4. Reports to School Department.-The | o'clock all the superintendents invited were defects in our mode of obtaining the average present, as follows: Messrs. Shaub, of Lanattendance and the percentage of attendance caster; Pierce, of Chester; Baker, of Delaof pupils were pointed out, and many valu- ware; Eastburn, of Bucks; Rambo, of able practical suggestions were made. Montgomery; Brunner, of Berks; Lehman, 5. Bringing children to school and keeping of Lebanon; Newlin, of Schuylkill; Knauss, them there long enough to instruct and train of Lehigh, and Raesley, of Northampton. them properly. This question elicited more Deputy State Superintendent Houck and earnest investigation than any other. Never City Superintendent Severn were also prebefore have we seen the question handled sent. with such good, practical common sense. Pennsylvania cities and towns will from the day of the conference onward take wiser and more effective action in this matter. The following resolutions, adopted by the conference, express in the main the conclusions arrived at: 1. That it is the opinion of this convention that the course of study in town and city schools should be adapted as far as possible to the practical wants of the practical age in which we live, so far, at least, as is consistent with that general culture of mind and heart which ought to be the basis, as it is the end, of all education; and that we regard as of much importance the introduction of exercises in language and composition in all grades, beginning with the lowest, deeming these to be the best means of imparting to children facility and correctness in the use of language. 2. That drawing and vocal music should be regularly and systematically taught in all schools of all grades, and that, as superintendents, we will use our best efforts to popularize and promote the study of these important arts. 3. That we regard the district institute and similar agencies as indispensable to the efficiency and pros. perity of our town and city schools, and that we invoke the official aid and countenance of Boards of Control in strengthening this arm of the service. 4. That every corps of teachers ought to provide for themselves a library of standard professional reading. 5. That we respectfully request the school department to establish such a basis for reports of attendance, percentage, etc., as will more nearly accord with the facts of attendance than does our present method. 6. That the present and prospective failure of our State Normal schools adequately to supply us with trained teachers, make it the interest as well as the duty of Boards of Control to look toward the establishment of normal and training departments in connection with high schools, thus ensuring a supply of teachers as well as developing and utilizing teaching talent at home which must otherwise remain unrecognized and unknown. AT READING-MAY 30. The Conference met in the City Hall at 9 A. M. The State Superintendent was called upon to preside, and Superintendent Newlin, of Schuylkill county, was appointed secretary. It was decided that the first half-hour of each session should be devoted to asking and answering questions. By 10 After a number of questions had been asked and answered the subject of Teachers' Certificates was taken up. The conclusions reached were that great care should be exercised in granting certificates of the higher grades; that it would be best for teachers to hold the professional certificate at least a year before applying for a permanent certificate; that it would be wise to require applicants for permanent certificates to undergo an examination in some of the higher branches of instruction; and that the county committee should examine such applicants in all cases. The subject of institutes, county, local and district, occupied the remainder of the forenoon session and was continued in the afternoon. It was discovered that the instrumentalities best adapted in one county to improve teachers and increase the interest in education generally were not equally well suited to the circumstances of all counties. No better way was found of fixing the time of holding institutes than that at present in use. Directors' Day at institutes had proven very successful in some counties and promised increased usefulness in others. The exercises of an institute should be mainly professional, and be conducted by the best talent attainable at home and abroad. Graded Schools received a large share of consideration. It was seen that a school of two grades, a primary and a higher grade, could be easily established wherever from sixty to eighty children could be conveniently brought together; that high schools are practicable in villages and small towns only when open to the reception of pupils from the surrounding districts; and that high schools in districts exclusively rural, however desirable, could only be successful among people entertaining generally a very high opinion of the value of education. After the question hour the evening session was occupied with the consideration of the question of District Supervision, the necessity of which was insisted upon on all sides, and School Visitation. The Committee on Resolutions, consist- | mainder of the session was taken up in ing of Messrs. Eastburn, Shaub and Rambo, considering graded schools, and teachers' reported the following, which were adopted. examinations." A resolution was also adopted approving the plan of holding conferences of superintendents. I. That there is a growing necessity for higher instruction in our public schools, and that especial attention should be given by school officers to the establishment of a more efficient system of graded and high schools to provide for such instruction. 2. That a more thorough supervision of our public schools than now exists is absolutely necessary to utilize fully our teaching force, and that proper district officers should be appointed to give the needed inspection. 3. That provision should be made by law for the insertion in all permanent certificates hereafter to be granted, of branches in addition to those now required. 4. That there should be a closer organization amongst the directors of a county for the advancement of the interests intrusted to their charge, and that to this end we recommend the holding of directors' conventions. 5. That we should avail ourselves, as far as practicable, of the capabilities for good offered by a system of county, local, and district institutes in improving teachers and schools and developing a correct public sentiment on the subject of our educational needs. AT HARRISBURG-JUNE 3. The meeting was called to order by the State Superintendent, who stated its object and the nature of the work to be done. He then took the chair, and R. M. McNeal, of Huntingdon, was appointed secretary. Superintendents Kain, of York, Kast, of Cumberland, Smith, of Franklin, Woodall, of Fulton, Ingram, of Dauphin, Wright, of Perry, Robinson, of Juniata, Bell, of Mifflin, McNeal, of Huntingdon, and Gregory, of Clearfield, were present. The absentees were Sheeley, of Adams, Fisher, of Bedford, who was out of the State, and Holland, of Blair, who was sick. Messrs. Ingram, Gregory and Kast were appointed a committee on resolutions. Questions were asked and answered concerning the duties of the Committee on Permanent Certificates, and the persons who undertake to teach summer schools without certificates; after which a very full discussion took place on the subject of Teachers' Institutes, county, local and district. At the evening session the most important questions asked were: "How to ascertain the number of children not in school?" "How to secure better out-buildings ?" "Have superintendents a right to refuse certificates on account of age?" The re On Wednesday morning the work done, after disposing of a number of minor questions, was the consideration of the question of "reports," "uniformity in granting certificates," "school visitation," and 'bringing all our children to school." The Committee on Resolutions reported a series, which, as amended, is as follows: 1. That we deem the holding of local, district and county institutes of great advantage to teachers, directors, patrons and pupils, and recommend that greater efforts be put forth to make them a success. 2. That in conducting institutes, citizens and directors should be invited to take an active part in the exercises. 3. That, as a rule, we consider only two regular professional instructors necessary at a county institute, and that teachers should be afforded a full opportunity of participating in the exercises. 4. That, the Committee on Permament Certificates, after their organization at the county institute, appoint a regular time of meeting for the examination of teachers, and give due notice thereof. 5. That we regard the practice of granting the use of school-rooms during the summer season to persons not holding legal certificates as injurious to the cause of education, and recommend that it be discontinued. 6. That we recommend the policy of raising the grade of provisional certificates, as fast as the circumstances of the several counties will permit. 7. That the theory of teaching should be made a specialty in examinations. all be subject to the supervision of the principal of the higher department. 8. That where schools are graded they should 9. That the subject of proper out-buildings for schools is too much neglected, and in view of the evils resulting from this cause we recommend radical reform in this direction. quent visitation of schools by directors and patrons, and of patrons by teachers, believing that great good is accomplished by these agencies. 10. That we strongly recommend the more fre II. That we recommend that directors submit their plans to the county and state superintendents for approval before erecting school buildings. 12. That the State Superintendent be requested to devise some plan by which greater uniformity in the grading of certificates throughout the State may be effected. 13. That we heartily endorse the plan adopted by the State Superintendent in calling local conferences of county superintendents. AT WILLIAMSPORT-JUNE 5. The Conference met at the Herdic House at 9 o'clock. The State Superintendent assumed the chair, and R. M. Magee, of Centre, was appointed secretary. The following superintendents were present at the opening: Messrs. Lucore, of Elk; Gahan, of Lycoming; Allen, of Potter; Noetling, of Snyder; Horton, of Tioga; Burrows, of Union; Henry, of Montour, and Magee, of Centre. Mr. Herr, of Clinton, was present at the evening session. Messrs. Johnson, of Cameron, Shipman, of Northumberland, and Martin, of Sullivan, were absent without assigning any reason. Deputy Superintendent Houck was present at all the sessions, and Superintendent Raub, of Lock Haven, was present a part of the time. The following is substantially the report of the proceedings as prepared by the secretary for the Williamsport papers: Committee on Resolutions: Messrs. Allen, Burrows and Horton. It was decided that the first hour of each session be devoted to asking and answering questions relative to the superintendent's work. Among many other questions pertaining to statistics, etc., the State Superintendent stated that in the new forms of reports, school directors need not mention exonerations separately; that warrants for State appropriations will be issued promptly in the order in which they are received. He also advised county superintendents to withhold their approval of district reports when they know that the financial statement of the district has not been published; also, advised superintendents, when practicable, to visit districts and assist in making out the reports; he also advised that the specific directions relating to statistics be strictly complied with. In answer to questions asked, he stated that suit may be brought against directors, and they may be tried for loss sustained by negligence; also, that the secretary of a school board has no right to accept pay for his services and afterward divide the same among the other directors in the form of a donation. The subject of district institutes was next discussed, and it was held that practically two things operated against their success, viz.: Distance, and want of a competent leader, and without the latter it is unsafe to recommend them. This led to the consideration of the district superintendency. The following plan was suggested and approved, viz.: That a number of adjacent districts employ a teacher, not a director, to exercise supervision over twenty to twenty-five schools, who should be leader at the local and district institutes, secretary and executive officer of the districts over which he exercises supervision. The subject of county institutes was considered at length. Different methods of securing attendance and making them effective were suggested. The basis of the exercises at an institute should be strictly professional, and confined to a regular course of instruction. The day exercises, work; evening exercises, more popular. Every institute should have its directors' day, in the forenoon of which directors to have a meeting apart from the institute, the superintendent meeting with them and introducing business to them. In the afternoon meet with the institute. School visitation was next considered. The superintendents should work when they visit schools, and pay special attention to the out-buildings and surroundings. This was discussed in all its details. It was recommended that in view of the abuse of school-houses, directors should place the care of the school-house during vacations in the hands of the nearest patrons of the school. The evening session was called at eight o'clock. Questions relating to the work of the superintendency considered during the The subject of local institutes was taken first hour. The subject of teachers' examiup and fully discussed by all present. The nations was then taken up. Large classes conclusion arrived at was that local insti- should be divided up into parts of five or tutes should be held on Fridays and Satur- six persons each. The following plan was days, immediately after visiting the schools. approved: Oral and written methods comThe subject of county normal schools was bined and modified according to circumtaken up, fully discussed and the system stances, and not in the order in which the warmly advocated. branches are on the certificates, so as to ascertain the applicants' knowledge of principles involved; and that the work of preparing for future examinations be made definite by assigning a certain portion of each branch as a lesson for the year. The afternoon session was called at two o'clock. Among the answers to questions were the following: That provisional certificates may be granted for a shorter, but not for a longer time than one year, and that the Committee on Permanent Certificates should organize and appoint their officers at the institute where elected, and should appoint at least one meeting to be held during the year. The subjects of Elementary Drawing, Music and Physiology, were by State Superintendent Wickersham recommended to be added to the common-school course wherever practicable and introduced into the schools, as already done in Centre. He also recommended that an elementary knowledge of the natural sciences should be imparted. The following resolutions reported by the committee were unanimously adopted: 1. That the holding of county and local institutes is of great advantage to teachers, and that directors and parents should make greater efforts to attend them. 2. That, ordinarily, two professional instructors at a county teachers' institute are preferable to more. 3. That directors should not grant the use of school-rooms for private schools, to teachers who do not hold valid certificates. 4. That the grade of provisional certificates should be raised as soon as circumstances will warrant. 5. That greater attention by the proper authorities should be given to the erection and care of school out-buildings. 6. That directors should submit their plans to the county superintendent before building school houses. 7. That the State should encourage and aid in establishing county normal schools in counties not easily accessible to State normal schools. 8. That we heartily approve of the holding of local conferences of county superintendents by the State superintendent. ITEMS FROM LATE REPORTS. BUCKS. The schools of Solebury held a picnic and educational mass meeting under the auspices of the school board, June 14. The exercises consisted of class-drills, essays, recitations, spelling-matches and addresses by invited guests. Premiums, in the shape of pictures, apparatus and books for libraries, were given to the schools showing the best specimens of penmanship, the most improvement in penmanship, the best drawings, the best results in spelling, and the best record of attendance. CENTRE.-The schools have all been closed for some time, except those of Bellefonte, which closed with a musical entertainment on Friday evening, May 23d, at the court-house. The exhibition reflected much credit on teachers and pupils. During the week examinations were held in the different grades. CRAWFORD.-Schools nearly all in session. A few, from the want of experienced teachers, are not open at present. These will mostly be filled by teachers who are now attending the Normal School at Edinboro. DELAWARE.-North Chester borough and Darby township will each build a school-house this year. Media will enlarge her school-building. JEFFERSON.-Eight new school-houses have been built during the year. LEBANON.-The school board of Lebanon borough, before the close of the school year just ended, determined to have public examinations of the schools at the close of the term, and to grant diplomas to the graduates of the high school. In pursuance of this action, an examining committee of five was appointed to examine the pupils of the high school, and three of them, John Meily, Robert H. Buck and Howard C. Shirk received diplomas. BOOK NOTICES. THE AMERICAN EDUCATIONAL READERS: NEW GRADED READER NO. Two. With Illustrations. 12mo. Pp.: 124. Price, 40 cents. New Yorh: Ivison, Blakeman, Taylor & Co. NEW GRADED READER NO. THREE. With Illustrations. 12mo. Pp.: 160. Price, 50 cents. New York: Ivison, Blakeman, Taylor & Co. NEW GRADED READER NO. FOUR. With Illustra out the fire of his early energy. But why should HARRISON ON THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE: Its Rise, Our mother tongue already overspreads a large portion of the world and moves on to new conquests in all directions. In its wealth of synonyms, its cations. 12mo. Pp. 240. Price, 70 cents. New pacity for expression of every shade of thought and feeling, so far as words can do this, the linguist acYork: Ivison, Blakeman, Taylor & Co. cords the first place to our composite English. The The very last series of Readers. With all others work before us discusses the origin of the language before them from which to know what features have and the changes it has undergone; then the genius proven of permanent excellence and what are of and character of the language and the sources of its secon dary importance; what has stood the test of corruption. He brings under consideration the sevtime and what has had but the merit of novelty to eral parts of speech and examines the application commend it; with the best teaching talent available and misuse of each, illustrating by numerous examin the preparation of the several books; the best ples. The type is large, the style of the author artists in the country to design and engrave the illus-pleasing, and the book one that will be of great trations; the best faces of type, the best quality of value to the patient student of the language. paper, and the University Press of Cambridge to do the printing-why should this not be a series fully A GERMAN PRIMER: equal to any other of its class in the market? The publishers knowing what to do, and possessing every facility for doing it well, have spared neither labor nor expense to make these books what they aresimply admirable. MIDDLEMARCH: A Study of Provincial Life. By York: Harper & Brothers. 1873. The works of George Eliot possess a freshness in striking contrast with the conventionalities of the average novel. They suggest no straining after effect, no hinting at future possibilities, stimulant which a reader who identifies himself with the lifescenes presented may well dispense with. Her denouement is so finely wrought out that forecast is impossible; present things, as in real life, are allabsorbing. Middlemarch is a novel that will more than sustain a reputation based upon such works as Felix Holt and Adam Bede. Its tone is healthy and elevating. Inviting at the outset, it fully sustains the promise of the opening pages. We cannot recall a more graceful bit of word-painting than the description of English stage-coach times, in which the characters are introduced. The personages of the story, if not always real, reflect at least the influences which surround them. The charm of the novelist, after all, lies not so much in his ability to describe real people as to invent ideals, which, though extreme in themselves, shall be true to the conditions that mould human minds. The author-student, Casaubon, for instance, is unreal perhaps, but his nature is the inevitable outgrowth of those influences which he had permitted to control him. With 50 trait so apparent as that of intense selfishness, he yet seems to himself a martyr in the cause of sound learning and research. Lydgate, the ardent man of science, is a character well drawn, and one indicating in the author a keen appreciation of the scientific mind. The close of his life, though it does not fulfil the hopes which the sympathetic reader has entertained for him, is none the less a true result of the social and domestic opposition which has smothered A. M. By Hermann D. Wrage, 12mo. Pp. 134. New York: D. Appleton & Co. 1873. FIRST GERMAN READER: By Hermann D. Wrage. 12mo. Pp.: 168. New York: D. Appleton & Co. The Primer is based on the system of object teachcombinations of elementary sounds almost wholly ing. Words have been given from the beginning, and avoided. Each lesson is preceded by a sentence or more in the German script. From the school-room the pupil is led to his home, to the town, the garden, the country, etc. Short stories and fables, both in prose and verse, have been introduced when adapted to the subject of the lesson. The First Reader is a convenient sequel to the Primer. OUTLINES OF GERMAN LITERATURE: Gostwick and Robert Harrison. Pp.: 588. New York: Holt & William. 1873. By Joseph These Outlines extend from the year 380 A. D. to the year 1870. They are designed to supply a want which the increasing study of the German language and its literature has created. The work was originally published in England, but has been republished here, since the language of which it treats is studied largely in our best schools and colleges. CHEERFUL VOICES: A Collection of Songs, Duets, 66 The first part of this collection, embracing perhaps sixty pages, is devoted to elementary instruction. The remaining hundred and forty pages contain a goodly number of school songs. Among them, "I'm a Shepherd of the Valley," Sing Away, ye Joyous Birds," "The Golden Stair," "Sunshine," "Home, Sweet Home," and others worth learning. This is Mr. Emerson's third book. The first and second, "Golden Wreath" and "Merry Christmas," have already sold to the number of 300,000 copies. This deserves to be equally popular. |