USA > Missouri > St Louis County > St Louis City > Education in Indiana. An outline of the growth of the common school system, together with statements relating to the condition of secondary and higher education in the state and a brief history of the educational exhibit. Prepared for the Louisiana purchase exposition, held at Saint Louis, May 1 to November 30, 1904 > Part 13
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2. In Indiana-
(a) In 1890 3.4 per cent. 2.0 per cent.
(b) In 1900 (Good showing.)
XIV. Illiterate negro population, ten to fourteen years of age:
1. In the United States-
(a) In 1900 30.1 per cent.
2. In Indiana- (b) In 1900 1.5 per cent.
VIII. TEACHERS' AND YOUNG PEOPLE'S READING CIRCLES.
1. TEACHERS' READING CIRCLE.
At a meeting of the Indiana teachers' association held at Indian- opolis December, 1883, the first steps were taken toward the organ- ization of the Indiana teachers' reading circle. According to a res- olution introduced by W. A. Bell it was decided that this circle be under the care and direction of the association and that this asso- ciation choose a board of directors, select a course of professional and literary reading, issue certificates of progress and grant di- plomas as evidence of its completion.
The first meeting of the board of directors was held February, 1884. At this meeting, after a full discussion of the ways and means to be employed, a committee on plans of organization was appointed. A month later this committee reported the following plan :
THE PLAN OF ORGANIZATION.
(See Present Plan of Organization at close of this division.)
1. Any teacher or other persons in the state of Indiana may become a member of this circle by forwarding his name to the manager of his county, together with a pledge faithfully to pursue the prescribed course of study, and paying a fee of twenty-five cents for the present year, and for future years, such fees as may be decided upon at the beginning of the year.
2. In case there is no manager within a county, any teacher may become a member of the state circle and receive all the benefits of the same by applying to the manager of an adjoining county. The members of the state circle resident in any town, township or neighborhood, may form a local circle which shall meet once every week or fortnight, as they may elect, for the purpose of reading and discussion.
3. Each local circle shall elect a secretary, whose name shall be reported to the county manager, and who shall act as the medium of communication between the local circle and the county manager; but this provision shall not preclude the possibility of individuals who are not members of a local circle reporting directly to the county manager.
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4. The general direction of the work in each county shall be placed in charge of the county superintendent or other person to be appointed by the state board of directors, who shall be called the county manager. 5. It shall be the duty of the county manager to transmit to the teachers of his county all circulars, books, examination questions, etc .. issned by the board of directors; to solicit and transmit to the board of directors names of members and membership fees, and all examination papers, etc., that shall be called for; and to discharge all duties that may devolve upon him as the medium of communication between the local circle and the board of directors.
6. The board of directors shall establish and maintain at the capital of the state a bureau under the charge of the secretary of the board, to whom all communications from county managers shall be addressed. Said bureau shall, for the present, be located at the office of the state superintendent of public instruction.
7. It shall be the duty of the state board of directors to arrange and prescribe two or more lines of reading, along which the reading of the local circle and individual members shall be pursued; but the amount of read- ing to be done within any given time and other details of the work not herein provided for shall be arranged by the county manager in conjune. tion with the secretaries of the local circles of the county.
8. It shall be the duty of the state board of directors to make provi- sions for all requisite examinations of the issuance of certificates and diplomas.
The results of the first four years of the history of the circle very fully justified the efforts made to improve the professional spirit among the teachers of the state. It had been proved beyond a doubt that the teachers were growing, were becoming more interested, more skillful, more intelligent in their work. However, much progress had been made, there was an important step taken in 18SS in the adoption, as a part of the reading for the next year, Hawthorne's "Marble Faun" and Carlyle's "Heroes and Hero Worship." The work done in the study of real literature rather than a study about literature was an epoch-making experience among the rank and file of the teachers of the state. When they had completed the year's work, helped by a suggestive plan of study for the Marble Faun, for instance, they had learned something about how to get real culture from the poet, and the novelist. In short this year's work marked a period of greatest growth in char- acter, in insight, that the cirele had yet known. Many teachers had been reached and helped who had not had opportunities in normal schools and colleges. Many were so inspired by their entrance into the fields of truth. It had been felt by many that this pursuit of
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general culture contributes more to the equipment of the teacher than does the study of purely professional lines of thought.
The state board of education has recognized the importance of the teachers' reading circle to the profession by offering credits on examination for county and state licenses. At the October meet- ing, 1885, the following order was passed by the board: "Ordered that the reading circle examinations in the science of teaching (science of education or theory ) be accepted by the county superin- tendents in place of the county examinations on that subject, and that the average of their four successive yearly examinations in the science of teaching be accepted by the state board of education in the examination for state certificates."
Again at the May meeting, 1896, the following order was unan- imously adopted : "Ordered that the reading circle examinations in the general culture book be accepted by the county superintend- ents in place of the county examinations in literature, and that the average of their four successive yearly examinations in the general culture books be accepted by the state board (of education) in the examinations for state certificates."
The growth of interest has been most gratifying. It is not an unusual thing for a new venture to meet with success in the begining and then gradually lose its hold and pass into neglect, leaving little but a remembered failure. But the Indiana teachers' reading circle has steadily grown, each year fully justifying its existence by the improvement in the work done in the schools as a direct result of the fostering of higher educational standards, and of encouraging a finer professional spirit.
The membership for 1887-8 was in round numbers 7,000, every county in the state, and in thirty counties almost every district, being represented in this membership.
The membership for 1902-3 was 13,274, every county in the state being represented. This was an average of 144 members for each county. The highest membership for any one county was 300; the lowest 52. These two counties had 356 and 78 teachers respectively.
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2. YOUNG PEOPLE'S READING CIRCLE.
In the summer of 1887, at a meeting of the state association of county superintendents a report of the very satisfactory progress made by the teachers' reading circle in the four years then passed, was presented. After this report was made it was suggested that the work should begin with the children. Following this sugges- tion, at a meeting of the state teachers' association in 1887, a committee was appointed to consider the feasibility of such a movement and this committee made the following report which was unanimously adopted by the association :
We regard the subject one of the highest importance. To place the general reading of the half million of children of the public schools under competent guidance and control, even to a limited extent, would in our judgment, be productive of most beneficial results. To substitute for the trashy and often vicious reading matter, which finds its way into the hands of children and youth, a grade of literature at once sound in its content, chaste in its language and imagery, and pure in its moral tone, is an end which may properly command the best and most earnest efforts of this association, and of the teachers of Indiana. To your committee the enterprise proposed seems a means for accomplishing, in a measure, this highly desirable end.
By vote of the association the organization and management of a young people's reading circle was referred to the board of directors of the teachers' reading circle. Accordingly the work was at once undertaken. The guiding thought from the beginning has been to avoid making the reading in any sense a task. There has been done everything to avoid the routine of school work for it has been felt that the purpose of the reading would be largely defeated if the children should come to look upon it as an additional task to be performed under compulsion. There have been no examinations given, no set ways of reading suggested. The purpose of introduc- ing the children to the best in books suited to their needs has been felt to be the highest service that could be performed in this connec- tion. Of course, much good has been done by tactful teachers in making the children desirons of looking into these books for them- selves.
It has been the aim to place no book upon these children's lists from year to year which was not worthy as literature. Whatever quality it might possess of value, however interesting, however full of information, the book has been subjected to scrutiny as to
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whether it were an artistic production, worthy as literature, whether a beautiful expression of truth. Books have been selected appealing to a wide variety of tastes and interests. Books of fiction, travel, biography, science, nature study, poetry, history have been included.
Under the plan of organization the reading of one book in the year's list is sufficient to constitute a membership in the circle. A card of membership has been awarded each member.
The wisdom of separating the reading of these books from the regular school work has impressed itself more and more upon those who have observed the progress of the work. There has been all over the state a very noticeable elevation of the taste. A very strong current of influence has set in against the trashy vicious stuff so much of which is waiting to corrupt the morals of the youth of many communities. These books selected for the young people have done their good work not only for the children but they have gone into the homes and have interested the older members of the family. So they have created a demand for more of the best books.
From sixteen to twenty books are selected for each year, distrib- uted into five groups: (1) Those for second grade, (2) those for third grade, (3) those for fourth and fifth grades, (4) those for sixth and seventh grades, (5) those for eighth and advanced grades.
Previous to the year 1902-03, 352,481 books had been distrib- nted throughout the state. During this same year and up to April 1, 1904, 114,132 were added, making a grand total of 466,613 books now in the young people's reading circle libraries. This makes an average of 5,071 for cach county. The highest number owned by any one county is 16,369 ; the lowest 631.
The enumeration for 1902-03 was 560,523 children of school age. Of this number more than 200,000 were members of the circle.
Within the twenty years that this work has been carried on, experience has suggested various changes in the organization and management of the affairs. At first, when the work was new, there were many difficulties which have gradually been overcome. One of the most gratifying results observed has been the fact that such a market for the best books has been created that the very best
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publishers have come to think it worth their while to supply books at very much lower rates than had before been possible.
In 1886 by action of the state teachers' association, the state superintendent of public instruction was made, "ex-officio," a member of the board of directors of the reading circle.
Another change was made in the abolition of both membership and examination fees from members. During the first three years of the circle there were charged a fee of twenty-five cents for membership, and an additional twenty-five cents for examination, the former going to the board of directors, and constituting a fund for running expenses, the latter to county managers as remunera- tion for the examinations. The returns from both were so small as to meet but a fraction of the expense. So no remuneration was furnished for time spent or services rendered by either local or state directors. In 1887, with the prospect of larger sales, some- what lower rates were secured from publishers with the provision also that the discount usually allowed the trade should be paid to the board. This arrangement proved a double gain in that it secured to teachers a lower rate on the books, and gave a definite income for the management in proportion to the membership.
PRESENT PLAN OF ORGANIZATION.
In December, 1897, the following constitution, rules and regu- lations for the government of the board of directors were anthor- ized by the state teachers' association :
1. The Indiana state teachers' association hereby constitutes the board of directors for the Indiana teachers' and young people's reading circles. and adopts the following rules and regulations for its government.
2. The aforesaid board of directors shall be composed of seven mem- bers, including the state superintendent of public instruction, who shall be ex-officio a member of the board. Of the remaining six members, at least one shall be a county superintendent; at least one a city superin- tendent, and the remainder shall be chosen from the teaching profession at large.
3. No member of a publishing firm, or agent of such firm. shall be eligible to membership on this board. Should any member of this board become a member of a publishing firm. or agent of such firm, within the term for which he was appointed to this board. his membership herein shall immediately cease. and the state teachers' association shall at its next meeting fill the vacancy thus arising from the unexpired portion of said term.
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4. The members of this board, except the state superintendent of publie instruction, whose membership shall be concurrent with his in- eumbeney of the state superintendeney, shall be appointed by the state teachers' association in annual convention for a term of three years, or until their successors are appointed.
5. Should any member of the board of directors leave the teaching profession or quit active school work, his membership shall immediately cease. At each annual meeting of the state teachers' association, the members of the reading circle board of directors shall meet and organize for the ensuing year.
7. The members of this board shall receive a per diem of four dollars and actual expenses, for all time employed in discharging the duties devolving upon them as members of said board; but no member shall receive any additional per diem or salary as an officer of the board. The board shall allow and pay the secretary such reasonable salary as will be a fair compensation for the duties performed.
S. It shall be the duty of this board to plan a course of reading from year to year, to be pursued by the public school teachers of Indiana, to provide for examination on the said course and to prepare questions for the same: to issue certificates to such teachers as pass the examination satisfactorily, and to issue diplomas to such teachers as pass the exami- nations in four successive years satisfactorily.
It shall also be the duty of this board to plan a course of reading, from year to year, to be pursued by the pupils in the public schools in Indiana, and to make such rules and regulations as to examinations, cer- tificates and diplomas, in the young people's reading circle, as the board may deem desirable and practicable.
It shall be the further duty of this board to select the books to be read in such teachers' and young peoples courses; to make the most favorable terms with the publishers as to prices of such books to members of the two reading circles, and to provide a plan for a convenient and inexpens- ive distribution of the books to the teachers and pupils.
9. At each annual meeting of the state teachers' association, this board shall make a report of the receipts and disbursements for the year just closing and of such other items as in its judgment shall be of interest to the association, or as the association may from time to time request. At each annual meeting of the association, an auditing committee shall be appointed for the coming year, to audit the books and accounts of the reading circle board. At each meeting of the association, the report of this auditing committee shall be appended to the report of the board of directors and shall be a part of the report of that board to the state teachers' association.
10. This constitution, rules and regulations may be amended, revised, or annulled by a majority vote at any annual meeting of the Indiana state teachers' association.
IX. ASSOCIATIONS AND INSTITUTES.
A. ASSOCIATIONS.
1. STATE TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION.
a. HISTORICAL SKETCH.
Prepared by A. C. Shortridge, W. A. Bell, W. E. Henry, Committee ap- pointed by State Teachers' Association, December, 1903.
In accordance with resolutions previously passed by teachers' meetings held at Shelbyville and Salem, a circular was issued for the purpose of calling a "convention of practical teachers" with a view to the organization of a permanent "state teachers' associa- tion."
This circular was signed by the following persons :
Caleb Mills, E. P. Cole, B. L. Lang, O. J. Wilson, G. W. Hoss, Chas. Barnes, John Cooper, M. M. C. Hobbs, Rufus Patch, T. Taylor, J. Bright, Cyrus Nutt, James G. May, B. T. Hoyt, Lewis A. Estes, J. S. Ferris, R. B. Abbott, Geo. A. Chase, Silas Baily.
In pursuance of the above call a convention was held in Indian- apolis, December 25, 1854.
The first president was Rev. Wm. M. Daily, president of the state university.
The first constitution, which has never been materially changed, was prepared by Prof. Caleb Mills, then state superintendent of public instruction.
The preamble to this constitution is worth remembering. It reads :
As harmony and concert of action are highly necessary for the thor- ough and entire accomplishment of any important purpose; and believing that it is especially so in the department of education, we, the under- signed, as a means of elevating the profession of teaching, and of pro- moting the interests of schools in Indiana, associate ourselves together under the following constitution.
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The addresses at this first meeting were as follows :
"Importance of civil polity as a branch of common school educa- tion," by Prof. Daniel Read, of the state university; "Graded schools," by Dr. A. D. Lord, of Columbus, Ohio, editor of the Educational Monthly ; "Drawing in schools," by Prof. J. Brain- ard, of Cleveland, Ohio; "Use of the Bible in schools," by Dr. R. J. Breckenridge, of Kentucky, author of the public school sys- tem of Kentucky : "Female education," by Hon. E. D. Mansfield, of Ohio; and the principal address of the session was on "The duty of the state to provide for and control the education of youth," by Hon. Horace Mann, then president of Antioch College, of Yellow Springs, Ohio.
The record shows that Calvin Cutter, of Massachusetts, was present, but it does not show that he made an address. It will be remembered that Calvin Cutter was the anthor of one of the first if not the first public school physiology ever published.
In addition to the above addresses the association considered the following:
The supreme court had, a short time before this, rendered a decision to the effect that local taxation for the payment of teach- ers in the district schools was illegal. The supreme court, in 1857, made a similar decision in regard to incorporated towns and cities. This made it impossible to keep the public schools open more than from two to four months in the year. This was a vital matter with the teachers and it was one of the live topies in every association for several years.
After discussion a committee was appointed in regard to the establishment of an educational journal with Mr. E. P. Cole as chairman.
A resolution was adopted favoring the addition of history, physiology, political and moral science, to the curriculum of com- mon school studies. It was
Resolved, That the members of this association will exert their ntmost efforts to have the Bible introduced as a reader or class hook into every school in the state, in which it is not thus used already.
Resolved, That we recommend to the legislature of this state to create the office of circuit superintendent of public instruction. and to make it one of the duties of that officer to hold a series of teachers' institutes during each year. in his circuit.
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Resolved, That in case such action is not taken by our next legislature, we hereby instruct our executive committee to hold institutes in different parts of the state in the name of this association.
Resolved, That we, as teachers, will use all our efforts to organize county associations in our respective counties and report our progress at the next meeting of our state association.
Resolved, That the delegates present, as far as practicable, appoint a committee of one, whose duty it shall be to report the condition and character of the public schools in his county at the next meeting of this association.
Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to investigate the claims of the phonetic method of spelling . and give their views of the propriety of introducing it into the common schools of the state.
Resolved. That this association recommend to the county examiners. throughout the state, to observe strictly the provisions of our school law in licensing teachers; or if any case be found in which ciremnstances seem to demand the licensing of teachers of defective qualifications for a short time, the examiner should inform such teacher that he will not receive a second license until the requisitions of the law shall be fully satisfied.
Resolved, unanimously. As the opinion of this association that the tax for school libraries ought to be continued for another period of three years, as a great instrumentality of poplar education.
These resolutions were not reported by a resolution committee, and adopted as a whole, but were introduced from session to session and disenssed separately.
It will be seen from the above that many subjects vital to the welfare of the schools of the state were considered in this first meeting of the association, and they indicate the general purpose of the organization.
Among the charter members were many who continued for years to exercise a large influence in shaping the educational forces of the state. Among the more conspicuous of these are Cyrus Nutt, then of Centerville, but afterward for many years president of the state university; B. T. Hoyt, then of Lawrence- burg, afterward professor in Asbury, now DePauw, university ; James G. May, of New Albany, who continued in active work till he was the oldest teacher in the state; Chas. Barnes, for many vears superintendent of the Madison schools: Rufus Patch, for many years principal of the Ontario academy in Lagrange county : E. P. Cole, then of Indianapolis, but afterwards of Bloomington ; Miles J. Fletcher, afterward superintendent of public instruction ; John B. Dillon, Indiana's most noted historian; Geo. W. Hoss,
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afterward state superintendent and professor in the state uni- versity, and for many years editor of Indiana School Journal ; Caleb Mills, the second state superintendent of public instruction, for many years connected with Wabash college, but always in- terested in the public schools: Geo. A. Chase, superintendent of the Rushville schools, who was the first secretary of the state association : W. D. Henkle, the second editor of the Indiana School Journal, and afterward state school commissioner of Ohio: Moses C. Stephens, of Richmond, for many years professor of mathematics in Purdue university ; John Cooper, then of Dublin, but afterward superintendent of the schools at Richmond and later of Evansville; and A. C. Shortridge, then of Milton, but afterward for many years superintendent of the Indianapolis schools and later president of Purdue university.
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