TEACHERS' READING CIRCLE COMMITTEE, 1911-1912. B. O. Duggan, Covington. Fred B., Frazier, Dayton. Fred J. Page, Franklin. State Superintendent, Ex-Officio. The State Reading Circle Committee met in the office of the State Superintendent September 2, 1911. In view of the fact that there are comparatively few secondary teachers in the State and the expressed purpose of the Department of Education to prescribe a course of reading for the teachers of the County High Schools, it was decided to select only two books for the teachers of the elementary schools. It is believed that the books selected will appeal to the teachers of our so-called secondary schools as well as the primary teachers. It is also believed that it will be an advantage to have all the county teachers organized into one reading circle class. It will save time, it will generate enthusiasm. The union of all the teachers in the discussion and study of the books can but result in greatly stimulating interest in the monthly teachers' meeting and the annual institutes. The following texts were selected: Chamberlain's Standards in Education, published by the American Book Company, Cincinnati; Kemp's History for Graded and District Schools, published by Ginn & Company, Atlanta, Ga. The price of each of the books is 90 cents, postpaid; in lots of ten or more, 80 cents, express or postage prepaid. County Superintendents and teachers understand that all public school teachers will be required to pass examination on the above books before receiving a license to teach in the public schools of the State. These subjects will appear on the face of the certificate. This requirement is made in accordance with the provisions of the school law, as set forth in Section 7, Subsection 9, Chapter 25, of the Acts of 1873. The County Superintendent should give one forty-minute period to each subject at each County Institute. The best talent the county can command should be called into service to instruct these classes, and instead of selecting a different teacher for each monthly meeting, the instructor should be selected for the year. The study of these subjects will be con- · tinued in the State and County Institutes. No teacher can master them in a few days; hence all are urged to secure the books at once, join the classes and enter heartily into the work. Superintendents are requested to give immediate notice of the books selected to their teachers. All progressive teachers will consider it a privilege rather than a burden to have the opportunity of studying systematically two books during the entire year. A teacher's period of usefulness is co-extensive with his period of growth, for nothing but a growing mind is capable of teaching the young mind to grow. J. W. BRISTER, State Superintendent. A special circular in regard to the High School Reading Course will be issued at an early date. STATE TEACHERS' READING CIRCLE COURSE FOR ELEMENTARY AND HIGH SCHOOLS, 1912-1913. COMMITTEE. J. W. Brister, State Superintendent, Chairman. M. W. Wilson, Superintendent Knox County Schools. According to the requirements of the School Law, Section 7, Sub-section 9, Chapter 25, Acts of 1873, a professional course of study is prescribed for the public school teachers of the State. The purposes of this course are (1) to direct study along definite lines in harmony with the work of the State Department, (2) to offer a definite subject from which questions for the professional part of teachers' examinations can be made, and (3) to cultivate the habit of professional study in a systematic way among all teachers. It is not the purpose of the Department to limit the work to the books selected each year, but to make them the minimum for a year's professional study. The student-teacher will do much more, making his own selection of supplementary books which treat the special work in which he is interested. Two courses of reading are prescribed by the State Department: One for teachers of the elementary schools, which will include also teachers of the so-called secondary schools, and the other for teachers of the County High Schools; and two books are selected for each course. In carrying on the work County Superintendents are urged to adhere to the following plan: In counties that have only elementary schools, the superintendent will appoint, or the teachers may elect, two thoroughly competent instructors to teach the books selected for elementary teachers; designate the place, the day, and the hours of the day in each month, beginning with September and ending with May, for the meeting to discuss thoroughly the parts of the books assigned for that day, the period of each recitation not to be less than forty minutes. At the first annual examination held in the various counties in June uniform questions for professional credit will be furnished by the State Department to county superintendents and they will be authorized to renew the certificates of the elementary teachers who successfully pass this examination. County superintendents are requested also to make their questions for professional credit, for all new applicants for elementary certificates, from these books. In counties having high schools two competent high school principals or teachers holding high school certificates should be appointed or elected to teach the books selected for the high school course, At the end of the year questions will be sent by the State Department on the work done during the year and all high school teachers who hold certificates (not special) issued on examination or college diplomas may have their certificates renewed by taking this examination. All applicants who take either State or County high school examinations will be given questions for their professional grade selected from the adopted books for the year in which the examination is given. During the year, beginning September, 1912, the following books will be used: I. Elementary Teachers' Reading Course: 1. Hough and Sedgwick's Hygiene and Sanitation, Ginn & Company, Atlanta, will be furnished in single copies, prepaid, at $1.00; or in quantities of ten or more at the same time to one address at $0.90. 2. Dinsmore's The Teaching of Children, American Book Company, Cincinnati, will be furnished in single copies, prepaid, at $1.00; to responsible persons with privilege of return of unsold copies, prepaid, at $0.90; or in quantities of ten or more copies, outright sale without return privilege, purchaser to pay transportation, at $0.80. II. High School Teachers' Reading Course: 1. Charles H. Johnston's High School Education, Charles Scribner's Sons, New York, will be furnished in single copies, prepaid, at $1.35; in ten or more copies, by express, prepaid, at $1.20; or in freight lots, prepaid, at $1.08. 2. Strayer's The Teaching Process, The Macmillan Company, New York, will be furnished in single copies, prepaid, at $1.15; or in quantity lots, transportation to be paid by the purchaser, at $1.00. These books will be the basis of all institute work and examinations given during the year on Theory and Practice or School Management, respectively, for both classes of schools. The Reading Circle Committee was not disposed to adopt more than two books for each class of schools, but in its investigation was pleased with Gilman and Williams "Seat Work," published by the Macmillan Company, and offered in single copies, postpaid, $0.45; or in lots, carriage extra, $0.40. Teachers interested are advised to secure and read this book. J. W. BRISTER, State Superintendent. August 1, 1912. |