EDITORIAL-MISCELLANY.

THE REVISED SCHOOL LAW.

Teachers, Examiners, Trustees and friends of education generally, it is with no small degree of pleasure that we announce to you progress― progress, real, tangible, and encouraging. This progress is found in the new provisions of the revised school law. Some of these leading provisions we propose here to enumerate.

I. REVENUE.

1. A tax of 16 cents on each one hundred dollars of taxable property, is to be annually assessed and collected for tuition, instead of 10 cents, as formerly. This will yield, no allowance being made for shrinkage, an increase of revenue of $309,000 per annum.

2, A tax of one cent on the one hundred dollars, for the purpose of replenishing the township libraries. This will yield about $51,000 per an

num.

II. TEACHERS' INSTITUTES.

1. It is provided that in case an Institute be held one week, with an average attendance of twenty-five teachers, or persons preparing to become such, the county treasurer of the county in which it is held, shall pay $35 for the support of said Institute; and in case there be an average attendance of forty, the treasurer shall pay $50.

2. During the week in which the Institute is in session, the public schools of the county shall be closed. The object of this, as is probably obvious to all, is to remove a very general excuse for non-attendance. Cases are not wanting in our institute experience, where teachers of some prominence have kept their schools in session the entire week, and within two squares of the Institute. When asked the reason for their action, the answer was, "My patrons would prefer the school should go on." This section of the law is intended to counteract the periodic educational zeal of such patrons, and the prevalent lukewarmness of such teachers.

It is believed that this section of the law will essentially aid in producing large and beneficial results.

3. It is made the duty of Examiners to hold, or cause to be held, in their respective counties, at least one such Institute each year. Here is a new, important, and most appropriate requirement of the Examiner. Standing, as he does, immediately connected with the schools of his county, his position peculiarly fits him for this work. It will be observed, that he is not required to superintend the Institute; he is required to hold, or cause to be held, an Institute. This leaves him at liberty to call such aid as he may deem requisite. In cases where he is inexperienced in superintending, he will generally find it best to call experienced aid. In this connection we may state, that the Superintendent of Public Instruction

will feel it a pleasure and a duty, to aid Examiners in procuring suitable help. No work would be more agreeable to the Superintendent than the work of personally aiding in holding Institutes. This, however, will in a good degree be impossible, because of the multiplicity of other duties. We have other suggestions to make on this important subject of Institutes, but defer for the present.

III. EXAMINERS.

1. Examiners are to be appointed in all the counties at the coming June session of the Board of Commissioners.

2. The Board of Commissioners may dismiss Examiners for immorality, incompetency, or general neglect of duty.

3. In addition to the branches prescribed in the old law, they shall examine teachers in Physiology a d the History of the United States.

4. The Examiner may, at his discretion, renew, without examination, the license of any teacher who has, for two consecutive examinations, in the same county, received a two years' license.

5. The Examiner shall hold one public examination, each month, and in no case shall he grant a license on private examination.

6. Examiners shall encourage Teachers' Institutes and Associations. Under Institutes, it is specially provided that they shall hold, or cause to be held, Institutes.

7. Examiners shall receive three dollars per day for all services save the examination of teachers.

8. The number of days that the Examiner shall annually labor in the schools shall be determined by the Board of County Commissioners.

Examiners will at once perceive that several new and important duties are here added. If these duties shall all be fully and promptly met by each of the ninety-two Examiners of the State, the results will be both` large and valuable.

IV. STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION.

The State Board of Education is so changed as to consist of the Governor, the Superintendent of Public Instruction, the President of the State University, the President of the State Normal School, when such shall be established, the Superintendents of the Public Schools in the three cities of the State having the largest number of children of school age. Official reports now in the office of Public Instruction how these cities to be Indianapolis, Evansville, and Fort Wayne; hence the three Superintendents are, A. C. Shortridge, William Baker, and E. S. Green.

This change places a much larger educational element in the Board than ever before; a result long desired by the educators of the State. Also, increased powers and duties are given to the Board. One of the most important of these powers is the power of granting

STATE CERTIFICATES.

The Board shall hold stated meetings, at which they shall examine all applicants, and to such as shall be found to possess eminent scholarship and professional ability, and shall furnish satisfactory evidence of good moral character; they shall issue State Certificates, which shall give the right to teach in any of the Common Schools of the State, and shall also be valid during the lifetime of the holder, unless revoked by said Board. We have not now time or room to comment on this important section, but simply say in passing: 1. We are eminently pleased with its provisions. 2. We hope many teachers will at once commence preparing for examination, that they may take and hold a State Certificate, hence a State honor. 3. That an examination with a view to granting such certificates will, in all probability, be held sometime within the coming Sum

mer.

V. TRUSTEES OF CITIES AND INCORPORATED TOWNS.

Cities and incorporated towns are entitled to three trustees, instead of an unlimited number, as provided in the old law. These shall be appointed by the Common Council of cities, and by the Board of Trustees of incorporated towns, instead of being elected by popular vote, as provided by the old law. Their duties remain much as before, save they are all required to give bond, which tends to complication, owing to an unguarded provision.

VI. WEEK, MONTH, TERM.

A school week has been declared to consist of five days; a month, of twenty days; a term of three months, of sixty days. ·

VII. UPBRAIDING THE TEACHER.

If any parent, guardian, or other person, for any cause, shall visit a school with the avowed intention of upbraiding or insulting the teacher, and shall so upbraid or insult a teacher, in the presence of the school, such person shall be liable to a fine of not more than twenty-five dollars, which, when collected, shall go into the general school revenue.

VIII. THE BIBLE.

The Bible shall not be excluded from any common school in the State. This recognizes the sanctity of the Bible, and its divine right in the school room. May it shine in its divine radiance in the hallowed precincts of the school, illuminating the intellect, warming the heart, and purifying the affections of many, yea, of multitudes.

IX. GOOD BEHAVIOR.

Added to the branches usually taught, is that of Good Behavior. No longer need the teacher who appreciates and desires good behavior, feel that he is powerless in this matter. No longer shall his efforts be met by the senseless and impertinent remark that, "I didn't send my chil

dren to school to learn manners, but to learn Rithmetic and Jogriphe." No longer needs the teacher tolerate the fungus excrescences of unpruned Young America. Let teachers prudently use the authority here given, and many an uncouth urchin will be symmetrized and polished into shape and comeliness, of both manner and language. Combining this section with the preceding, and we have authority for the education of the entire child, viz: body, head, heart, and manners, or behavior. These provisions are: 1. The teacher may be examined in Physiology; hence, understanding the laws of physical health and culture, shall by inference, apply the same in the teaching of his pupils. 2. The Bible shall not be excluded from school; hence, it shall be used, and shall become the efficient agent for moral culture. 3. The section under consideration, furaishes the authority for culture in manners. 4. The ordinary branches, refer to the culture of the intellect, or head. Thus do we, in a very eminent and desirable degree, reach the entirety of the child. Let all study to understand, and discreetly and ably apply these, and the results will be agreeable and beneficial.

X. LOANS FROM SCHOOL FUND.

The amount of money that may be loaned to any one person or company of persons, shall not exceed $1000. In the old law, the amount could not exceed $300.

XI. REPEALED.

Several sections, or portions of sections were repealed, among which are the following:

1. The section giving the right to the Superintendent of Public Instruction to submit to the State Board of Education, a series of textbooks for their recommendation for use in the common schools throughout the State.

2. The section giving the loosely guarded and obnoxious right to the Superintendent to license teachers at pleasure, and for the State at large. 3. The clause making it the duty of Examiners to secure the introduction of authorized (?) text-books.

4. The clause requiring the concurrence of the County Commissioners in the Trustees' tax for special school revenue.

REMARKS.

It may be remarked first, that the above contains the principal changes, though not all. Other changes will be noticed hereafter; also comments will be made more at length on many of those already given. By this means we hope to be of some aid to teachers, trustees and examiners, in acquainting themselves with the provisions of the new law.

It may be remarked, second, that the Secretary of State will, in conformity with the requirements of the law, have the same published and

distributed to counties at the earliest practicable period. It is hoped this distribution will have been made 'ere this reaches the reader.

Third, The law is, by these changes, greatly improved. True, everything was not obtained that was asked for by some of the friends of education. Indeed, it would be a legislative marvel, if everything asked for had been obtained. Excepting the single element of revenue, we believe we state correctly when we say, that the desires of the great majority of the friends have, in the main, been satisfied. In this matter, many were, in some degree, disappointed:

1. Provisions were not made, as was desired, for securing with more certainty the whole amount of revenue arising from liquor licenses.

2. Provisions were not made for converting the interest of the Sinking Fund into revenue. A bill providing for such conversion passed the House, also passed its first and second reading in the Senate, but did not reach its third; hence lies over as unfinished business.

3. The direct tax is not as large as some expected. Had it not been for the tax for the relief of soldiers' families, this tax would have been larger; most likely 20 cents on the one hundred dollars; possibly 25 cents. Able men from both houses, and warm friends of the schools, told me that in the absence of the tax for soldiers' families, they would have favored a larger tax. Who does not say, however, raise funds for the needy families of soldiers, even though the schools have, for two or three years, to do with a little less?

Fourth, It seems proper to name some of the members of the Assembly who did most to secure this law. Desirous of avoiding invidious distinctions, yet we think it simple justice, to place Hon. B. E. Rhoads, of Vermillion, as first in labor and efficiency. He, in a great degree, prepared the bill, then defended it with zeal and ability in the House, then watched it with solicitude through the Senate. Hon. Benj. F. Gregory, of Warren, Chairman of the Educational Committee in the House, was earnest in his support of the bill, also did all that his other duties would permit, in its preparation. The Chairman, Hon. D. R. Van Buskirk, and other members of the Senate Committee on Education, were earnest and liberal in their support of the bill. In the work of securing its passage through the Senate, Hon. Van Buskirk showed devotion and ability. (It was no small work to secure this passage; not because of opposition, but because of want of time, it being obliged to pass its three readings in one day, or be lost). Without naming other friends, the number may be given in the vote on the final passage in each body. In the House, the vote stood, 76 ayes, 10 nays; in the Senate, 34 ayes, 9 nays.

In this connection it is pleasing to be able to state that this bill was in no sense a partisan measure, some of the warmest friends being found alike in both parties, and opposers alike in both; thus showing that the