some for natural science; could give at least an appetite first; teachers should be brought upon a higher plane. Mr. NORTH said that TYNDALL could give this appetite for these studies because he was a master, but let a tyro attempt to teach them, and he creates only disgust. Superintendent FALLOWS regretted that his knowledge of these sciences had not been more thorough. The tendency of education is science-ward, and this direction is right. He thought that a knowledge of Natural Science ought to be required of every teacher in the State. It was pertinently remarked that the law quiring the Constitution to be taught had not diminished the number of teachers, nor did he think that the proposed measure would have this effect. He thought our common school education not practical enough. We spend to much time upon Grammar, Geography, etc., and too little upon science. One great difficulty is, there are no text-books adapted to district schools. He wished he could cajole TYNDALE and HUXLEY into writing text-books for Wisconsin and Illinois. Mr. NORTH stated that such books had been published in England. Superintendent FALLOWS said that by next year it would be safe to put this law upon the statute book, and the requirement would bring teachers to the sufficient knowledge. Prof. PICKARD stated that Miss YOUMANS had published a text book in Botany; KINGSLEY on Geology, and BALFOUR on Physics. On motion of Mr. REYNOLDS the whole subject was referred to a committee of three, and Messrs. MARSH, BARNS and CHASE were appointed on the committee. APPOINTMENTS TO NORMAL SCHOOLS. The next topic was "Changes Required in Appointment of Students to Normal Schools." W. D. PARKER, in opening the discussion, said that many students in our normal schools ought to be in common schools. There was a large and constantly growing class who, for some reason or other, cannot attend the public school, and so drift into the academic department of the normal school; aud although the law points directly towards teaching, nobody supposes that these persons will ever make teachers; they do not even propose it to themselves. They are there simply because it is not convenient to go to public schools. Mr. PURDY stated that this discussion showed that there was some dissatisfaction with the material now in our normal schools. This dissatisfaction is felt by the teachers in these schools as well as by the public. The law provides that our normal schools shall be restricted to the instruction of teachers, but the fact is, a great proportion of the pupils do not propose teaching, and are simply acquiring a good common education. It was the business of the normal school to hunt out those persons who give promise of making good teachers. Under the present law county superintendents appoint without any such knowledge, merely appointing the first applicants. Mr. ALBEE said the Regents had prescribed the duties of the Superintendents and of the Normal School teachers. One of the points in the County Superintendent's certificate of appointment is that applicant is of good moral character. A person who will lie is not of good moral character. Every student upon entering the Normal School must sign a declaration that he intends to teach in the schools of Wisconsin. He did not think the material was above the average, but about the average in intellect. Many are driven, by being refused a certificate, to enter the Normal School, to prepare themselves for teaching. He thought there was a far greater earnestness in the Normal Schools than in the public schools. He did not think the declaration was ever signed lightly. It was generally carefully read and its purport noted. Superintendent DALE, of Oshkosh, said that it was a delicate matter for a Superintendent to decide, as to the moral character of an applicant. He objected to being made a police officer. He knew, however, of cases in which persons had been rejected, but in such cases the mortal enmity of the rejected applicant and all his family would be incurred. The Superintendents should be supported by some board of examiners, or by the teachers. As it now is, the whole burden rests upon the Superintendent. Mr. CHANDLER said that the certificate of the county superintendent was only a certificate that, in his opinion, the person recommended was a proper person to be examined by the faculty for admission. If a superintendent makes one mortal enemy by rejecting one applicant of immoral character, he ought to have made a hundred firm friends by his course. He belived that normal schools ought to restrict their efforts to the instruction of teachers, and yet, practically, they have to furnish some rudimentary instruction. He cited the case of an applicant at Whitewater, who had taught and held a third grade certificate, and yet who had never studied grammer a single hour. Mr. PARKER said he was glad to see a disposition upon all hands to bring all our educational interests into harmony. This was the first good natured discussion he had ever attended, when the normal schools were under discussion. He thought the Regent present (Mr. CHANDLER) had struck the key-note, when he said that teachers and superintendents must work together. He knew a case, in which a boy was expelled from the schools of a ciy, for want of moral character, and yet that boy is in one of the normal schools, without any recommendation. Prof. D. MCGREGOR, of Platteville Normal School said that they had uniformly rejected applicants that proved themselves unfit either in scholarship or character, whether they had a recommendation or not. The academic department was a drag, and the great question is how can we get rid of it. He thought that in most cases, the declaration was signed in good faith. On motion of Mr. REYNOLDS, the subject was referred to a committee of three, consisting of Messrs. REYNOLDS, PURDY and DALE. Supt. FALLOWS, in behalf of the committee on "Compulsory Township System," made the following report: Your committee, to whom was referred the matter of Compulsory Township System, beg leave to report by resolution, as follows: Resolved, That in the opinion of this convention section 36, of chapter 182, G. L. 1869, should be so amended as not to exclude villages having schools of not less than three departments from the operation of said chapter. Resolved, That in the opinion of this convention, county superintendents and educators generally should urge the adoption of the township system by towns, that it may have a fair and impartial trial. The resolutions were adopted. SAMUEL FELLOWS. THE DEAF AND DUMB. At this point, Mr. GEORGE L. WEED, Principal of the Institute for the Deaf and Dumb, located at Delavan, appeared before the Convention with Miss ADDIE RUTHERFORD, of Lake Mills, a member of his graduating class, and gave an illustration of their methods of instruction. Mr. WEED said that he was glad that the Deaf and Dumb Institute was recognized as belonging to the educational system of the State. In one sense it was a benevolent institution, and to a certain degree under the control of the Board of Charities, and yet it is in the main educational. He wished to bring out four points: 1st. What is the condition of the deaf and dumb before they come to the Institute. 2d. What are the means of reaching the deaf and dumb. In the first place there is the method of articulation. In most cases this is impracticable, but yet in some cases possible. Next, finger spelling, or Dactylology. 3d. Sign Language. 4th. Written language. Miss RUTHERFORD then recited in the sign language "The Angel's Song," "It Came upon the Midnight Clear," with a most thrilling effect. Prof. WEED then told a story in the sign language, which Miss RUTHERFORD wrote out upon the blackboard. The persons present witnessed these exercises with intense interest, and the thanks of the Convention were voted to Prof. WEED and Miss RUTHERFORD. FRIDAY, P. M. 2 o'clock. B. M. REYNOLDS, of Monroe, offered the following resolution: Resolved, That in the opinion of this Convention, persons holding Normal School Diplomas and State Certificates granted by competent authority in other States, should be entitled to all the privileges enjoyed by those holding Diplo mas from our own Normal Schools, and State Certificates granted by competent authority in this state of corresponding grades and courses of study, on having such diplomas and certificates approved and countersigned by the Superintendent of Public Instruction. The resolution was discussed by Prof. REYNOLDS, Miss STETSON, Col. CHASE, Mr. SALISBURY, Mr. LITTLE, Prof. GRAHHM and Mr. WRIGHT. The subject was referred to a committee consisting of Messrs. CHANDLER, DELAMATYR and REYNOLDS. INSTITUTE WORK. The subject of Institute work for 1873 was taken up. Gen. FALLOWS made pertinent remarks upon the subject, and suggested that the Institute work be connected with the Normal School, and that the conductors of Institutes be members of the Faculty of the Normal Schools. The subject was subdivided, and the topic of the relation of Institute to Normal Schools taken up, Prof. GRAшIм spoke at some length upon the subject and also upon the compulsory attendance of teachers upon the Institutes. He advocated the division of the State into sections, and each Normal School to do the Institute work for that section. Remarks were made by Messrs. SALISBURY, CHANDLER, Rev. J. 5. PRADT, Mr. HOLFORD, Prof. McGREGOR, Mr. I. N. STEWART, Mr. BARNES, Prof. ALBEE, Mr. DELAMATYR and Supt. WRIGHT, after which the subject was referred to a committee of five to report in the evening, eonsisting of Messrs. SMITH, WRIGHT, STEWART, SALISBURY and BARNES. The subject of compulsory attendance upon Teachers' Institutes was then discussed at some length by Supts. HOLFORD, TERRY, SKEWES and MAGUIRE, and Miss STETSON, when the matter was referred to a committee, consisting of Supt. LITTLE, of Sheboygan county, E. H. SPRAGUE, of Stockbridge, and Supt. BURLINGAME, of Columbia county. The Convention then adjourned, and Prof. GRAHAM appeared for the purpose of conducting a class drill of those wishing to engage in Institute work for 1873. Messrs. PARKER and BARNES spoke in favor of short institutes. FRIDAY EVENING, 71⁄2 o'clock. THE UNIVERSITY AND THE GRADED SCHOOLS. The "Relation of the State University to the Graded Schools" was taken up for discussion. Mr. REYNOLDS opened the discussion. He believed the State University was doing the best possible under the circumstances, and that the Preparatory Department was a necessity, as the most of the pupils come from rural district schools, where it is impossible for them to get such instruction as is given in that department. The discussion was continued by President TwoMBLY, of the University, who detailed the present organization of the institution, and called attention to the progress made during the last few years; in requisites for admission and extension of course of study in college of letters and college of arts; in establishment of agricultural, engineering and mining departments, and in the female college. He made sundry suggestions relating to the practical operation of the law of last winter, remitting tuition fees to pupils entering the University upon graduating from graded schools of the State. A spirited discussion followed, in which Messrs. REYNOLDS, SMITH, CARPENTER, FALLOWS, President TWOMBLY, and CHANDLER participated, and reference was made to a feeling against the University in some quarters. The result of the discussion was to show that the dangers and evils connected with the University to which attention was called, could be averted only by perfecting a State system of instruction. The whole subject was then referred to a committee consisting of President TWOMBLY, Supt. FALLOWS, and Messrs. CHANDLER, GRAHAM, SHAW and DELAMATYR, who were instructed to make a Report at the next meeting of the State Teachers' Association, on "A System of Education for the State." Miss STETSON, a teacher of elocution from Milwaukee, was then introduced, who recited several humorous selections in verse, and briefly unfolded her system of teaching reading. O. R. SMITH, in behalf of the Committee on Institutes, presented the following Report, which was adopted: The Committee to whom was referred the subject of Teachers' Institute, have had the same under consideration, and respectfully report as follows: In the opinion of your committee the institutes should be conducted primarily with the view to better fit teachers for their work in the common schools of the Stute, and they are of the opinion that this may be best accomplished as follows: 1st. There shall be a State Director of Institutes, who shall have full control of all institute work in the State, being responsible only to the Board of Normal Regents, and unconnected with any school or other office. 2d. He shall have three or more District Assistants, who shall be attached to the faculties of the Normal schools, in addition to the force already provided, but subject to the control of the Director whenever, in his judgment, their services are required for institute work. 3d. Such additional force may be employed as, in the judgment of the Director, is necessary, subject to the regulations of the Normal Board. O. R. SMITH, I. N. STEWART, Committee. Mr. CHANDLER, in behalf of the committee on "Reports from Joint Districts," made the following report, which, on motion, was laid on the table for further consideration: The Committee, to which was referred the subject of "Change in Reports of Joint School Districts," would report, that having given the matter consideration, they have concluded that the evils desired to be obviated, may be obviated by either of the following methods, viz: 1st. By such a change in the reports required of district and town clerks by the State Superintendent, as to do away with the partial reports of clerks of joint school districts to the clerks of all towns, parts of which are embraced in the joint districts, and in lieu thereof, a requirement of reports from clerks of joint school districts to the clerk of the town in which the school house is located only, which shall show the whole number of children of school age residing in the district, and also the town in which such children reside, and a collation of these reports by the town clerks, to show the actual number residing in each town represented in the several districts, entire or partial, in the reports received by him. The reports of the county superintendents should also be so arranged as to finally tabulate these reports of town and district clerks in such a manner as to afford a correct basis for the apportionment of the school fund. 2d. By such a change in the law, as to require the apportionment of the school money, to counties and by them to towns, in the same manner as now provided, and, the apportionment of such a county tax, as is required, to entitle towns to participate in the apportionment, upon the whole property of the county, and authorizing the apportionment of the funds thus obtained, in the same manner as the public school fund is now distributed. If to this provision was added one authorizing the town treasurers to pay over to the treasurers of adjoining towns the amounts to which parts of joint school districts were entitled to receive from them, and by such treasurers paid over to the treasurers of joint school districts entitled to receive the same, the great inconvenience of district treasurers of joint school districts in obtaining the small sums due them from several different town treasurers might be avoided, W. H. CHANDLER, A. F. NORTH, Committee. Mr. ED. MARSH made a report upon “Requiring the Natural Sciences in Common Schools," which was laid on the table. O. R. SMITH submitted the following preamble and resolution, which, on motion, was adopted: WHEREAS, We believe it to be the duty of the State to provide for the education of every child in its borders; and, WHEREAS, There is a large class of children who, through imperfect development, are incapacitated to receive instruction in the public schools; therefore Resolved, That it is the sense of this convention that it is the duty of the legis lature to immediately establish a school for the education of the idiotic and feeble-minded children of the State. SATURDAY, 10 A. M. Miss STETSON presented the subject of Elocution. The report of the committee on Requiring a Knowledge of the Natural Sciences for a Second Grade certificate, was taken up, and after discussion, the following substitute was adopted: Resolved, That this convention fully believes in the importance of a knowledge of the elements of Natural Sciences to entitle a candidate to receive a certificate of any grade, and urge that the measure be enacted into a law as soon as practicable. The report on the change of reports of joint districts was called up, and the first method there suggested was adopted, changing the blanks so that the report 2-VOL. III, No. 1. |