Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-12-29
Reorganization Plan Ten
tativeIy Adopted at the
Springfield Meeting
FOR SEVERAL DIVISIONS
Association Declines to Make a
Test Case of Bible Read
ing Question.

springfield, ILL.,, Lee. ga pian VI
reorganization with the object of
bringing together the various Illinois
teachers associations was tentatively
adopted by the Illinois State Teach
ers' association today. The present
association is to be a central body,
while the other associations will be
known as divisions and be represent
ed on various committees. The con-
vention elected:
President-J. D. Soop, Chicago.
Secretary-Miss C. Grote, Macomb.
Treasurer-W E. Herbert. Pontiac.
Member of the Board of Directors
s. E. Raines, Freeport.
The association refused to appro-
pirate 800 to pay the expenses of a
committee to take bible reading in the
schools as a test case before the SUI
preme court.
FAVOR sIMPLIFIED SPELLING.
Springfield, ILL.,, Dec. 29.-Simpli-
fed spelling as advocated by Theo-
dore Roosevelt was indorsed; a reso-
luton censuring the state supreme
court for its decision prohihitilg the
reading Of bibles in the public
schools was adopted; the creation of
"a high school inspection commission
was recommended and plans for a
reorganization of the whole associa-
tion to obtain as members the
whole of the states teaching force,
numbering about $4,000, were for
mulated at the second days ses-
sions of the Illinois State Teachers
association.
CAMPBELL MAKES SPEECH.
In the sectional meetings, a dis
cussion of vocational training" in
the elementary schools furnished the
days feature. In a paper, on the
subject, William H. Campbell, a
principal in the Chicago schools, de-
clared that vocational training in the
elementary schools promotes child
labor and results in boys and girls
leaving school to enter factories and
shops. Mr.. Campbell said he IA
vored vocational training in the high
schools, but contends that until a
child reaches the usual high school
age he is unable properly to choose
life work.
In the session Of the college sec
ton of the association there was a
related subject under discussion,
that of specializing in colleges which
are not technical. H. D. Hoover,
president of Carthage college, Car
thage, ILL.,, warned against specialize
ing in any subject to the detriment
of liberal education.
DEBATE BIBLE QUESTION.
A discussion of the supreme
courts decision prohibiting the
reading of bibles in the public
schools was precipitated by the re-
port of special committee, consist
ing of Superintendent of Public In
struetion Francis c. Blair, Miss
Reed of Chicago and President
Blanchard of Wheaton college.
Superintendent Blair and Miss
Reed, in the majority report, recon-
mended that the courts decision be
considered final and that the matter
be dropped.
President Blanchard offered a mi
nority report recommending that an
other test case be made and brought
before the court in an effort to OBJ
tain a revisal of the former ruling
Acrimonious discussion followed, but
when the question was put to a vote
the minority report was adopted,
207 to 81.
The substitute report as adopted
however, carries no force, as no pro-
vision for the expense of test case
was made. 1t is thought that the
matter will rest where 1t is.
AGAINST UNIVERSITY RULE.
The movement in favor of univer-
sity control was defeated and it is
recommended that the legislature
create the commission, to tie named
by Superintendent of Public Instruc-
tion Blair.
In a resolution presented by W.
1. Hatfield of Chicago it was pointed
out that, whereas there are ipproxi.
mately $4,000 teachers in Illineis to-
day, less than half are membefs OF
the State Teachers association. The
resolution recommended that thesas-
sociation be reorganized.
OFFICERS ARE ELECTED.
The principals section elected The