Resolved, That the association recommend that the county secretaries exert their influence to establish a more uniform course of study in the district schools. Resolved, That it is the sense of the association that the highest interests of the common schools of the State of Michigan demand that the township be made the unit of our educational system instead of the district, and that we request the Department of Public Instruction to call the attention of the county secretaries to the importance of bringing this subject before the people with a view to legislation, and to advance this movement in every possible manner. On motion the report was unanimously adopted. L. R. HALSEY, J. W. SIMMONS, D. S. STEPHENS, H. R. Pattengill introduced the following resolution: Resolved, That the teachers' department of the Bay View Assembly be asked by the State Reading Circle Council to provide for a permanent recognition of the Reading Circle in the plans for the future of that summer school. Adopted. Supt. E. J. Freeman, of Dundee, introduced the following resolution: Be it Resolved, That the people of the State of Michigan do enact a law by which the skeletons of the dissected bodies, given to the medical colleges of the State for scientific advancement, by the law stated in Chapter 72 of Howell's Annotated Statutes, and amended in 1885, be cleansed, bleached, and articulated by state authority, and presented to the high schools of the State, at a cost not to exceed the cost of preparation. Adopted. Moved to proceed to the election of presilent. Carried. The following tellers were appointed: Messrs. Stephens, Barr, Swain and McCall. The result of first ballot was as follows: Supt. E. P Church, Greenville, 34; Dr. L. R. Fiske, 20; Supt. M. Louise Jones, 8; scattering, 7. Supt. Church's election made unanimous. Report of committee on nominations read and adopted. Treasurer-Mrs. C. G. Chaffee, Flint. Evecutive Committee (for 3 years)-Hon. Geo. F. Mosher, President Hillsdale College; Miss M. Louise Jones, Charlotte; Prof. Austin George, Ypsilanti. (For two years), Prof. I. N. Demmon. Reading Circle-Prof. Daniel Putnam, Supt. W. S. Perry. President E. P. Church thanked the Association for the honor conferred, and asked for the hearty support of all members. The Treasurer's Report was then read as follows: 2 1887. REPORT OF THE TREASURER OF THE MICHIGAN STATE TEACHERS' Receipts. Disbursements. J. W. Ewing, president, for circulars, stationery, railroad certificates, etc.. Exchange and paper... $193 48 $354 48 $29 50 2.00 50 00 20 00 2 50 284 49 50 10 00 40 $166 74 $187 74 E. L. BRIGGS, Treasurer. J. W. EWING, President. Balance on hand. The report was adopted. The Association adjourned after singing "America." C. W. PICKELL, Secretary. PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. PROF. J. W. EWING, ALMA. Ladies and Gentlemen, Members of the State Teachers' Association: The annual recurrence of this State assembly of teachers is an occassion of no small interest. It is worth all it costs and more, to meet each other face to face, to visit with one another, to renew old acquaintances and to make new ones, to welcome new recrnits into our ranks and to extend the hand of greeting to those who have come among us from other states. We can scarcely estimate the amount of solid satisfaction that arises from this feature of our annual gatherings. Nor is this all; the teacher who expects to rise in his profession must come in contact with those of more experience than himself, and even with those of less experience. Much practical information may be gained by the live teacher while attending these associations, and still more, it is a professional duty devolving upon the teachers of this common wealth to maintain a vigorous state association. For all of these reasons we are glad to meet so many of you here; we cordially invite you to remain throughout the session and to take part in the exercises. It must be apparent to all thinking minds that the educational world is in a state of rapid transition. It may be well to take our bearings and ascertain if we are making any real progress. The free school is the product of the nineteenth century. General intelligence must keep pace with material prosperity if the foundations of government would be safe. It is a national necessity that the whole people should be educated; back of the ballot must be intelligence and so free schools and general intelligence become a public necessity. By the ordinance of 1787 provision was made for the maintenance of schools. Congressional land grants have been made from time to time for educational purposes. The policy of the government has been to encourage schools. Notwithstanding, much of the support of these schools was raised by rate bills on the individual patrons, and in our own state this was especially true till within a comparatively few years. Throughout the south and some of the western states, "subscription schools" were in vogue, with no public support but a small primary school fund. Illinois was a state for almost forty years before she had a free school |