Sawing wood, Nov. 1. Teachers' salaries for October, 7. Expenses to Chicago, J. D. Ford, Salary, Prof. Phelps, Materials and labor for building, 14. Care of building, janitor, Dec. 5. Teachers' salaries for November, Care building, janitor, Freight on organ, Spirals for organ, Water jars, Sundry expenses, 17. Graining and glazing, Rent of school room, Labor and material, normal bulding, 630 00 44 65 4 00 330 00 4,067 70 40 00 380 00 20 00 18 30 9 00 3.00 3 00 45 67 8 50 5 35 126 00 3,005 86 31. Teachers' salaries for December, 380 00 Care building, janitor, Balance Prof. Phelps' salary, Plans and specifications, normal build 20 00 170 00 ing, Cash on hand, 1,200 00 3,619 27 $30,573 62 CONVENTION OF COUNTY SUPERINTENDENTS. The following circular, to the county superintendents of Minnesota, was issued from this office in July last: STATE OF MINNESOTA, DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION, To the County Superintendents of Common Schools. GENTLEMEN :-In compliance with the wishes of many of your number frequently expressed to me, I hereby invite you to meet in convention at Faribault, on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, the 28th, 29th and 30th of August proximo, for mutual consultation and for the discussion of subjects bearing upon the condition and progress of our common schools. The state teachers' association will be in session at the same time and place. and it is believed great good will result from a simultaneous meeting of the two bodies. It is proposed that the meetings be so arranged, that when desirable, the two bodies can assemble together, and when necessary can hold separate sessions, each for its own special purpose. I have designated the following gentlemen a special committee of arrangements for the occasion: Professor Wm. F. Phelps, of the state normal school; D. P. Temple, county superintendent, Houston county, and Rev. M. Heath, county superintendent of Anoka. I need not urge upon you, gentlemen, the importance of a full attendance at this convention. The interests committed to your charge are too weighty to justify a neglect of any opportunity to increase your power for usefulness in your responsible positions, and I confidently trust that there will be a full representation from all parts of the state. The following, among other subjects, have been proposed for considera tion : 1. The necessity for making the law creating the office of county superintendents imperative in every county of the state, and providing an adequate compensation for its duties. 2. The necessity for a more thorough examination of teachers, and the best methods of conducting the same. 3. The propriety of abolishing the use of third grade certificates to teachers. 4. The necessity for the organization of an independent department of public instruction, and the appointment of a state superintendent. 5. County institutes, their management, and means of improving them. 6. A plan for securing public lectures on common school education throughout the state. As far as possible arrangements will be made to secure free return fares on all the lines of travel to those who attend the convention, and the undersigned reiterates the hope that there will be not only a full attendance of the superintendents, but that you will make a special effort to secure the presence of the teachers from your respective counties, to the end that a new impetus may be given to the cause which you severally represent. [Signed,] H. C. ROGERS, Secretary of State, and Superintendent of Public Instruction. PROCEEDINGS OF THE CONVENTION. In response to the above call, the convention met at Faribault, Aug. 28, 1866, and was called to order by Professor Phelps, chairman of the committee of arrangements, and opened with prayer by the Rev. E. R. Lathrop, of Faribault, after which the convention was organized by the election of the following officers: President-Professor W. F. Phelps, of Winona. Vice President-E. J. Thompson, of Fillmore. Secretaries-A. R. McGill, of St. Peter, E. D. B. Porter, of Mankato. On motion, COMMITTEES. Messrs. J. W. Hancock, of Goodhue, Hickman, of Steele, and Walker, of Washington, were appointed a committee to report resolutions, and Messrs. Heath, of Anoka, Batchelder, of Freeborn, and Smith, of Waseca, were appointed a committee on business. Prof. E. J. Thompson, of Fillmore, then read a paper on the subject of "The necessity of making the law creating, the office of county superintendent, imperative in every county of the state, and providing an adequate compensation for its duties," which elicited considerable discussion, participated in by Messrs. Hickman, of Steele, Niles, of Olmsted, Porter, of Blue Earth, Hancock, of Goodhue, McGill, of Nicollet, Herbert, of Olmsted, Prof. Phelps, of Winona, and others. On motion, the further discussion of the question was postponed until the opening of the convention on Wednesday morning. The exercises of the evening were interspersed with music, under the direction of Professor Adams, of Winona. On motion, convention adjourned to meet at 9 o'clock, A. M., of Wednesday, the 29th instant. SECOND DAY. Convention met pursuant to adjournment and was opened with prayer by Rev. Mr. Roe, of Washington. The discussion of the county superintendency question was resumed, and brief remarks were made by Messrs. Burbank, of Mower, Bonley, of Winona, Hancock, of Goodhue, Roe, of Washington, Nelson, of Red Wing, and Thompson, of Fillmore. PRESENT. The roll of counties being called, the following superin tendents were found in attendance: Anoka-M. Heath. Blue Earth--E. D. B. Porter. Dodge-A. D. Sanborn. Fillmore-E. J. Thompson. Freeborn-S. Batchelder. Goodhue-J. W. Hancock. Rice Thomas S. Buckham. Scott-John L. McDonald. On motion of Mr. Thompson, persons present from counties not represented by their superintendents, were requested to act as delegates. THIRD GRADE CERTIFICATES. Mr. Niles, of Olmsted, then read a paper on "The necessity for a more thorough examination of teachers, and the best methods of conducting the same." The subject of the paper, and also the propriety of abolishing third grade certificates were discussed by Messrs. A. A. Harwood, Bishop Whipple, J. W. Taylor, of Saint Paul, Professor Smith and others. PUBLISHING THE PROCEEDINGS. A. D. Sanborn, of Dodge county, offered the following resolutions, which were adopted: Resolved, That the state superintendent of public instruction be requested to embody the proceedings of this convention in his annual report to the legislature. Resolved, That the gentlemen who have presented pa pers, at this meeting, be requested to furnish copies of the same to the secretaries to be arranged in order suitable for publication. |