The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-07-13

Continued from First Page.)

est in the basket work course, and many
of them are now thoroughly prepared
to teach this to their pupils at home.
THE BENEFITS.
1t will be seen from this that those
who attend this school are improving
their knowledge of the subjects which
they teach, and at the same time getting
the best possible instruction as to the
most approved methods of imparting
knowledge and training children.
But this is by no means the only
benefit. The teachers are learning a
great deal from each other by swapping
ideas. by exchanging experiences. and by
giving to each pther words of good
cheer and encoura cement. Moreover.
the teachers who attend this school are
becoming more and more impressed with
the dignity of their calling, and with
the great responsibility which rests upol
them. Professor Kent in one Of his
lectures the other day remarked that
the teacher was apt to become a sort
of doctrinairc, as the teacher generally
laid down the law and had no onE
in the school to dispute his assertions.
He thought it a good thing for the
teachers to become pupils for while.
and so put themselves in the place of
those whom they instruct. He added.
by the way, that it was his custom to
request the students in his classes to
take Issue with him upon any statement
he might make which did not commend
itself to them. He believed. he said,
in a full and frank discussion in the
class room.
AN INSPIRATION.
This great normal school at the Uni
versity is an inspiration to any man
or woman who will visit it and look
into the faces of those who are in at
tendance. No one can do this without
being impressed that these teachers are
men and women of character, of good
social position in their respective COM
munities and thoroughly in earnest in
the work which they are doing. Mr..
Glass says that his chief complaint is
that most of tho teachers work entirely
too hard, giving too little of their time
to rest and recreation. But the teachers
are there for a purpose. and they are
determined to get the very best that can
be had out of the opportunity
SAMPLE OF TEACHERS.
I his brings me to speak of another mat
ter which the taxpayers of Virginia must
also consider. These summer schools are
doing more than all other agencies to
train teachers. n fact, with the excep-
ton of the Normal School. which turns
ont only q few teachers each Year, this
is about the only means of instruction TIA
tile teachers have. But the State of Vir-
GINA is doing little to support the school,
and many of the teachers are attending at
a great sacrifice to themselves. This can
be readily understood when it Is remem-
hcred that teachers who receive from
ore to two hundred dollars a year must
pay out from thirty to fifty dollars in
order to attend these summer schools.
Something ought to be done in some way
t., relieve the teachers. In part at least.
Of this burden. and that is a subject to
which our wise men should direct their at
tentiun. Several suggestions have been
made which may be referred to here
after by The Times
Perhaps the most encouraging thing
about this school is the statement made
by enc and all Of those instructors who
have been associated with the school
DUNG the past several years that there
has been a marked and most noteworthy
improvement In the teachers. To say