to have a successful board
the people OF a school city must see to 1t
that the board is made up of the most
successful business men of that city. They
must be of a higher standard than those
who constitute the city councils. DR.. w. G..
Board, and w. J.. Myers, of Decatur, Ind,
led in "A discussion of this subject. The
session closed about 4:30 O'Clock.
One of the most important matters to
come up to-day viii be a report from the
committee on legislation by G. w. Moores,
of the indianapolis School Board, who was
chairman OF the committee on school Iegis-
lation during the last meeting Of the Gen.
eral Assembly. The following papers are
announced for to-day: school Supplies
w. S. Campbell. secretary OF Rushville
School Board; discussion by the Rev. Will
son Blackburn, of Mt Vernon; Employ
ment and Dismissal of Teachers" s. Il.
Lowe. secretary of Bedford School Board;
discussion of ID. F.. Bennett. president
Greensburg board: NJ. s. Sontag, treasurer
Evansville board. and A. f. Saley, secre-
tary Alexandria board. This evening at
100 O'Clock there will be a joint meeting of
school boards and superintendent TO dis
cuss the fuel question.