Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-03-23


the territory now called Illinois was
'assed by congress in 1Ts5 in connec'
ion with the western territory. IT.
principal educational provision was
hat the sixteenth section of each
ownship shall he reserved for the
maintenance of public schools within
he township. Each succeeding law re
| tanned that provision and it was never
hanged materially. Two years LATER
/ law included this provision: ~Eelig-
On. morality and knowledge being ne
'essary for the happiness of mankind
schools and the means of education
shall forever be encouraged
The act of 1915 authorized the peo-
| be Of Illinois to organize state gov
'inment retaining these early proVis-
ions. The act also set apart Il town
hip for the seminary Of learning. to-
| ,ethcr with other provisions in sup
pert of same.
The educational convention held in
?ecria in 1914 appointed commit
| &c to present To the legislature many
recommendations pertaining To the
Improvement of the schools That
committee made its report i'm 1s45.
Many of their suggestions were valu-
Ible and have since become law. Some
If them, however, were not accepted
They recommended Il state superin-
tendent To be appointed by the gov
arncr. believing that il would be
liffcult matter To secure good per-
on. They also asked for an increase
n the duties Of the county commits
toners and urged the Importance of
The office. They also urged an eXami
nation If teachers by the said com
missioner. claiming that competent
persons could not be found in every
district TO hold the examinations; also
hat incompetent teachers Will be less
apt To secure certificates through ia
scr or affection if examined by sin
lie office" than if examined by town
ship or district officers. who. in num-
erous instances. would be friends and
1eighbors Of the applicant. They
outlined the duties of the county sup
,rintcndent very much as they are
now. They urged that he should not he
elected by the people. but should be
by the trustees. in order 10
get good man and keep out of poll
tics. The state of New York was cit
ed a. evidence of the value of the
county superintendency. They also
urged that the township management
he placed on the township superinten-
dent.
Note this: That committee used this
language with reference To the county
superintendent: ITO perform the du
ties of his Office faithfully will occupy
considerable time and he Will be put Ia
more or less expense for travelling.
etc, which should be paid. The com
however. should not he such
u to make that the object i'm taking
the ctIicc. Love for the cause should |
be the controlling influence" The rec /
lamentations also embraced many 9th |
r valuable suggestions. among them |
the request for the schooling of poor |
children. This committee was com |
posed Of John :. Wright, of Cook; ID.
J. Pinrkncy. IF Oglc AMI II. W. Wead,
IF Fulton.
I'm 1854 the state teachers institute |
was formed. three years later taking |
he name cf the Illinois State Teach |
~ association. The organization OF |
hat association. established in 1854 |
s the one the JOth anniversary Of |
which was celebrated last December |
nut remarkable. most remarkable. are |
he differences between the school |
syStcuS Of Illinois now and what II /
was when they met 80 years ago. Up
10 that time we had no state superin-
cudcnt. although the office was ere
ltcd much earlier. The one great bar
-icr that stood cut before the county |
and which destroyed |
his office more than any other was
he lack Of compensation. Even the
Peoria convention was mistaken in
his last rs il evidently be-
icved that such supervision could be
lad for the love of the cause.
About this time. 1854. there was a
great revival i'm educational thought
md action. 1t was the advent of the
rec schools. also of the state super
ntcndent. organization of the Illinois
Teachers association. the Illinois
cachcrs' school paper. the recommen-