Democratic Sentinel, Volume 5, Number 50, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 January 1882 — INDIANA NEWS. [ARTICLE]

INDIANA NEWS.

Indiana Edacatan in Council. The annual meeting of the school teachers of the State was held at Indianapolis December 28-9. Gov. Porter delivered an address of welcome, which was responded to by the retiring President, Prof. John Cooper, of Evansville. Prof. Brown, of tho State Normal School, presented a papor, his theme being, “School and Skill.” The requisites'for a skilled teacher were enumerated : 1. A mastery of tho fundamental principles; 2, a knowledge of the child-mind ;3, a study of metluxls; 4, a study of models of art in teaching ; 5, subjection to discipline of the school. He argued that the finest teaching is done in the region of tho primary schools, and much of the poorest in the region of the higher grades. Prof. Mickleborough, of Cincinnati, insisted that there was a science in education, and that incompetent persons should not be licensed to teach. Prof. Walter R. Houghton, of the State University, read a paper on " The Union of Our Public School Systems.” It was a triple system in his judgment—elementary, intermediate and university —and there was a lack of unity m the several departments. The first remedy is to require the country schools to bo graded. A second is to grant diplomas to those finishing the elementary branches and passing them into the high schools, thus filling up the gap between the first and second departments. The second gap is filled by the third remedy, the granting of a highschool diploma admitting pupils to tho colleges and universities. Tho speaker claimed that the success of Michigan University and other prominent universities mentioned is owing to the adoption of some such unity of action between the different departments of tho educational system. This paper was regarded as important, and was generally discussed. President White, of Purdue University, took strong grounds against preparatory and college students being brought together under one dicipline, and advocated the divorce of tho two departments. Prof. J. J. Mills, of Indianapolis, submitted a paper on “ Conscience Training in the Public Schools.” There was a running debate on general topics, followed by an election of officers, resulting : President, H. S. Tarbell; Vice Presidents, W. H. Almortt, J. M. Wallace, W. Mcßlakc, Katharine Miller, It. 8. Pag*', Sheridan Cox, W. H. Calkins • Recording Secretary, Annie E. H. Lemon; Executive Committee. R. G. Bdme, Chairman ; Secretary, J. F. Merrill. The State Collegiate Association was in session at Indianapolis simultaneously with the State teachers. President Moore, of Earlham College, presided. After electing the following officers, tho association adjourned for one year : President, Dr. Fisher, of Franklin College ; Vice president, Dr. Holt, of Purdue University; Secretary, Prof. Coulter, of Wabash ; Treasurer, Prof, lienton, of Butler University.. The high-school teachers of the State also met in separate convention and agreed upon the propriety of forming a State organization looking particularly to high-school work. Piof. Burdsall, of Richmond, was chosen President, and P. L. McCleary, of Vincennes, Secretary. Tho President was directed to appoint an executive committee, and the permanent organization was postponed until the next meeting of the State Teachers’ Association.

A Fighting School -Teacher. We clip the following from the Shelbyville Dix patch: Near Morristown, this county, is a district school taught, by Charles Gregory, a young man of unimpeachable integrity and marked ability. For some time he has been tormented almost p.ist endurance by the conduct of one of his pupils, Add Anderson, an overgrown, double-fisted country boy, who conceived the idea that it was he and not the teacher who had charge of the school-room. Mr. Gregory bore the impudence and misconduct of the refractory man (for he is 19 years old) till patience ceased to be a virtue. Deeming it improper to bodily chastise such a person, the teacher very manfully put tno case in the hands of the School Directors, where a thorough and impartial investigation was mode. The facts sustaining the word of the teacher, the pupil was expelled. Anderson then appealed the case to the Township Trustee, but here ho found no relief, as that official affirmed the decision of the Board of Directors. . ‘ Led on by the evil that is in him, young Anderson, accompanied by his father, wont to the school house yester day with the predetermined resolution to further harass Mr. Gregory. While old man Anderson would stand outside the hopeful ron would enter the room, and, while there, wou’d make all manner of noises, and would then boisterously bolt for the door, always heaping abuse with threats on the seemingly helpless pedagogue’s head This was done several times when Gregory concluded to defend his school. Accordingly, when Anderson entered again ho was ordered out, but of course did not go, as this was what ho wanted. Gregory then advanced to put him on the outside, and, ns he did so, Anderson put his hand irfto his pocket, ns if to draw a revolver, but, before he had time to •draw a weapon, Gregory leveled his revolver on the ex-student and fired. The ball caught him in the shoulder, but inflicted only a slight wound, one that is not serious. The two were so close together when the shot was fired that Anderson’s face was badly burned with powder. Finding that there is still a little grit left in the average Hoosier school teacher, Anderson beat a retreat, while Gregory went on with the daily exercises of the day. Late Inst night he camo to this city, and put his case in the hands of Mr. E. K Adams, but it is not probable that he will ever be arrested. After Anderson left he returned, with the avowed determination to kill Gregory, but was foil oil before ho reached him by a young man who chanced by. Popular sentiment is with the teacher. In an English “ Blue Book” there is a statement of the average prices of black slaves sold in Egypt—lß7o 1880— from which it seems that the value of the human chattel is increasing. Thus, in 1870 the price of a Nubian boy was from £8 to £12.; in 1876-77, from £lO to £l4 ;,in 1879-80, from £lO to £l6. Girls are higher, ranging from £9 to £2O; adults from £lO to £25. Abissinians m somewhat dearer than Nubians. In 1870 boys cost from £lO to £l6 ; now they cost from £l2 to £24; girls are about 50 per cent, dearer, and adults fetch from £2O to £SO,