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 8
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j. PARENTAL HOMES.
School trustees of townships, towns and cities are authorized to establish parental homes, within or without the corporate limits of their corporations, a separate school for incorrigible and truant children. Any child or children who shall be truant or incorrigible may be compelled to attend such separate school for an indeter- minate time.
k. SCHOOL DIRECTORS.
The law provides that the voters of a district may meet on the first Saturday in October and elect one of their number as director of the school; but the people very seldom if ever do this, for the reason that there is no remuneration for this office. In case the voters do not elect a director, the trustee is empowered to appoint one, and almost all the directors are appointed, although they exercise so little power that they are now hardly thought of as officers. The school director may call a meeting of the voters of his distriet at any time. The director presides at these school meet- ings and makes a record of the same. He shall, under the direc- tions of the township trustee, have general charge of the school property in his distriet ; and he may also visit and inspect the school from time to time, and when necessary may exclude any refractory pupil therefrom.
78
EDUCATION IN INDIANA.
1. ANNUAL EXPENDITURES.
The trustee shall, at least thirty (30) days, and not more than forty (40) days, before the annual meeting of the advisory board, in each year, post at or near the door of all postoffices in the town- ship, a statement of the several estimates and amounts of the proposed annual expenditures, and the rates of taxation proposed for levy against the property within such township, for the several funds to be expended for his township during the calendar year, and also copies of such notice shall be published one time in the issue printed in the first week of August of each year in the two leading newspapers published in the county, representing the two political parties casting the highest number of votes in such county at the last preceding general election, and one publication in a newspaper in the township interested, if there be a paper published therein. The cost of such publication shall not exceed two dollars in any one year to any one paper, and the cost of necessary copies for posting and delivery to the board shall not exceed one dollar and fifty cents in any one year. And he shall furnish within like periods to each of the members of the advisory board a statement of such estimates and amounts. Such statement shall contain a notice of the place of meeting of the advisory board, and shall be substantially in the following form :
EXPENDITURES AND TAX LEVIES FOR THE YEAR.
The trustee of township, - county, proposes for the yearly expenditures and tax levies by the advisory board at its annual meeting, to be held at the school house of school district No .- , the following estimates and amounts for said year :
1. Township expenditures, $ -- , and township tax, - cents on the hundred dollars.
2. Local tuition expenditures, $ -- , and tax, - cents on the hundred dollars.
3. Special school tax expenditures, $-, and tax, - cents on the hundred dollars.
4. Road tax expenditures, $-, and tax, - cents on the hun- dred dollars.
5. Additional road tax expenditures, $-, and tax, - cents on the hundred dollars.
79
EDUCATION IN INDIANA.
6. Library expenditures, $-, and tax, - cents on the hundred dollars.
7. Poor expenditures for preceding year, $-, and tax, - cents on the hundred dollars.
S. Other items, if any, expenditures, $-, and tax, - cents on the hundred dollars.
Total expenditures, $ --- , and total tax, - cents on the hundred dollars. (Dated) (Signed)- -, Trustee.
The trustee shall procure and lay before the advisory board at the annual meeting thereof, the assessed valuation of the taxable property of the township for such year, and also the number of taxable polls in such township.
B. ADVISORY BOARD.
The latest addition to the school machinery of Indiana is a township advisory board consisting of three resident freeholders and qualified voters of the township, elected by the people for a term of two years. This came in answer to the demand for some kind of a check upon the township expenditures.
1. DUTIES.
The advisory board meets annually on the first Tuesday of September to consider the various estimates of township expendi- tures as furnished by the township trustee for the ensuing year, which it may accept or rejeet in part or in whole. In addition to this power to determine the amounts for which taxes shall be levied the advisory board determines and fixes the rates of taxation for the township. The meetings are open to the public and at any session of such board, any taxpayer of the township may appear and be heard as to the advisability of any estimate or estimates of expenditures, or any proposed levy of taxes, or the approval of the township trustee's report or any other matter being considered by the board.
The members of the advisory board are usually among the most reliable citizens of the township. The remuneration is only five dollars a year, so that the service is an indication of the public spirit of the citizen chosen.
IV. CITY AND TOWN SUPERVISION.
A. THE SUPERINTENDENT.
1. HISTORY.
Provision for separate school systems in incorporated towns and cities was not made till 1873, when school trustees of towns and cities were given power to employ a superintendent for their schools, and to prescribe his duties, and to direct in the discharge of the same. Previous to this there had simply been no city or town schools as a rule. The city superintendent has come to be regarded as one of the most important school officials in the state, and though his duties are not specified by law, his duty and power are recognized in the community.
2. ADMINISTRATION.
a. TENURE AND QUALIFICATIONS.
There is no legalized term of office, but the custom is to elect annually and to retain during good behavior. There is a growing tendency to eleet for two, three or four years. There is neither educational nor professional qualification required, but the super- intendent as a general thing is a man of ability and character and is an honor to the community. The strength of the city schools has come through the care with which superintendents are selected, the long tenure, and the freedom of management conferred.
b. DUTIES.
The wide-awake city superintendent is a very busy man. He has in hand in minute detail the side of equipment. He knows the condition of the buildings and suggests improvements and repairs. He makes estimates of the budget needed cach year for all expenditures. In addition to his responsibility for the material
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EDUCATION IN INDIANA.
equipment, he answers for the progress of the schools in the com- munity. He chooses the teachers and assigns them. He makes the course of study and directs the teachers in making it effective. He carries out a plan of systematic supervision based upon his expert pedagogical knowledge. These things he does directly and through assistant supervisors.
The scholarly, cultured superintendent has great opportunity in his community to direct public opinion in right channels upon educational topics.
B. CITY AND TOWN SCHOOL BOARDS.
1. HISTORY.
Under the law of 1875 the common council of each city and the board of trustees of each incorporated town of the state were authorized to elect three school trustees to constitute a school board. All cities and towns in the state with the exception of Indianapolis and Evansville choose their school boards under this law. Indianapolis and Evansville schools are operated under special charters secured from the legislature.
2. ADMINISTRATION.
a. TENURE AND QUALIFICATIONS.
Members of school boards are elected for a term of three years and only one new member is elected each year. No qualifications are specified by law but the people usually select men of intelli- gence and culture for members of these boards.
b. GENERAL DUTIES.
The school boards have charge of the schools in their respective corporations. They employ the superintendent, who is directed by them to nominate teachers, whom they employ and pay. The school boards, of course, have under their charge the building and protection of the school buildings. They have anthority to buy and sell school property, erect buildings, establish libraries, and to do anything that will promote the best interests of the schools so long as the school funds of the town or city permit.
6-EDUCATION.
1
82
EDUCATION IN INDIANA.
c. REPORTS.
The school trustees of the incorporated towns and cities receive a special school revenue and a tuition revenue belonging to their corporations. They are required to keep accurate accounts of the receipts and expenditures of such revenues, which they render to the county commissioners annually on the first Monday in August for the school year, which, in ludiana, ends on the 31st day of July. This report ineludes the following things: First, the amount of special revenue and tuition revenue on hand at the commencement of the year then ending: second, the amount of each kind of revenue received during the year, giving the amount of tuition revenue received at each semi-annual apportionment thereof; third, the amount of each kind of revenue paid out and expended within the year; fourth, the amount of each kind of revenue on hand at the date of said report to be carried to the new account.
d. KINDERGARTENS.
By an act passed in 1889 school boards were empowered to establish in connection with the common schools of incorporated towns and cities kindergartens for children between ages of four and six, to be paid for in the same manner as other grades and departments, provided the expenses are met through local taxation. As a result most of the cities in the state and quite a number of the towns have successful kindergartens in operation. The work done covers the complete range of kindergartens. In addition to these there are many private kindergartens.
c. MANUAL TRAINING.
Under an act of 1891, all cities of a given population were empowered to establish in connection with and as a part of the system of the common schools, a system of industrial or manual training and education, wherein shall be taught the practical use of tools and mechanical implements, the elementary principles of mechanical construction and mechanical drawing. Indianapolis, until quite recently the only city that met the conditions, has a splendid manual training high school. Splendid manual training schools are now established in Ft. Wayne, Evansville, Richmond,
83
EDUCATION IN INDIANA.
Terre Haute and other eities. Some work in manual training is done in a number of schools in smaller cities over the state and the idea is growing.
f. NIGHT SCHOOLS.
By aet of 1889 all eities with a population of three thousand or more were authorized to maintain night schools whenever twenty or more inhabitants having children between the ages of fourteen and twenty-one years of age, or persons over twenty-one years of age, who, by reason of their circumstances are compelled to be employed during the day for family support, shall petition school trustees so to do. It was provided that all persons between the ages of fourteen and thirty who are actually engaged in business or at labor during the day shall be permitted to attend suel schools. This furnishes an excellent opportunity for certain classes to obtain an education which would otherwise be denied them, but no large demand has yet been made for such schools. See table, which includes night schools, for statistics.
84
C. STATISTICS FROM CITIES OF 10,000 AND OVER, SHOWING
1. MANUAL TRAINING,
2. KINDERGARTEN SCHOOLS,
4. DEPARTMENTAL WORK.
Number High School
Teachers.
Number Grade
Teachers.
merated.
rolled.
Number Manual
Number High School
Pupils doing Man-
ual Training Work
Schools Conducted
Number Pupils En-
rolled in Night
Number Kindergar-
Number Pupils At-
What Grades are Do-
Is Departmental
Work Done in
Grades-What
Grades?
Anderson
16
75
6,639
4,067
2
120
8
Elkhart .
10
59
3,891
2,762
Elwood
8
52
4,122
2,750
135
2
500
6
450
9 to 12
6 to 8 7.8
Fort Wayne ..
15
153
13,888
5,940
*1
4
248
Hammond
7
+49
4,523
2,085
1
6
458
1 to 8
Not successful with us.
Indianapolis
90
609
42,606
¥1
8
408
1 to 8
6 to 8
Yes.
Not here.
Jeffersonville
7
39
3,593
1,970
Kokomo.
11
19
3,202
2,507
2
60
1 to 3
5 to 8
Lafayette
10
72
5,000
2,987
Logansport .
10
59
4,853
2,785
Marion ..
14
90
6,645
4,300
10
1 to 8
5 to 8
Michigan City
11
52
5,574
2,425
6
300
Muncie.
13
92
5,826
3,934
3
5 to 8
Yes.
New Albany
8
67
6,390
3,450
1, 2
Richmond
13
70
4,793
2,955
5
194
1 to 8
7,8
Yes, where needed.
South Bend.
14
117
11,896
15,297
1
110
8
367
7.8
8
Terre Haute
25
174
11,522
7,018
50
2
110
22
499
1 to 8
5 to 8
Vincennes . .
9
34
3,676
2,086
**
1
64
8
Yes.
*Being erected.
+Exclusive of 12 Kindergarten teachers.
ĮManual Training High School.
¿Private Kindergartens.
|All grades below High School. "Not including Kindergartens and Parochials. ** None at present.
EDUCATION IN INDIANA.
Had no experience. Where needed. Yes.
Evansville
27
216
16,500
9,000
1
.
.
..
.
1, 2
8
When needed.
Yes.
7.8
No.
Yes.
No
In some places.
Yes.
.
Yes.
.
Do You Favor Night Schools?
.
Number Pupils Enu-
Number Pupils En-
Training Schools.
Number Night
Schools.
ten Schools.
tending Kinder-
garten Schools.
ing Manual Train-
ing.
.
7.8
7.8
...
26,551
9 to 12
3. NIGHT SCHOOLS, AND
V. EDUCATION OF COLORED CHILDREN.
As early as 1866, while the amendments to the constitution were still under discussion, the education of the colored children of Indiana was the subject of a recommendation made to the legislature by State Superintendent Hoss. He suggested (1) that the school trustees open separate schools for colored children when a given number of such children of school age reside within attending distance. He thought the number could not safely be less than fifteen. He suggested (2) that in case, in any neighbor- hood, the number of children be less than fifteen, the distributive share of revenue due each colored child shall be set apart for the education of such child in such manner as the proper school trustee shall provide. (3) He suggested that it be made specially obligatory upon the trustee to make some provision for the educa- tion of the children to the extent of the money set apart for the same. This same year the examiners in convention at Indianap- olis passed a resolution extending the benefits of the school system to the colored children of the state. Two years later State Super- intendent Hobbs made a stronger case calling for some legislation and finally, in 1869, an act was passed rendering taxation for common school purposes uniform, and providing for the education of the colored children of the state. At various times since the law has been modified and interpreted, so that colored children to-day have practically the same privileges as white children. In many communities separate schools are maintained even through the high school. Where such schools are separate it is insisted that just as good facilities and teachers shall be provided as are to be found in other schools. In many of the high schools of the cities and larger towns colored children attend the same high schools as the white children, and the doors of the three state institutions are open to them. At present there are enumerated in Indiana 15,443 colored children between the ages of six and twenty-one years, and of this number 9,163 are attending the public schools.
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VI. THE TEACHER.
There are at present in Indiana over sixteen thousand teachers employed in the public schools. This army of men and women represents the best blood and culture of the state. Really with no professional requirement specified by law the dignity of the voca- tion is recognized everywhere, and it is felt that there is a profession of teaching. State, county and city supervision has constantly advanced the standard of excellence required, and an edueated publie sentiment demands the best service possible. Even with the life of the average teacher in the districts only about four years, progress is apparent in all phases of school work.
1. TENURE.
Teachers are elected annually, but as a matter of fact the tenure in the state is during good behavior, that is, the position is secure as long as good work is done. Rarely does a good teacher lose a place in Indiana.
2. CONTRACTS.
The law provides that all contraets made by and between teachers and school corporations of the state of Indiana shall be in writing, signed by the parties to be charged thereby, and no action can be brought upon any contract not made in conformity to the provisions of this law. The law also provides for uniformity in contraets in the state by using the following contract :
TEACHER'S CONTRACT.
For Incorporated Towns and Cities.
THIS AGREEMENT, Made and entered into between the township, town or city SCHOOL CORPORATION of in County and State of Indiana, by
the Board of School Trustees of said Corporation, of the first part, and.
a legally qualified teacher of said County, of the second part.
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87
EDUCATION IN INDIANA.
Witnesseth, That said
hereby agrees to teach, in the Public Schools of said Corporation ..
grade, or such grade in the school
department as the
School Board or Superintendent may direct, in.
day of School building, during the school year, beginning the. A. D. 190 .. , for the salary of
Dollars per (month, year,) to be paid.
(State when all or parts of salary will be paid. )
Said
further agrees, faithfully, zealously and impartially, to perform all the duties as such teacher, using only such text-books as are prescribed by said Board, or Superintendent, of said schools; that . . he will accurately keep and use all registers and blanks placed in .... hands by said Board, or the Superintendent of said schools; that . . he will make a com- plete and accurate report at the close of the school term, the blank for which is provided on the back of this sheet; that .. he will make all other reports required by said Board, Superintendent or School Law; that . . he will exercise due diligence in the preservation of the school buildings. grounds, furniture, books, maps and other school property committed to ... .care, and turn same over to said Board at the close of said school. in as good condition as when received-damage and wear by use excepted; and that . . he will conform to the rules and regulations of said Board, and Superintendent, and faithfully and impartially enforce them among the pupils.
Said School Corporation, by said School Board, agrees to keep the school buildings in good repair and furnish the necessary fuel, furniture, books, maps, blanks and such other appliances as may be necessary for the successful teaching of the branches in said schools.
And said School Corporation, by said School Board, further agrees to pay said .. for services as teacher of said school, said salary of. Dollars per (month, year.) as above agreed upon.
Prorided, That in case said teacher shall be discharged from said school by said Board for incompetency, cruelty, gross immorality, neglect of business, or a violation of any of the stipulations of this Contract, or in case . license should be annulled by the County Superintendent, or by the State Superintendent. . . he shall not be entitled to any compen- sation after notice of dismissal or annulment of license.
88
EDUCATION IN INDIANA.
Provided further, That the teacher shall have a duplicate copy of this Contract.
In Witness Whereof, We have hereunto subscribed our names this day of. A. D. 190. ..
President. Secretary.
Treasurer.
Board of School Trustees.
. Teacher.
NOTES-
(1.) Full anthority is given School Boards to substitute the words " principal," " su- pervisor" or "superintendent " wherever the word "teacher" appears in the Contract, when the Contract should be so drawn.
(2.) This Contract is the official form as made under the provisions of H. B. No. 139, of the Acts of 1899.
3. REPORTS.
To enable the trustees to make reports which are required of them, the teacher of each school, whether in township, town or city, shall, at the expiration of the term of the school for which such teacher shall have been employed, furnish a complete report to the proper trustee, verified by affidavit, showing the length of the school term, in days ; the number of teachers employed, male and female, and their daily compensation ; the number of pupils admitted during the term, distinguishing between males and females, and between the ages of six and twenty-one years; the average attendance; books used and branches taught, and the number of pupils engaged in the study of cach branch. Until such report shall have been so filed, such trustee shall not pay more than seventy-five per centum of the wages of such. teacher, for his or her services. Following is a form of this report :
TEACHER'S OR PRINCIPAL'S REPORT TO TOWNSHIP TRUSTEE.
Note .- This report must be made by each teacher having charge of the attendance of pupils. A high school teacher who works under the direc- tion of a principal will not need to make the report in case the principal reports for the entire high school. In graded grammar schools each teacher should report for the pupils directly under his charge. The prin- cipal of a graded grammar school should report only for the pupils di- rectly under his charge.
Report of.
(teacher, principal) of District, County, Indiana, Township,
to the Township Trustee, for the school term beginning.
and closing
EDUCATION IN INDIANA. 89
For all Teachers Who Hare Charge of Attendance of Pupils.
1. Number of days school was in session,
2. Number of pupils enrolled during year,
Male, ........ ; female, ; total,
3. Number of pupils withdrawn during year, -
Male, .. . .. . ; female, ; total,
4. Number of pupils suspended during year, -
Male, ; female, total
5. Number of pupils expelled during year, Male, ; female,. total
6. Number of pupils re-entered during year, -
Male, . ; female, total
7. Number of pupils remaining in school close of year.
Male, ; female, . ; total,
8. Number of pupils neither tardy nor absent during year, Male, . . . ; female, ; total,
9. Number of cases of tardiness during year,
Male, ; female, ; total,
10. Number of pupils tardy during year, Male, ; female, ; total,
11. Total days of attendance by all pupils for year, -
12. * ..
¥ " absence,
13. Total cases of tardiness, Time lost by tardiness,
14. ¡Average daily attendance for year, -
15. Per cent. of attendance-11: (11 +12), -
16. Number of pupils promoted to
(a) Second year,
(b) Third
(c) Fourth
(d) Fifth
(e) Sixth
(f) Seventh
(g) Eighth
(h) High School,
17. Number of graduates from the common branches and receiv- ing diplomas. Male. ; female, ; total. 18. Number of graduates from non-commissioned township high schools, Male, : female. : total.
19. Number of graduates from commissioned township high
schools, Male. ; female, : total. 20. How many books in school library (not including reading circle books) at beginning of year? -
21. How many books were added to the library (not including reading circle books) during year?
NOTES :-
*(1.) After three days of absence the pupil should be withdrawn, and his absence counted no more for that period of absence. After being withdrawn, he is not a pupil of the school, and can not be again until he is re-entered, as in item 6.
+(2.) To find average daily attendance divide the whole number of days of attendance made by all the pupils by the number of days of school taught.
4
90
EDUCATION IN INDIANA.
22. Total now in school library (not including reading circle books). -
23. How many reading circle books were added during year?
24. How many puplis read one or more school library or reading circle books during year?
25. Do patrons read school library books?
26. Number of visits to school.
Parents, : officials. . . .; others, total,
27. Number of teachers employed (if school be high school),
Male .. ; female ... ; total.
28. Number of days teacher attended township institute,
29. Books and apparatus left in school room at end of term. - 1. do solemnly swear that the above report is true to the best of my knowledge and belief.
Teacher. Principal.
4. WAGES.
The wage question has received a good deal of intelligent con- sideration in late years and as a result Indiana has the following law regulating the wages of teachers: "The daily wages of teach- ers for teaching in the public schools of the state shall not be less in the case of beginning teachers than an amount determined by multiplying two and one-fourth (2}) cents by the scholarship given said teacher on his highest grade of license at the time of contracting; and after the first school term of any teacher, said teacher's daily wages shall not be less than an amount determined by multiplying two and one-half (23) cents by the general average of scholarship and success given the teacher on his highest grade of license at the time of contracting; and after three years of teaching said wages shall not be less than an amount determined by multi- plying two and three-fourths (22) cents by the general average of scholarship and success given the teacher on his highest grade of license at the time of contracting: Provided, That two (2) per cent. shall be added to a teacher's general average of scholarship and snecess for attending the county institute the full number of days and that said two (2) per cent. shall be added to the average scholarship of beginning teachers.
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