The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-07-30
THE NORMAL COLLEGE.
AN INTERESTING ACCOUNT OF ITS
WORK AT ATHENA

What is Being Done to Prepare Teach
ers for Their Work-some Account
of the Peabody Fund - How the
Money for the Normal College Is OBJ.
tained-Other Matters of General In.
terest.
ATHENS, GA, July 29.-Thinking IL at
some Of your readers might be interested in
the work of the state normal college, now
in session here, shall touch upon some of
the salient points connected with this most
worthy institution, with the hope that as a
mere matter of news it may call the atten-
tion Of the thinking men of our state 20 a
most important step in our educa-
tional welfare. It is, perhaps, not
a very well-known fact that Georgia
is the only state in the union that does
possess a bona flde normal school for the
training of its teachers, We have In the
state nearly 10, 900 teachers, vast majority
of whom are without any special prepara-
ton for their work. and who are praoticing
In a most disastrous and expensive manner
upon the minds OF the young. The thought
full educators of Georgia for many years
have been planning to remedy this evil,
and the permanent establishment Of
state normal college where
teachers may be taught how
70 teach by the very best methods Is one Of
the ends aimed at by them. Looking to this
end, and as beginning, the trustees of the
state university have donated the property
known as the Rock college, together with
several acres of ground situated just on the
outskirts of Athens. The building is most
admirably located, and at a 8 nall cost it
can be fitted and equipped for the work OF
q normal school. The legislature as yet has
contributed nothing for lts support, still by
a combination of several funds avail
able to the state school commissioner for
normal instruction he has been able
TO inaugurate an S-months course here,
which is proving in every way a success.
The proceeds OF what is known as the Gil
mer fund.- amounting to 81 600 annually,
and until this year utilized by the trustees
of the state university, have been turned
over 70 the trustees of the state normal cols
lege From the Peabody fund about 800
or $500 will be obtained this year for this
institution. Added TO this is a fund Of S125
payable by the five counties contiguous TO
Clarke for paying expert teachers TO con-
duct their annual institutes OF one week, as
now required by law.
These funds, however, are available only
for paying instructors and cannot be used
for other purposes. The city OF Athens has
given $500 for supplying the necessary
equipments, furniture, etc. for running the
school this year. With this $500 the rooms
at the college have been fitted up for teach
ing, the dormitories have been provided
with cots, lamps and the other necessary
furniture; an excellent restaurant has been
established, where meals. and good ones at
that can be obtained at 81 50 a week, and
other necessary comforts provided for.
During the first week 227 stu
dents were in attendance. the
teachers OF the contiguous counties being re-
ouired by law to attend. After the first
week the work of the Peabody Institute,
similar to the one in session now in your
city, was opened and the attendance, OF
course, is voluntary. There have been en-
rolled up to date In the Peabody Institute
ninety students. of whom eighty-four are
in regular attendance Twenty-Five coun-
ties are represented, and the representation
Is pretty evenly distributed over the state.
and there is little doubt but that
the number will soon exceed 100
Most OF them board at the COL
leee, and while the accommodations are not
what they would be at the De Soto. still 1t
is really surprising 10 see how thoroughly
enjoyable everything is, and all for 81 so a
week. The regular daily session begins at
and continues till O'Clock, with a short
recess between. At present seven depart
ments are in full operation, and in q week
or two those OF music and physical culture
will be added. The faculty and the DEPART
ments may be seen as follows:
FACULTY.
L. B. Evans, Pedagogy.
Otis Ashmore, Geography.
Glenn G. Bond, Language.
B. c. Davis, Music.
Lawton NJ Landrum, Mathematical
Joseph r. Derby, History.
Miss Mary Bacon, Primary Methods.
Miss Willette Allen, Kindergarten.
Miss Sadie Wheeler, Physical Director.
Besides these there is an elective course
dn higher mathematics and one In German
before and after the regular school hours,
which many Of the teachers attend. During
the evenings there is usually a lecture on
some instructive topic. either by one OF the
faculty or by some prominent educator In
the state. Il IL the obiecs Of
the faculty to make the instruction
as practical as possible 90 that the teachers
In attendance may take some really valuable
information home with them and put into
practice things here taught To this end
much attention Is given 20 methods Of in
struction. rather than merely TO learning
the subject matter Of ordinary text books
The school has been In session now for three
weeks and 1t will continue a We weeks more
It has.already accomplished much good and
many more benefits are In store for those
who avail themselves of lbs advantages.
The faculty and the teachers in az
tendance are working with patriotic
zeal for the success OF this new enterprise as
well as for their own good for we all feel
that Georgia is just now in an educational
crisis SO far as the training OF her teachers
is concerned. Let the thoughtful men of
our state steady themselves before our in-
dustrial and political situation and say il
the safety and prosperity of the common
wealth after all do not depend upon the
proper education of its citizens. 1t ia no
small matter as to whom this education
Is intrusted. The success or the failure of
the republic hinges here Men of Georgia,
guard it well. O. A.
GEoRGIA's HoRTICULrURIsTs.