The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-01-06
THE SCHOOLS OF INDIANA
RECOMMENDATIONS IN SUPERIN-
TENDENT JONES's REPORT.
The Teachers, Wake Law Is Given
Credit for Improving Conditions
other Points Made.

The twenty-first biennial report OF the
state superintendent Of public instruction
for the school years ending July 81, 1901.
and July 81, 1902 compiled by Frank ~.
Jones, has been issued. The report covers
many Of the recommendations TO be made
to the General Assembly at the coming
term Under the law the entire report.
which consists of a book of nearly 500
pages, will be submitted TO the Legislature.
The report covers every department OK
public instruction and also reports from
county superintendent.
The report shows that the wages OF
teachers have been increased during the
past year 1T would be difficult to set out
all the advantages of the wage law-it has
increased the demand for male teachers.
placed the minimum wage more or less
upon the basis Of scholarship and success
full experience: protected good teachers
against competition with incompetence
and given county superintendent the legal
support they have needed i'm the careful
and accurate grading of teachers man
uscripts,'' says the report Mr.. Jones
asks the General Assembly to continue the
wage law in it's present form so that It
may have perior of four years. at least.
in which TO be tested
Regarding high school inspection the re-
port says the annual inspection of these
schools and others applying for inspection
is great work and requires more time
than the members of the board can give II.
The report urges that the State Board OF
Education be given authority TO appoine
a high school Inspector whose duties and
General Assembly. The large annual ex-
pendtures for the maintenance OF nearly
500 high schools In Indiana together with
the importance OF having qualified teachers
great Importance adds the report.
CONSOLIDATION OF SCHOOLS.
1.-The most important movement in the
administration of educational affairs in
this country is the one leading TO the con-
solidation OF schools" says the report
under the caption. THE Transportation OF
Pupils" The abandonment Of a large num-
Der of small rural schools leads at once to
the transportation Of the pupils of aban-
! doned districts to other schools usually to
central school. In order that there may be
definite legal sanction and legislative direc-
ton of movement so great and so impor-
| tant | recommend that a law be enacted
| giving a definite grant OF power In this
/ connection to school officers. and making
| IL necessary under certain conditions for
| school officers to provide conveyances for
children living at great distances from
/ school,"
Mr.. Jones devotes much attention in the
report to the conditions found In many To-
calities where there Is a short school year
largely because the community does not
/ pay sufficient taxes TO provide better
! schools. longer school terms and better
teachers. He urges equal school privileges
| for all pupils THE State should at least
pay the price of a good education to have
| its poorer lands occupied and kept under
! cultivation" says Mr.. Jones. He realizes,
| he says the difficulties incident TO q dis
| tribution OF the school fund upon any other
/ basis than the enumeration OF school chill
| dren. However. an annual appropriation
! of a few thousand dollars. or the use OF
! say one-half OF the States revenues from
liquor licenses might constitute a fund
for the relief of poor municipalities" 10 be
| apportioned among townships where the
revenues are not sufficient TO provide first
class schools.
! THE vital statistics OF the S.ate point to
the schools as the probable origin OF many
monary organs" says the report We
have hundreds OF Demonstrated and
| pooriy-heated and ventilated schoOlhcSes
Very little can he done toward the irn-
poorly-heated and ventilated schoohouscs.
! IL Is possible. however. to prevent the erec-
1 ton of unsanitary schoolhouses In the
| future. The General Assembly Is asked 10
| consider this matter 10 the end that all
plans and specifications shall be FIRST SUBJ
mitted TO competent person or persons,
| provided for i'm them"
The report says the State should provide
| not only ample accommodation for profes>
sional training. but the same should be
made convenient and accessible The argu-
| ments for the establishment Of anotheU
State normal school have already beeo
| made, but the General Assembly viii -
asked 70 cousiceS the eaeSttpN