CONTENTS. PAGE! Constitution of the Journal of the Rhode Island Institute of Instruction, Officers of the Rhode Island Institute of Instruction, Act for ascertaining the condition of the Public Schools, and the better management and improvement of the same, REPORT OF COMMissioner of PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 1. Mode of ascertaining the condition of public schools and other means of popular 1. By personal inspection and inquiry. 2. By circulars addressed to teachers and school committees. II. Measures adopted to improve the public schools under their present organiza- tion, and prepare the way for a more complete and efficient system of public 3. By circulating tracts, periodicals and documents relating to schools, school 9 By teachers associations or institutes. 10. By an itinerating normal school agency. VII. History and condition of the legislation of Rhode Island respecting public schools, VIII. Draft of an act respecting public schools, with remarks explanatory of its pro- IX. Act relating to Public Schools, passed June, 1845. 91 95 97 Annual Report of the Superintendent of Common Schools in New York, 99 105 121 The following Constitution was adopted at a public meeting of the friends of popular education from all parts of the State, held in Westminster Hall, Providence, January 24, 1845. ARTICLE 1. This association shall be styled the RHODE ISLAND INSTITUTE OF INSTRUCTION, and shall have for its object the improvement of public schools, and other means of popular education in this State. ARTICLE 2. Any person residing in this State may become a member of the Institute by subscribing this Constitution, and contributing any sum towards defraying its incidental expenses. ARTICLE 3. The officers of the Institute shall be a President, two or more Vice-Presidents, a Recording Secretary, a Corresponding Secretary, a Treasurer, (with such powers and duties respectively as their several designations imply.) and Directors, who shall together constitute an Executive Committee. ARTICLE 4. The Executive Committee shall carry into effect such measures as the Institute may direct; and for this purpose, and to promote the general object of the Institute, may appoint special committees, collect and disseminate information, call public meetings for lectures and discussions, circulate books, periodicals and pamphlets on the subject of schools, school systems and education generally, and perform such other acts as they may deem expedient, and make report of their doings to the Institute at its annual meeting. ARTICLE 5. A meeting of the Institute for the choice of officers shall be held annually in the city of Providence, in the month of January, at such time and place as the executive committee may designate, in a notice published in one or more of the city papers; and meetings may be held at such other times and places as the executive committee may appoint. |