The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1899-05-10
Summer Normal Schools.
COUNTY SCHOOLS.

the State that we shall have this
summer in each county a summer
normal school of four weeks dura
ton, with a regular course of study
in common school branches. The
subjects taught this year will be
English, geography and arithmetic,
upon which examinations will be
held at the close of the school. Each
school will be conducted by a faculty
of two instructors, each faculty
teaching in two counties and thus
employed for two months.
STATE SCHOOL.
But there are many teachers who
could more proftsbly spend their
time at a higher school. Hence a
summer school Of a high grade and
varied courses will doubtless be well
coined very generally and even by
graded school superintendent and
college professors. To meet this
need and to raise the standards Of
education in the State, I am plan
ming to hold at Winthrop college,,
Whose cooperation has been securely.
a State summer normal school, such
as is conducted in many of the lead
ing universities Of today. The per-
sons engaged to instruct in the
county schools will be required to
take courses at the State school.
This school will offer, as elective,
courses in Pedagogy, English Ian
guage, English literature, Anglo
Saxon constitutional history, politi-
cal economy, botany, physiology,
physics, photography, mathematics,
astronomy, drawing, vocal music and
possibly Latin and Greek. Fuller
details will be given in a printed an
nouncement later. Each course will
be conducted by a specialist, and
particular care will be taken to see
that the sciences are taught practi-
cally, to lead to their introduction
into the graded and common schools.
Many of the best country teachers
and most of the graded school teach
ers of the State will be expected to
take advantage of these courses and
thus be stimulated along the lines OF
the most modern development of edu-
cational ideas.
Periods of recitation will be one
hour in length in each subject, six
days in the week. Not more than
three courses will be allowed to apy
one student, and the taking of only
two will be encouraged, the subject
being to learn something thoroughly.
Board and lodging will be agree
able, and, %(including laundry, will
cost not over SIP for the four weeks,
possibly only $40.
The professors will for the most
part be chosen from the faculties of
our best colleges, State and Denomi-
national; besides whom there will be
several noted educators from abroad.
It is expected that several hun
dred teachers will be assembled, rep
resentipg every college and progress
sive school in the State. The intel
~lectual pleasure and the stimulus Of
these associations and consequent
professional spirit should give an
impetus to education that will be
felt in the remotest corner of the
State.
The privileges Of the school will be
extended as far as possible to others
besides actual teachers. County Su-
perintendents and members of County
Boards of Education are especially
invited.
Fresh from this inspiring study
under master teachers, the ~instruc-
tors of the county schools, (some OF
whom will have been instructors in
the State School,) will 60 forth to
their work with higher standards
and greater zeal. 1t is for this sea-
son that the county schools will be
held later, July 18th to August
15th).
Attendance upon either the State
school or a county school will proba-
bly, be compulsory by regulation of
"
the State Board of Education. 1t is
hoped that Graded School Superin-
tendents and Boards of Trustees will
encourage, if not require, their teach
ers to attend the State School.
The object of this circular is to
call the attention Of the educational
public to the above program and to
appeal to the better equipped and
more ambitious teachers TO make
tboir orronoomonfS NOW TO attend