faithful instructors placed in charge. Profs. Ridley and Gill have conducted the meetings with consummate skill, and by their kindly patience have won the esteem of all the members. As the work of teaching is one of the highest callings among men, and therefore requires the most skillful workmanship, we believe the teacher should be familiar with all of the latest and best modes of teaching, as well as the most advanced ideas of learned men in English. We further feel the need of constant mental improvement, and thoroughly appreciate every opportunity afforded us for the acquisition of knowledge. As we understand, the Hon. Superintendent has seen fit to establish this institute only temporarily, we beg leave to petition that the good work thus begun shall be continued, that the institute be made a permanent annual organization, and that its sessions be lengthened to six weeks instead of two, with increased facilities for English and scientific instruction. We inclose a copy of a memorial to the State Legislature, asking an appropriation to the end referred to above, which we hope will receive your hearty approval and support. Respectfully, W. F. JACKSON, MISS S. L. GRANT, MISS BELL G. WASHINGTON, J. P. EASLY, W. H. SINGLETON, Committee. TEACHERS' READING CIRCLE. NASHVILLE, TENN., Feb. 15, 1885. Hon. Thos. H. Paine, State Superintendent Public Instruction: DEAR SIR-As requested, I submit a partial report of the condition of the Tennessee Teachers' Reading Circle throughout the State, and "plan of organization" of the Circles : 1. The management shall be vested in a State Board of Directors, five in number, elected annually by the State Teachers' Association from its members, which shall meet as soon as possible after its election, and organize by electing a president, secretary and treasurer. 2. It shall furthermore be their duty to make annually to the State Teachers' Association a report of the condition of the Reading Circles throughout the State, and of moneys received and disbursed by it. The State Board of Directors shall prepare and publish annually a course of study, adopt books for reading, and exercise a general direction over the work of the Reading Circle. 3. County Circles shall be organized, and their management shall be vested in a County Board of Directors, consisting of a president and secretary and treasurer, and three other members of the County Circle, to be elected annually by the circle. (In the formation of County Circles for this, the first year, it is expected that the County Superintendent will take the initiative by sending to the State Board of Directors the names of six persons qualified to take part in the county organization. From these six candidates the State Board of Directors will select four, who, with the County Superintendent, shall constitute the County Board, which shall organize as above). 4. The County Board shall receive and distribute the courses of study prepared by the State Board; shall promulgate the instructions received from time to time from that board; shall call quarterly, or oftener, meetings of the County Circle for reviews or discussions, and shall direct the affairs of the County Circle. It shall furthermore be the duty of the County Board to report to the State Board the names of its officers and members, to account for all moneys coming into its hands, and to give at all times such information about the County Circle as they may desire 5. Any teacher or other person in the State of Tennessee may become a member of the Reading Circle by forwarding his name to the County Board of Directors, together with a pledge to faithfully pursue the prescribed course of study, and paying in advance a fee of fifteen cents, one-third of which shall be retained for the expenses of the County Board and the twothirds shall be transmitted to the State Board for its expenses. 6. The books adopted for the first year's course of reading are: Barnes' General History of the World. Page's Theory and Practice of Teaching, revised edition. 7. The State Board, without requiring it, recommend that members of the Reading Circle subscribe for and read several educational journals, and especially the Southwestern Journal of Education, published at Nashville, is recommended because it is the adopted organ of the Tennessee Teachers' Reading Circle and State Teachers' Association, and is a valuable paper for the teacher. It will, in the future, contain outlines and helps for the course of reading prepared under the supervision of the State Board. 8. The State Superintendent of Public Instruction intends that membership in the Reading Circle, and completion of its courses of reading, shall be recognized in the future on the teachers' certificates, issued by County Superintendents. 9. The State Board of Directors earnestly hope that all County Superintendents will assist it promptly in the formation of a County Board, as mentioned in section 3, and encourage the formation of County Circles. PLEDGE. I hereby engage to enter upon and faithfully pursue the course of reading, as outlined by the Board of Directors of the Tennessee Teachers' Reading Circle. THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION, Recognizing the great good that could be accomplished by such an agency as the Reading Circle, at its meeting, October 5, 1885, Gov. Wm. B. Bate presiding, passed the following: WHEREAS, The Tennessee State Teachers' Association, at its last session at Jonesboro, organized a State Teachers' Reading Circle, by the election of a Board of Directors; and, WHEREAS, We recognize the great advantage of such an organization to the teachers of the State by affording them opportunities of becoming better informed in regard to their work; therefore, Be it resolved by the State Board of Education, That we do most heartily indorse this action of the State Teacher's Association, and do most earnestly recommend to the teachers of the State the importance of such a Reading Circle, and the advantages thereof. The following counties have organized under the above plan : Washington, Hardin, Marshall, Campbell, Greene, Fayette, Lawrence, White, Robertson, Anderson, Henry, Sullivan, Monroe, Madison, Loudon, Davidson, Grundy, Cumberland, Shelby, Obion, Van Buren, Bedford, Hamilton, Benton, Hamblen, Union, Blount, Polk, Stewart, Sevier, Coffee, Knox, Hancock, Carroll, Roane. Several more are being organized. The State Board of Directors consider cities with a regularly organized system of schools as counties, and they have organizations of their own similar to that of counties, except that the Board of Directors consists of three instead of five members. The following cities have organized: Nashville, Jackson, Union City. The Board is preparing a careful report of the Circle, which will soon be ready. It is estimated that about one thousand teachers are members, and reading the course prescribed. The Board of Directors publishes every month, in the Southwestern Journal of Education at Nashville, outlines for the assistance and guidance of teachers. Respectfully, JOHN L. LAMPSON, |