Mississippi leader. (Jackson, Miss.) 1892-1895, 1895-04-09
rDuoArioSAL.l
Superintendent oirauit Makes omeTimc-'
Iy Suggestions to Teaohers.

ly Suggestions To Ienohers.
! LITTLE BAHALA, Miss, April 4, 1920
The small attendance at the last
Lyceum" in Brookhaven,
has inspired me to present few ideas
for the kind consideration Of the
teachers in Lincoln county for all of
whom 1 have the highest regard and
most friendly estimation. All will
agree that the State of Mississippi was
never under such a mighty education
al wave as at present; never in the his
tory of our State has such mighty
strides been made toward educating
the youth of our country, and if we al
low this wave to ebb it may never flow
again. But right here a lamentable
thought presents itself While most
all our cities and towns have splendid
schools of long duration in each year,
our country schools, with only four
months term, are not what they ought
to be. If this state of affairs contin-
ues for the next ten years, the chill
dren residing in cities Will be highly
educated even in all the arts and
sciences, while it will be quito the re-
verse with children residing in rural
districts, whose education will be NOM
inal, partly on account of a four
months school term, instead of ten.
Will not this create sectional feeling?
Sectional strife? Will it not widen
the chasm of discord between these
school districts? These are serious
questions in our educational system,
among all educators, especially with
county superintendent and teachers.
Now what is to be done? What is
the cause? The first thing to be done,
as above stated, is to lengthen the pub
lie term by increased taxation, % or
mills on the dollar.) County Superin-
tendents, teachers and members of the
Board of Supervisors should all work
tremendously in this direction. When
candidates for Supervisors are an
nounced, we should interrogate them
on educational matters. The next
thing is to get patrons to agree to sup
plement country schools, employ
teachers by private means and contin-
ne their schools longer than four
months in a year.
Now, some of the causes. The man
ner in which some of our country
schools are conducted is not at all en-
couraging; while inexperienced teach
ers may be one cause of the lack of in
terest manifested by pupils; yet the
negligence on the part of parents to
encourage their children TO attend
school regularly is the greatest trouble
teachers have to contend with When
a child goes to school one or two days
during the week, and is allowed to
spend the rest of the time in any way
it pleases, it is impossible fora teacher
to keep that child interested, even
while in school.
We need more teachers in our coun-
try schools, who study their profession
and who are wide awake To the inter
ests of both pupil and patron.
In the first place the teacher should
try to work up an interest among the
patrons. One way to interest the pa
irons is to visit them in their homes
apd talk to them about your methods
of teaching. Show by your converse
ton that you feel an interest in the
improvement of this great faculty, the
mind. Insist on the parents visiting
the school and try to make them feel
that their visit will be appreciated and
that you will try to make their visit
pleasant. When parents visit the
school and see that the school house
needs repairing they will soon take
active steps do the necessary work to
make the house comfortable. II the
teacher can once get the parent inter
ested SO that the child will be sent to
school regularly the battle is half
gained.
would advise all teachers to take
and read some good educational jour
nal. 7 have learned from experience
that they are great help, both in
keeping up an interest and Ia conduct
ing recitations. Every number will
suggest great many new ideas which,
coupled with ideas of your own, will
prove very beneficial.
Now in conclusion, dear teachers,
when we have the next meeting of our
county Teachers Lyceum" in Brook
haven, let every teacher attend. and
take part in the discussion of all the
subjects presented. And if our edi-
tors admit, would like to read some
thing from some teacher every week
on this subject. This may perhaps In