be of every citizen that the education of her people might keep pace with her loyalty and patriotism. On motion of T. J. Vater, the Governor received the hearty thanks of the Association for his able and interesting address. By a vote of the Association, Mr. A. C. Shortridge, Chairman of the Executive Committee, was tendered a vote of thanks for the very able manner in which he discharged the duties of that office. Adjourned sine die. HANNAH N. TAYLOR, Secretary. COURSE OF INSTRUCTION IN THE INDIANAPOLIS SCHOOLS. [From a neat pamphlet recently issued, we take the following from the Primary Department. The grades are four in number-D, C, B, A. We invite the careful attention of Primary Teachers and Superintendents to this well-adjusted course.-[ED. PRIMARY DEPARTMENT. GRADE D. SPELLING AND READING. The pupils of this Grade shall be taught to read the lessons on Sheldon's Primary Charts, and spell by letters or by sounds all the words. PUNCTUATION. They shall be taught to name all the punctuation marks in their reading lessons. WRITING. They shall be taught to write in a plain legible hand, on their slates, any of the words found in their reading lessons. COUNTING. They shall be taught to count forward and Backward, with or without objects, to one hundred; and to write Arabic numbers to one hundred. NUMERALS. They shall be taught the Roman Numerals, in and out of course, to XXV. ORAL INSTRUCTION, DRAWING, ETC. Oral instruction, embracing lessons on parts, form, and color, illustrated by common objects; also on plants; on animals mostly those with which the children are familiar; miscellaneous topics; morals and manners. Drawing, with slate and pencil, using elementary drawing-cards, plain figures, pictures placed on blackboard, and other copies. Two or more lessons a day, in each, from five to ten minutes long. Physical exercises as often as once an hour, from three to five minutes at a time. The pupils of all the grades of the Primary Department should be pro. vided with long pencils, and be required to hold them as they should hold a pen. [To be continued in the next number.] EDITORIAL-MISCELLANY. STATE TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION. So full and minute is the Report of the Secretary, that we need add but little. 1. It may, we think, with entire truthfulness be said, that the meeting was one of unusual harmony and good feeling. No asperities, no offen sive personalities, marred any of the debates or miscellaneous exercises. 2. The President and Chairman of the Executive Committee, adhered with commendable fidelity to the published programme, hence business was performed with regularity and dispatch. 3. The new feature in the programme, i. e, The Teachers' Journal, we believe was highly satisfactory. We especially commend one phase of it, namely, the editing and reading thereof by female teachers. This requires cultivated sentiment and taste; secondly, it presents an opportunity, whereby the female members may take a more active part in the exercises of the association. All will be, or at least should be, pleased with this, seeing that heretofore, very narrow opportunities have been afforded them. 4. We think that we express but the common sentiment of every member of the Association, when we say, we were greatly pleased that his Excellency, Governor Morton, pressed as he is with other duties, took the time to be present during one evening of the session, and to deliver an address on the great interests of popular education. The more are we pleased that he did not, as he might with less labor to himself, have made a politco-educational speech, but on the contrary, a purely educational address, directed to what we have considered one of our great “educational needs," namely, a Normal School. Should the Legislature, at its present session, make provisions for a Normal School, (which we believe it will do), the educators of the State will not, in their day of rejoicings, fail to remember the timely, encouragement given by Governor Morton: ASSOCIATION AT MADISON. On invitation, we attended the county Association at Madison, December 23d. The attendance of teachers was good, and of the citizens commendably large. The ministers of five different churches were present, each engaging either in the discussions or in the regular exercises. This attendance and interest is note-worthy and praise-worthy. The exercises in general, were practical, interesting, and some of the papers, superior. A resolution was passed directing the Secretary to forward a synopsis of the proceedings to the Journal for publication, but nothing arriving, we insert the following resolutions, which were unanimously adopted: Resolved, That to improve our Common School System, and to give it greater efficiency we deem it important : 1st. That our State Constitution be so amended as to authorize local taxation for educational purposes. 2d. That provision be made by law for defraying the necessary expenses of county Teachers' Institutes. 3d. The establishment of a Normal School, wherein tuition shall be in a degree, free to all intending to teach in Indiana. 4th. Provision, by increase of the General School Fund, or by local taxation, or by both, for keeping the Schools of Indiana open at least six months, in the year. 5th. Provision for State Teachers' Certificates, valid for life, and in all parts of the State, to teachers of eminent scholarship and professional ability. 6th. Sundry amendments to the School Law, especially in reference to the office of County Examiner, attaching to it such remuneration as to justify him to give his whole time for at least six months of the year, to the examination of the teachers and schools of his county or district. QUESTIONS USED IN EXAMINATION OF TEACHERS. "From a list of printed questions used by Examiner Rice, of Delaware county, we take the following: 1. Every applicant must furnish evidence of good moral character. 2. No communication allowed between candidates under the penalty of rejection. 3. Answers must be numbered so as to correspond with the question. 4. Every neglect to answer will be taken as a failure. 5. It will require 60 per cent. correct answers to get a certificate for 6 months, 70 per cent. for 12 months, 80 per cent. for 18 months, and 95 per cent. for 24 months. 6. General style and neatness of the written answers will be taken into consideration. 7. Spelling will be especially noticed. 8. A knowledge of the elements of the English language will be required. 9. Unless this sheet of questions is returned, no certificate will be given. 10. Applicants will deposit with the examiner a stamped envelope, or five cents to prepay postage. 11. Examiner's fee must be paid when the manuscript is returned. GENERAL QUESTIONS. 1. Write your name, Post Office address, the number of sheet, and date of this examination. 2. What is your age, and what experience have you had in teaching? 3. Where were you educated, and what educational papers do you take; and what books devoted to the teachers' profession, have you read? 4. Do you use profane language, intoxicating drinks, or tobacco." We observe of late, that tobacco is attracting attention: we do not say due attention, for we think the attention given it, is not all that is due it. Much, very much, is due this offensive, expensive, ubiquitous thing. But what is the next step? Examiners, you say to teachers "do you use tobacco?" Suppose they say yes, then what? What is the next step? Will some teacher or examiner answer?-ED. THE GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE. The following, we take from the Governor's recent message to the Assembly: EDUCATION. Your attention is called to the report of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, and the suggestions and recommendations contained in it. The School Law requires amendment in several important particulars, and it is believed that the fund can be materially increased without adding to the burthens of the people of the State. While Indiana has a larger school fund than any other State, she has not, by any means, the best system of common schools. Money alone will not make good schools, and an indispensible requisite is educated and disciplined teachers. The necessity for a State Normal school has been severely felt for many years, and earnestly urged by the most eminent teachers and friends of education. Indeed, I am satisfied from my own observation, and the recorded experience of other States, that our system of common schools can never even approach to what it ought to be, until an institution shall be established in which teachers shall be trained and disciplined for their high and honorable calling. A few thousand dollars diverted every year from the school fund revenue for this purpose, would soon make the expenditure of the balance vastly more beneficial to the children of the State. When we consider the magnitude of the school fund, the wealth of the State, and the ability of our people to pay taxes for the advancement of education, there is no reason why we may not have a system of common schools equal to that of any other State, save the absence of qualified teachers, and these we shall never have in sufficient numbers, until a State Normal School has been permanently established of sufficient capacity to receive and instruct all who desire to enter the profession of teaching. HANCOCK COUNTY, MOVING. As one among other evidences of advancement in Hancock, we present the following circular : "HANCOCK COUNTY NORMAL INSTITUTE.-The Institute will ho d its meetings on each alternate Saturday, in the School-room in the Ma onic Hall, Greenfield, Hancock County, Indiana. BOARD OF INSTRUCTION. Examiner M. C. Foley, President; A. J. Johnson and G. L. Lipscomb, Vice Presidents; James Williamson, Secretary; R. Frost, Treasurer. It is to be hoped, and expected, that all the Teachers in the County, will connect themselves with the Institute, and attend as regularly as possible A two or three weeks' Session will be held in July or August. THANKS TO A TRUSTEE-The following we clip from The Union City Eagle. We are glad to see out-spoken appreciations of trustees, when worthy. We hope there are many others in the State alike worthy, if not, we hope they will at once set about their duties with such earnestness as will in time make them worthy : To Doctor J. N. Converse, our worthy Trustee, we would return our best wishes and warmest admiration for his self sacrificing efforts, and unequaled interest in the welfare of the School. His ability and energy are both worthy and commendable. WM. D. STONE, A. T. ANDERSON, DELLA POSEY, JENNIE POSEY, Teachers in the Public Schools of Union City. TOWNSHIP ASSOCIATIONS.-We learn that Examiner Blaes, of Jennings county, is organizing Township Associations of teachers in several, if not all the townships in his county. He is also visiting a large portion of the schools of the county. Township Trustee, J. P. Holtz, of Bartholomew county, has organized, and if we are correctly informed, superintends, the meetings of an Association in his township. How many other trustees of the State are doing so much for the schools of their township? IMPROVING.-Examiner Martin, of Johnson, says our teachers are more efficient, and the people more interested in the cause of education than they were two years ago. BALDERDASH.-After the proof was read, the type-setter made balderdash of two lines of our editorial, on page 23, of last number. |