Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-10-09
coIonel Price on the Public Schools

coIonel Price on the Public Schools.
- HAVE been reading with a great
deal OF interest the little pamphlet
issued BY Colonef W. p. Price. sr..
IN regard to the public schools of
Iumpkin county. GearEia-
After four years experience he has de-
eided that winter schools for country chill
dren are decidedly the best. The argu-
ment he presents Is a good one.
Studying IN the. hot summer months Is
not an easy task for the pupils and IL Is
hard on the teacher. With the thermome-
ter near 100 degrees in the shade IL Is hard
70 do anything but rest in the shade also.
There are many interruptions with
camp meetings and religious revivals OF
various durations, and then fodder pull
ing and cotton picking come on very soon
The child must help its poor parents con-
siderably. when labor Is scarce and very
high in expense. II all must be hired.
Hon Mr.. Price says; Il have conversed
with the most intelligent and thoughtful
people OF the county. among them many
mothers. and without a dissenting opin-
ion all have agreed that schools kept in
the winter months are the best for the
children and all concerned or course 20
accomplish the best results the houses
must be made comfortable In every re-
spect- Then we can have FIVE months Of
study without break OF any sort. except
should begin in October and the schools
win open Just as rapidly 0n Lumpxin
county, as the houses are made ready"
These points are well taken and VIII fit
all the counties as well as Lumpkin.
He has some good ideas about teachers.
He thinks every teacher should be at least
as high as second grade: for a teacher TO
al nd
when we recoIlect the hundreds who are
given teachers certificates every year. II
would seem there should be an ample sup
ply 70 recruit from To. employ unsatis-
factory teachers. Colonel Price says. lis
TO throw the school money away" Much
OF the poor results in country places has
grown out Of the employment Of poor
teachers
F; The Normal school at Athens. supported
BY the state. graduates or gives certif-
Gates 20 hundreds every year. II I am
rightly informed The Normal and Indus
trial at AffIledgeville does the same-sup-
ported BY the state. There should be no
school money wasted on poorly equipped
teachers. The teachers should be well
equipped and such a grade as third grade
ought TO be abolished.
No third grade is wanted IN Lumpkin
county after this year. and the argument
IS irresistible. because the state offers fine
opportunities for educating teachers and
the taxpayers foot the bill. and the teach
er should be up 70 the mark. or go at
some other business elsewhere.
There Is terrible complaint about school
books. An old teacher gave me an ex-
ample Of the poor working a few days
ago. When his little girl was graded she
was told to get a simple little reader.
The child received the reader on Friday.
and read Il through from back to back.
three stIrses before Monday morning.
when she carried the little book TO school.
TO stay in her grade. her class. she is to
pudder along for a whole term with that
: little reader that she already knows By
heart. He also said they had nine years
IN the city schools and the children are
kept hack n these little triiing readers
and the result Is, the child has no spur. no
ambition and drops into a rut. that be-
comes a deep rut. sure enough. in. nine
years.
Perhaps there are insurmountable diff
culties IN every plan that Is being tried
but II does seem a pity that nine years OF
application must be paid for by the state
and city when people used TO get a very
reliable education in English and Latin I'm
three or four-maybe less time.
Alackl and alasl The poor country child
gets a drIbble. pitifui dribble, as matters
stand now. in many counties. but the
school tax piles up all the same.
The public schools are running out all
private schools. and as Hon Mr.. Price
aptiy says: The people must get nearer
20 the schools and the teachers. Grand
jury men and school trustees can be
mighty help in agitating the question OF
education" It has long been my belief
that each county should have absolute
control OF its own school business. and
all the agitation and notoriety that poor
methods and poor teaching deserves.