RULE FOR ABSENCE. แ 'Any pupil who shall be absent six half days in four consecutive weeks, without an excuse from parent or guardian, given either in person or by written note, satisfying the teacher that the absences were caused by his own sickness, or by sickness in the family, or to avoid a serious or imprudent exposure of health, shall forfeit his seat in the school, and the teacher shall forthwith notify the parent and the Superintendent, that the pupil is suspended. No pupil thus suspended, shall be restored to school till the parent or guardian has given satisfactory assurance that the pupils will be punctual, and obtained permission from the Superintendent for him to return"" LAFAYETTE SCHOOLS. From the Report of the Board of Trustees of the Lafayette Schools, for last year, we extract the following: TABULAR EXHIBIT FOR YEAR ENDING JUNE 19TH, 1865. Total number of pupils enrolled in the schools during the year..... 1,288 Total average daily attendance................. Per cent. of attendance on the average membership..... Total average number absent per day.... Whole number of teachers employed..... Average number of pupils in attendance to each teacher...... 709 647 90 62 19 34 Total cost of tuition for the school year ending June 19th, 1865.....$6,000 03 Average cost of tuition per scholar on the average membership..... $8 46 Whole amount of tuition lost by irregular attendance........ CORPOREAL PUNISHMENT. $00 00 Corporeal punishment is among the things of the somewhat distant past; experience having proved to the satisfaction of at least the majority of all concerned, that children are more easily and permanently controlled and developed, into better men and women, by direct appeals to the mind and heart, than by any means of physical coercion with which we are acquainted; and as a proof of the practicability of this change from the old regime, we are happy to state, that the order and discipline in the schools, during the past year, was far in advance of any year in their history. The schools are made "select," by the exclusion therefrom of all pupils, whose continued conduct, either in school or out of it, is such as to render them unworthy of the privileges of the same. Schools were kept open nine months. TEACHER'S CONTRACT. The following is taken from Adams' and Blackman's School Register, recently prepared for the use of Schools, in this State: ability agrees faithfully to teach said School, according to the best of h and to keep a Register of the daily attendance of each pupil connected with the School, and make such Report to the Township Trustee as is required by law, (Sec. 20), and to observe and enforce all Rules and Regulations, established by the Township Trustee, for the management and gov. ernment of the said School. AND IT IS FURTHER AGREED, by the parties hereto, that the said shall use h best endeavors to preserve in good condition the School House and premises connected with it, also the furniture and apparatus belonging thereto, and also all Books and Records, provided by the said Trustee for the use of said School, and to deliver the same to the said Trustee or his successor in office, at the close of the said term of school, in as good condition as when recei ved, natural wear and tear excepted. Township Trustee, agrecs to keep the School House in said District in good repair, to provide the necessary fuel for the use of said School during the said term, and to pay the said The said the sum of amount of wages at Dollars the same being the Dollars per day, as above agreed upon to be paid upon the receipt of h Report as Teacher of said School made, subscribed, and sworn to, as the law provides. PROVIDED, that in case said shall be dismissed from School by said Trustee for gross immorality, incompetency, or any viola tion of this contract, or shall have h School Examiner License annulled by the County shall not be entitled to any compensation from and after such annulment or dismissal. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have hereunto subscribed our names, this day of A. D. 18 Township Trustee. CIPHERING. A youngster, while perusing a chapter of Genesis, turning to his mother inquired whether the people in those days "used to do the sums on the ground." He accounted for this question by reading the passage, "And the sons of men multiplied upon the face of the earth. MR. EDITOR: HENDRICKS COUNTY INSTITUTE. Dear Sir:-According to previous notice given through the county paper, and circulars, the teachers and friends of education, in Hendricks county, met at the Danville Academy, and proceeded at once to organize and put into operation, a Teachers' Institute. The following officers were elected: O. H. SMITH, Superintendent: D. M. Cox, President; Ollie Chambers, Vice President; Prof. Johnson, of the Bellville Academy, Secretary; Miss A. E. Brown, Teacher, of Plainfield, Treasurer. It continued in session five days; during which time the names of fiftytwo teachers were enrolled as members. It was conducted, the first two days, by Prof Olcott, of Terre Haute. The forenoon of each day was devoted to class drills, in the eight branches taught in our common schools. The afternoon was occupied in discussions, reading essays, lectures on the theory and practice of teaching, vocal music, gymnastics, &c. Monday evening, Prof. Olcott lectured in the chapel, to a large and appreciative audience. Wednesday; J. M. Hiatt, of Indianapolis was, with us during the day, rendering very efficient service as teacher; at night delivered a fine lec ture. Thursday morning, Messrs. Hiram Hadley and G. P. Brown arrived, and went to work with a will, that kept the enthusiasm on the increase. Mr. Brown entertained the teachers, and friends, in the evening, by lecturing them on the subject of Home Education. Friday morning Prof. Bell, of Richmond, arrived. Taking up the regular programme of exercises, with an earnestness that added fuel to the flame. Thus the last day's work was performed, as all the other days were; with an interest that made it profitable to all. Prof. Bell closed the exercises of the Institute, in the evening, by treating the teachers, and friends generally, to a very interesting address; at the close of which quite a number of sentimental and spicy toasts were read, which were responded to by the Preachers, Doctors, Lawyers, and other men of the town. A week spent Taken altogether, the Institute was eminently a success. pleasantly and beneficially by those who are engaged in the work of educating the future citizens of our country. Teachers go forth to their labors, with views of their profession elevated, and their spiritual strength renewed for the duties of the school room. All went away expressing themselves satisfied with the success of the Institute; promising to call again. At the close of the Institute, a committee appointed for that purpose, reported the following resolutions, which were adopted: WHEREAS: The Teachers' Institute, of Hendricks county, has finished the labors of its first session, and as it has been highly suceessful in the work and object for which it was called; we, the friends of education, and teachers, who have been in attendance, deem it appropriate that we should publish our opinions in regard to the benefits of such Institutes. Therefore be it Resolved, 1st. That we unhesitatingly declare, that such Institutes are of material and permanent benefit to the great cause of education. That the teachers who have attended are better prepared, by the instructions they have received, to discharge their great work, and those who are not teachers, are better enabled to work and co-operate with them. 2nd. We recommend, and cordially invite, teachers, and all friends of education, in our county, who have not attended the Institute, to meet with us at the next session. 3d. We recommend to the counties of the State, who have not a Teachers' Institute, to organize one at once, and come out from among the old fogies. 4th. We deem it our duty, to publicly acknowledge our obligations to those Educators of other counties, who have labored so faithfully with us. during the session, to instruct us, and to the Superintendent of the Institute, Mr. O. H. Smith, for his indefatigable labors in organizing and conducting the same. 5th. As the course of Education requires that teachers, trustees and patrons of schools should co-operate, we most earnestly request them to attend our next session. 6th. We are pleased to acknowledge, although the labors of the Institute have been arduous, especially on the more active participants, the social communion of students, friends, and teachers, has been highly bene: ficial and satisfactory to all. Respectfully submitted. J. H. LEWIS. CHARLES FOLEY, Chairman. PROF. HOSS: JAY COUNTY INSTITUTE. Dear Sir: The Teachers' Institute, of Jay County, convened October 16th, at Liber, and continued one week, Average attendance fifty-nine. Much interest was manifested in all subjects pertaining to the improvement of common schools. Teachers and citizens were highly gratified at the success of this, the first enterprise of the kind ever held in the county. Examiner Hiatt, of Randolph, Superintendent, assisted by Prof. E. Tucker, Principal of Liber College, and Examiner Jacobs, conducted the InstiPLEASANT HIATT. tute. LAWRENCEBURG. The Board of Education, for the city of Lawrenceburg, expended $1,800 last year, in putting a set of furnaces into their house. They are now repainting and graining the inside, and painting and pencilling the outside, at an expense of $1500. A portion of the three acres of school ground is devoted to a flower garden, where a large variety of flowers are in bloom all the season. Next spring the Superintendent expects to set out a large number of fruit trees, in their school ground. The Board recently appropriated $200 for apparatus; which has been judiciously expended. INSTITUTES. S. Institutes were held last month in Greensburgh, Decatur county; in Peru, Miami county; in Wabash, Wabash county; in Williamsport, Warren county; in Washington Daviess county. TOWNSHIP INSTITUTES. Examiner Laird, of Laporte Co., says he intends holding an Institute in every township in his county, between this and next spring. PRINCETON D. E. Hunter, the popular and efficient Examiner of Monroe county, has been chosen Superintendent of the Princeton Schools. STATE ASSOCIATION. Read the excellent programme presented by the Executive Committee, and make up your minds to go. At this stage of our advancement, we take it for granted that a body of earnest teachers needs no urging on this point. BURNED. The school house in Shelbyville, Shelby county, and the school house in Greenwood, Johnson county, were burned down last month. The former of these was a large three story brick, costing $12,000. The furniture was all saved. The fire was caused by the burning of soot in the chimney.— A private school will open again in a few days, in rented rooms, under the charge of the former Principal, Mr. Wright. The building at Greenwood was a two-story brick, not large. The causes and circumstances of the fire we have not learned. The Trustees are preparing to build at an early day. HIGH SCHOOL Rev. J. Smyth, Examiner of Shelby county, has recently opened a high school in Shelbyville. SCHOOL FUNDS AND REVENUE. It is my purpose, health preserved, to commence in the January number of the Journal, a series of articles, setting forth, to some extent, the origin, amount and management of our School Funds and Revenues. It is believed that this subject contains facts of interest to teachers and school officers. |