The Forrest City times., 1897-09-10
COUNTY NORMALS.
Improved Methods of Teaching Reported
 By County Examiners.

Improved Methods of Teaching Reported
 By County Examiners.
 The following extracts are taken from reports of county examiners to the superintendent of public instruc- tion, on the result of county normals held in their respective counties:
 Will F. Turner, County Examiner of Pope County-My observation leads me to the con- cluslon that the county normal has been and will continue to be of great benefit to our schools. Increased enrolment and attendance in most of our districts. We have a splendid teaching force, mainly young men and young women who are progressive and make their work buill characters for them.
 F. M Angle, County Examiner of Marion County-There has been decided improve ment In the grades of teachers. Our instruct DTS are more thorough and competent. This fact is demonstrated by comparison with the teachers of only few years ago. Teachers as rule are using up-to-date methods, and are doing much more efficient and systematic work. They have learned more of the art of government and consequently maintain order with little dificulty. They have placed us on an equal footing with our neighboring states. They have greatly improved the educational interest. They have increased our teaching power by at least half, thus increasing the power of the learner in a two-fod ratio
 County Examiner s. H. Allen, of Howard Counnty-In the last three weeks I have wis., ited schools in every portion of Howard county. 1 am greatly encouraged on account of the interest in education manifested by teachers and patrons throughout our county. One of the best results was the unusual inspiration with which the teachers returned to their work from the normal As inevita ble follow ing upon this was inspiration caught by pupils from their teacher and. in turn, by parents from their children. The outcome is that
 
 are preparing go off to good schools this fall, while their parents are discussing the matter of esta ablishing long-term schools at home by private enterprise. At the meeting of the northern division of the Howard County Teachers and Directors association one week ago there were more than POO persons present. Eight months ago when the county was undi- vided, it was difficult matter to get twenty persons at one of these meetings Teachers in rare instances attended the normal at per- sonal sacrifice; but I believe that any true teacher is willing to do this that so much good may come to the great mass Of children in his county.
 County Examiner L. J. Joiner, of Little River County-To your request to report the effects that the county normals have had for good in the schools of my county, I state briefly the good accomplished in this county That the teachers gathered new ideas and inspirations from the instruction given is clearly mani fested in the improved methods adopted in the several schools. They seem to be thoroughly aroused and are taking deeper interest and are doing more efficient work than ever before. The world moves. Education must be the vanguard To succeed we must have well trained corpse of teachers, possessing not only the literary and moral qualifications, but they must know and be capable of applying the most approved methods to the art and science of teaching. As long as we have in our common schools teachers who have not enjoyed the advantages of the normal training-to supply our schools are for the present compelled to employ such-the county normal Is an im- portant factor if not absolutely necessary to attain the best results from the present corps Of teachers.
 D. H. McCarvey, County Examiner of Saline County.-I think our schools are certainly more systematically taught than ever before. The county nornals have Tad the effect of bringing the teachers together and impressing them with the fact that teaching is profess ion. An enthusiasm has been enkindled. the effect of which will be felt in all our school rooms. Through the normals, antiquated methods and fogyism have been exposed and more excellent methods have been taught. l think too the normals have had the effect of ridding the profession of unworthy teachers. for quite a number of such teachers are unwill- ing to have their lack Of education as well as their lack of methods exposed, as they would be in a normal school One great benefit se- cured by county normals Is that the smaller and poorer districts also receive their share of the good effect of rational methods of teaching. The back districts would never be reached by trained teachers were it not for county normal schools.