The Port Gibson reveille. [volume] (Port Gibson, Miss.) 1890-current, 1894-07-20
Port Gibson Summer Normal.

NAN AtA0W WAHE oF~NAHts
"The Port Gibson summer normal
has progressed with increased interest
tins week. The arrival OF Miss Hol-
man added new feature to the work,
and her primary work clicited tho
most jealous attention of the 140 teach
ers now In attendance. Miss Holman
displays great tact aud skill In hand
ling her subject, and has given new
suggestions to our teachers. She makes
her work practical, and insists contin-
ually that the teachers adapt the meth
ods TO the needs oftheir schools, there
by developing their own originality
and individual powers. In tho after
Moons sho has held conferences with
those specially Interested In primary
work aud In an informal way has
drawn from the teachers their expert
cnces and difficulties. Many of the
citizens have attended the meetings of
the normal from day to day. thus en-
couraging the teachers In their noble
efforts to better qualifications. Tho
work in the physical sciences, under
Prof Creelman, has attracted the teach
ers in a wonderful way, aud developed
many new methods of Instruction. Mr..
Creolman deals with bis subjects In the
laboratory method, and brings tho
teachers into actual contact with the
objects. In botany the plants
are presented aud studied; in phys
iologY bones, muscles, cartilage, heart,
lungs, etc, are brought INTO the class,
aud teachers are shown how to present
them to their pupils.
@Mr. Trawick, princIpal Of the Crys-
tai Springs public school, Is doing at
lractive work in physics and the his
tory of Mississippi. He presents tho
latter subject from large chart, which
he made for this purpose, and which
has been reproduced In the June num-
Der of the Mississippi Journal Of Educa-
ton. In physics he makes the appara-
tus be uses, s,and shows the teachers how
10 make most Of tho apparatus they
will need to illustrate the chief princi-
Piles of natural philosophy.
@Director Barnard continues bis
work in the science aud art of ofteachlng,
and is outlining full course In school
management, while Mr.. Roof Is
developing practical course In music
which can be readily introduced into
the several schools.
@Mr. Barrow, superintendent of the
Columbus public schools, is handling
In a masterful manner the subjects Of
grammar and mental arithmetic.
"1hc teachers are zealous-t0iling
with undated interest through tho
long, heated days, ever eager TO catch
a new hint or idea to help them in
their work.
"This normal should be equal 10 tho
best held In the state this year. II Is
here, IN the refined atmosphere of
one OF the most cultivated towns in
Mississippi, aud In Claiborne county.
which Is easily tho banner public school
county of tho state. The public schools
OF Claiborne are maintained for eight
months In tho year, aud are graded,
just as lower schools. Two weeks ago,
at lIcrmanvillc, the first graduates,
thirty-sevcn Ina number, from the var
i0us rural schools wcro assembled and
held n joint commencement. This
marked historic event In the slaie.as
1t was the lrst graduating exercise OF
rural schools. Nearly 1000 people from
all parts of tho county were in at
tendance, and the day was one of which
the good people OF the county may
well be proud. Claiborne. through
the wise aud right-dirccled efforts OF
her efficient county superintendent.
has thus set an example 10 the other
counties of the state, 0nd blazed tho
way they must go, II they would sue
eeed In educating the rural population.
All this great blessing Is secured by
county levy OF only 2 mills for schools,
which, added 10 the slate appropria-
tion, gives a sufficient fund to meet all
expenses. Claiborne Is proud OF what
she has achieved IN her public schools,
and hcr citizens may expect still better
work from the teachers who attend
the summer normal. The spirit that
prevails among the teachers Of tho
state Is q marvellous token of higher
aud better things for the children of
the future. II Is a matter Of regret that
every teacher ins souihwcstM ississippi
not here to receive higher instruction
aud gain the many benefits provided In
this great summer normal"