The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1886-01-20
TEACHERS DEPARTMENT.
c. W. WEIGH, a. NJ, EDITOR.
County Institutes.

next summer. Success or failure de-
pends upon thorough preparation for
the Institute, or lack sof preparation.
The main thing to be done after the
funds are secured is TO engage COM
petent Principal, man fully abreast
with the progress of the times, who
is practical worker in the common
schools, and therefore knows their
needs. Fuss and feathers are to be
avoided. 1t would be best for the
Institute if the Principal could be al
lowed to select his own faculty. The
most important thing to do now is to
find the right man for the Prin-
cipal. The teachers would be glad
to assist the County authorities on
the matter when assistance is need
ed
We copy the above from the De.
cember number Of the Carolina Teach.
er. Our County School Commits
sioner is required by law, on the first
day of February, or as soon as prac'
ticable thereafter, 10 apportion the
income Of the County School fund
among the several school districts of
the County in proportion to the
average number of pupils attending
the free public schools in each dis.
trict. He shall, at the same time,
when deemed advisable by the County
Board of Examiners, apportion from
the income of the two mill tax on
property a sum not exceeding two
hundred dollars $500 to defray the
expenses ofTeacher's Institutes con-
Quoted under regulations prescribed
by he State Superintendent Of Ed
ucation.
x Il x
The information which an earnest
teacher would receive, the enthusi.
asm which he would catch, at prop
erly conducted institute would be
worth more to his pupils and his pat
rons than can be estimated in dollars
and cents. These County Normal
Institutes ftu'nish the only. means OF
improving tile great body Of our COM
mon school teachers.
The State Superintendent of Edu'
cation having seen the benefits which
result from these institutes would be
glad to have them held in every
county of the State. Teachers and
visitors who saw the workings of the
county Institutes held last Summer
are convinced of their great useful.
ness in keeping trained teachers
bright; in training unframed teach
ers; in fostering a professional spirit
among teachers, and in directing,
deepening, strengthening the interest
in the question of the common school
education Of our people. = NJ
We desire to call the attention oi
our County Board of Examiners tc
the above clipping from the Spartan
burg Herald on the subject of 9
County Institute for next Summer
An institute was held last Summer
lasting two days, and was attended
by some of the teachers of the county
This was very good beginning and
accomplished good work. But We
should not rest here. Our board, il
they have not already done so, should
begin to give this matter their at
tention now, for if we are to have al
institute and intend TO employ any
speakers, we should secure their ser
vices before their time has been en-
:irely given to other places, We are
heartily in favor Of county institutes
but we are not in entire accord with
the State Normal Institute. Our OBJ
servation has led US to conclude that
the attendance at the State institute
is by the teachers in adjacent coun
ties to the place Of meeting. Las
Summer, the attendance was almost
entirely from Charleston County, tht
place where such an institution wa;
least needed of all places in the
State. But our County institutes art
accessible to all teachers. Many o.
our teachers have families from whom
they cannot be absent during the
Summer. Then, too, the cost will ht
less to teacher attending an insti
tute in his own county. He may
spend each night at home. There i.
also the advantage Of small classes
Last Summer portion Of the frs
week of the State Normal Institute
was spent in exchanging compli
ments between the city Of Charleston
and the public school teachers O
Charleston County. In the county
institute, work may be begun the first
day Let us have a two-weeks' ses
sion this Summer coming and be
abreast with any county in the State
Newberry has facilities and materia
second to no county in the State
Let fellow.la6orer5 come together
and work together. Let no one bt
so blind as to think he may not learr
from others. Fatal delusion But
come together, meet each other face
to face, work to succeed, not to live
simply. And mark these words, Il
such be the aim and the spirit Of oul
labors, the common school and thi
intelligence and the virtue Of New
lo..- Ho,n4v eri1l r,rDu iumansn1y