The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-06-28
STUDY IN RURAL SCHOOLS.
EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATION CON-
MIrrEE's REPORT.

The Document One of the Most I'm
portant of Its Kind That Has APP
peared In Years-sIaintenance, Su-
pervisiOn, supply of Teachers, and
Instruction and Discipline Discuss
ed - Generalization and Improves
ment In the Glass OF Teachers Adj
vocnted.
Washington, June H.-The report of the
committee of twelve on rural schools In
the United States, appointed at the cor..
vention of the National Educational AS
ISOLATION in July. 1896, has been compile
ted and will be submitted at the next an
nual gathering.
1t Is ono of the most important docu-
ments on school education that has ap-
peared since the PRONUNCIATION Of the re-
port Of the committee Of ten on secondary
education In this country couple OF years
ago
The committee consists of Henry Sabn
Of Iowa, d. l.. KIehle of Minnesota, A. b.
Poland of New York, C. c. Pounds of New
Hampshire, j. II. Phillips OF Alabama, B.
A. Hinsdale of Michigan, 8. T. Black of
California, w $. Sutton of Texas, l.. d.
Wolff of Missouri, United States Commits
sioner of Education Harris, L. B. Evans
of Georgia and c. II. Skinner of New
York
The report discusses the rural school
problem In the different aspects OF school
maintenance, supervision, supply OF
teachers, and instruction and discipline
Each of these subjects was in charge OF
q subcommittee of three, their work be-
Ing reviewed by the entire committee.
The report says that for purposes Of or
ganization, maintenance or supervision,
nothing should be recognized as the unit
smaller than the township or the eoun-
~ The school district is the most un-
desirable unit possible. Effecting this
change wherever the district system pre-
walls would conduce to effectiveness and
simplicity of organization, economy in
funds, equalization of taxation and 70 a.
system of supervision which would pro-
duce better results.
All the sub-commlttees favor the con-
solidation of schools which are too small
to employ probably the time of one
teacher, into larger schools when practice
able, In order that better instruction be-
provided than is now possible.
Every community should be required to
raise a certain sum for the support OF It's
schools as a prerequisite for receiving its
share of public money. A certain definite
sum should be appropriated TO each school
out OF the state funds and the remainder
should be divided in accordance with some
fixed and established rule, a discrimina-
tion being made In favor OF townships
most willing to tax themselves for school
purposes.
One Of the great hindrances 10 the inn
provement of the rural school lies In it's
Isolation, and its inability to furnish to
the pupil that stimulative influence which
comes from contact with others of his
own age and advancement The commits
t's. therefore. recommends collecting pu-
pills from small schools into larger, and
paying from the public funds for their
transportation, believing that in this way
better teachers can be provided. more ra-
tional methods of instruction adopted, and
at the same time the expense OF the
schools can be materially lessened. There
II a tendency TO al the rural schools with
unframed, immature teachers.
The establishment of normal training
schools, under competent instructors, with
short courses. each year Of which shall
be complete in itself, would do much TO
remedy this evil. The extension and ad-
justment OF the courses and terms Of the
state normal schools 80 as to constitute
a continuous session would enable them
TO contribute more directly than now TO
the Improvement Of the teachers OF rural
schools. The state would be justified in
demanding some degree Of professional
training from every teacher In the rurals
as well as In the city schools.
The establishment OF libraries, the pros
ecution of the work of school extension
by lectures and other means, the intro
duction of such studies as will have a
tendency 20 connect the school and the
home. especially those having a direct
bearing upon the everyday life OF the
community, and the necessity of applying
the laws OF sanitation to the construction
OF rural school houses. demand Immediate
attention.
The rural schools are suffering from
the want OF official and intelligent super
vision. In every state some standard OF
qualification, moral and intellectual, with
some amount of actual experience, should
be demanded by law from those who as
pire 20 fill the Offices of superintendent or
supervisor of schools.
Good morals and good manners con-
situte an essential part Of an educational
equipment. The inculcation Of patriotism.
OF respect for law and order, of whatever
tends TO make a good citizen. Is of aa
much importance In a small as In larger
school. Regularity, punctuality, obedience,
Industry, self-control are as necessary In
the country as In the city school. Coun-.
try school teachers should call to their
aid the beautiful things In nature.
made as TO instruction and discipline and
the evils Of attempting TO grade rural
schools as the city schools are graded. are
set out at length.
In connection with school exercises at
the town or county center once or twice
a year. competitive examinations are not
recommended, unless they are carefully
guarded. The feature Of social inter-
course. the stimulus which comes from
meeting with ones mates. have advan-
taRes which ought not 10 be neglected.
There n embodied an interesting report
urging negro teachers for negro schools.
II says the instinct OF the educational de-
velopment OF the negro must be from with
IN and by the race itself, and not solely
through extraneous agencies. that the In
tcliectual and moral dependence Of the
race must not be porpetuated, and that
the responsibility of teaching his own race
furnishes Incentives and means for raco
elevation. Tho conclusion reached n that
the Instinct Of race Identity renders lmpos-
slbic the realization OF an ideal relation
between the white teacher ana the negro
pupil
@a-o~e-
brooklyn sails Westward.