Smith? What kind of an institution of learning is the school referred to? Professor Smith is called " one of the best teachers in our county" and graduated from District No. 13. The Male and Female Academy is situated in a village of less than one hundred inhabitants, and is taught by Professor Smith as principal and assistant, with a few more than a score of children as students. He is the man who conducted our Institute ably." Mr. Smith is very copious in the use of words, and therefore entertains (?) the teachers of the county two days. He does all the talking, save an occasional answer from the County Commissioner, to the question put by him. "Is not that so, Mr. Chairman ?" From the above picture we readily see why it is that teachers are compelled to offer themselves a living sacrifice once a year. The county superintendent is not wholly to blame for this waste of time, but the teachers themselves must bear the greater part. The commissioner says that he has no means with which to secure the services of a qualified instructor, one whose special work is giving instruction to teachers. The County Commissioners of Kentucky-would we could say so much for every State in the Union-are inexcusable because they have the power, by law, "to create an Institute Fund," by charging each teacher in the county an annual fee of two dollars. The commis. sioner is in fault because he does not demand this fee and the teachers are to blame because they reluctantly pay it. It requires more than five thousand teachers to fill the schools of Kentucky, or an average of forty-five in each county. The legal means are at hand by which this State (Kentucky) could have institutes conducted according to the most approved methods. The State has done enough. It remains for the action of County Commissioners. Will they continue to meet annually for a day or two in a so-called institute, or spend a week or more with the teachers in the hands of an experienced institute instructor. Any Commissioner in the State could secure the services of an expert by exacting from each teacher the legal fee. The services of teachers who have gained a reputation in this special work may be secured for twenty-five to fifty dollars a week and expenses. The Commissioner who is not willing to secure the funds necessary to employ a superior instructor, should be debarred the privilege of serving the people in that capacity, and the teacher who pays his two dollars grudgingly should be excluded from the ranks. The inaction of the former may be checked by the action of the latter, but neither should be excused from doing his whole duty. In the absence of instruction in Normal Schools the County Institute is invaluable. Commissioners who desire to secure the services of expert conductors of institutes would do well to address the editors of this journal. We should take pleasure in forwarding the addresses of those whom we could highly recommend. PROF. JOHN C. RIDGE, of Cincinnati, holds a "School of Elocution" at Waynesville, Ohio, during the month of June, for those who desire to take a comprehensive course in voice culture. THE work of organizing District Institutes in Kentucky is still progressing. Dr. Henderson, the State Superintendent, having effected an organization at Owensboro for the Southwestern part of the State. The following named officers were elected to serve one year: President, Prof. Kerby, of Henderson; Vice President, Prof. S. T. Lowry, of Owensboro, and Mrs. M. E. Klinger, Secretary; Exective Committee, J. H. Powell, H. H. Palmer and C. H. Johnson. The next meeting will be held in May, at Henderson. Ar the organization of a District Association at Louisville, the following persons were elected as officers: President, S. G. Stevens; Vice President, Hiram Roberts; Secretary, Malcolm Brown. Major W. J. Davis, Dr. J. W. Chenault and Dr. J. B. Reynolds were appointed a Committee on Constitution, to report at the next meeting. Mr. W. H. Bartholomew was appointed Chairman of the Executive Committee of three, with instructions to name his associates. 66 At this meeting Dr. Henderson made an address on The Objects of District Organization." George A. Chase delivered an address entitled "A Few Practical Thoughts for Teachers." J. B. Reynolds read a paper on "Practical Education." MAJ. W. J. DAVIS, late editor of Home and School, was recently elected Secretary of the Louisville School Board. THE second meeting of the Central Kentucky Teachers' Association will be held in School-house No. 1, Lexington, March 30 and 31. Welcome Address... PROGRAMME-FRIDAY. .By Hon. James O. Harrison Response by the President..... 2:30-3. Oral Grammar.... 3-3:30. Should the Curriculum of the Public Schools Embrace some of the Natural Sciences and Higher Mathematics ?.. W. H. Lockhart 3:30-4. Discussion. 4-4:30. Lesson in Teaching Reading........ Evening Lecture...... ..Miss Nannie Dawson ....George T. Gould Superintendent Henderson is expected to be present and address the Association. Select readings will be interspersed by Miss Dawson and Prof. Rusk. Free entertainment of teachers. S. S. PUCKETT, Ch'm'n Executive Com. WE hope to be able to announce in the next number of the ECLECTIC TEACHER the time and place of the next meeting of the Georgia Teachers' Association. THE ECLECTIC TEACHER. NEWBERN, TENN. I wish to acknowledge my appreciation of the ECLECTIC TEACHER by saying that any single number I have received is well worth the price of subscription. I trust your valuable journal may reach every teacher in Tennessee. ABEL T. BROWN. FARMDALE, KY.-Please inform me whether the Eclectic Series Company and the ECLECTIC TEACHER COMPANY are both interested in your monthly; i. e, if you are at liberty to do so. ROBERT D. ALLEN. [We know of no such company as the first named. The ECLECTIC TEACHER COMPANY is composed of practical teachers, all residing south of the Ohio, and has no connection whatever with any other company. Many teachers in several of the Southwestern States have a direct interest in this Journal, and hence the name "Southwestern." The increase in its circulation from a few hundred readers, six months since, to several thousand at present, is owing to the fact that several teachers in the South approved our plan, took stock in the enterprise, and are now advocating its claims in eleven States; and also from the fact that it has been made the official organ for the Department of Public Instruction of four States.-ED.] REPUBLIC, O., February 16, 1877.-Your February ECLECTIC TEACHER is at hand. It looks as neat as a new silver dollar, and is just as valuable. I wish you abundant success in your new departure." J. FRAISE RICHARD. AUSTIN, TEXAS, January 20, 1877.—The price of the JOURNAL is so insignificant, in comparison with the valuable information contained in its columns, that every progressive teacher, every teacher who feels a conscious pride in his noble profession, and whose motto is "Excelsior," could be readily induced to subscribe and faithfully co-operate in the grand work. J. O. HOLLINGSHEAD, [Late State Superintendent.] STATE DEPARTMENTS. [Correspondence, contributions, items, personals or other matter of local nature should be forwarded to the proper State Editor. All business communications, or contributions intended for the general departments, should be addressed" ECLECTIC TEACHER CO.," Carlisle, Ky.] ARKANSAS. HON. GEORGE W. HILL...........State Superintendent of Public Instruction. -The attendance at the Arkadelphia Public School is now two hundred and thirty pupils. -The State Normal Institutions are now sending out teachers who are trained to the profession, and we opine that in the early future the antagonism to our system will give way, as it should, and that our people will see, and feel that these schools are the cheapest and the best. -Prof. Baker's select school and the District High School-Prof. Jones in charge, at Searcy, reopened on the 29th of January, for the spring and summer. We are glad to learn that the attendance is large. Both gentlemen are eminent educators and worthy of patronage. -A bill has been introduced in the Legislature to abolish the office of State Superintendent of Common Schools. If this bill is passed the very foundation of our common school system will be sapped. The plea that the office is unconstitutional and that its functions can be exercised by some other department of the State, is weak. If, as parties say, "it is an office unprovided for by the Constitution, then let the Constitution be so amended as to make the necessary provision to sustain this department. If the office, as claimed, was a sinecure, we would unhesitatingly say abolish it by all means. The school interests of our State are paramount to all others and everything should be done to foster them. The cry of reform and retrenchment should not be permitted to cripple this our safe guard to prosperity. Then, again, no organization without a head can be of much practical utility. This has been fully proven in the fact that no State has been successful it its system of popular education where this office has been abolished. The same bill provides for the appointment of a Superintendent for each County Court with a fixed salary. This is commendable. We hope that the bill will, before being passed, have the objectionable sections stricken out. GEORGIA. HON. G. J. ORR...... B. M. ZETTLER.. State Superintendent of Public Instruction. -From the Sixth Annual Report of the State School Commissioner, submitted to the Legislature now in session, we compile the following: COLLEGES. University of Georgia, located at Athens, H. H. Tucker, D.D., President. Young Female College, Thomasville, John E. Baker, President. Southern Masonic Female College, Covington, J. N. Bradshaw, President. PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEMS. State School System: Hon. G. J. Orr, State School Commissioner; school age, six to eighteen; school population, whites 218,733, colored 175,304; total, 394,037; number admitted to public schools, whites 107,010, colored 48,643; total, 155,653. This gives about $.75 per capital upon the entire school population. PUBLIC SCHOOLS UNDER LOCAL LAWS. .$150,000 00 3,139 91 3,720 00 .$156,859 91 140,015 00 ..$296,874 91 Bibb County, embracing city of Macon, Supt. B. M. Zettler: Pupils admitted to public schools, white 1589, colored 1564, total 3153: Expenditure: $25,144 79. Chatham County, embracing city of Savannah, Supt. W. H. Baker: Pupils admitted, white 2542, colored 1860, total 4402: Expenditure $53,067 60. Richmond, embracing city of Augusta, Supt. W. H. Fleming: Pupils admitted, white 1383, colored 1103, total 2485: Expenditure $24,140 36. City of Atlanta, Supt. B. Mallon: Pupils admitted, white 2558, colored 1251, tatal 3809: Expenditure $45,615 92. City of Columbus, Supt. Geo. M. Dews: Pupils admitted, white 603, colored 560, total 1163: Expenditure $12,463 52. |