The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1902-11-18

sible subjects of instruction in rural
public schools. Rot and other prevent
able diseases were described.
In order to teach rural teachers in
these subjects the a. ard N. College
VII conduct a Summer School of Agri-
culture and Nature Study. fer two
weeks next July or August, in the col
lego buildings. Tuition viii be free and
board and lodging furnished at cost. The
lessons given, the experiments shown.
the subjects taught in this summer
school will be precisely what the teacher
will repeat in his rural school with the
farm boys and girls under his instruc-
ton. This is the beginning of a great
movement to make our public school in
struction more practical, to connect it
more closely with the daily life and
necessities Of the farm.
NIGHT SESSION.
The first subject discussed last night
was Teachers Institutes and Summer
Schools for Teachers
upt. JOyner said he thought that the
present method of holding teachers in
stitutcs for one week nae about fulfilled
It's mission. 1t was a splendid thing.
holding up higher ideals before the
teachers. out something more was need
&C. The time had come for more and
longer Institutes.
He favored a summer school for the
teachers, lasting at least one month. The
purpose should be first to give the
teachers better instruction in the very
subjects they teach; second, object les
sonS ia teaching the subjects actually
taught, that is, the methods of present.
.ng the subjects taught as well as in
creased knowledge Of the subjects them
selves.
There should be some certain purpose
and definite direction in these summer
courses. Instead Of tEreshing over the
same old subject year after year in the
same old county. let the work each year
follow UP and continue the work of the
preceding Year.
Supt. NJ. a. Mcleod, of Moore. said
he agreed entirely With the State Super
intaadcnt. He declared the first essen
tial was that The teacher must know q
system before he can impart it. The
majority OF the rural teachers were, SO
to speak. illiterate. Hence he was
strongly in favor of a month or six weeks
spent in giving instruction in the ext
books, at least in the beginning. The
present institute he did not consider
worth 2a cents.
DR.. Long, Of Alamance, did not alto
scther agree with this. He thought the
usefulness of the present institute de-
pended upon the efficiency of the one
who conducted it. He thought it would
De better TO continue the present
method, we'll managed, for a time at
least.
Supt. Cochrane, CT Mecklenburg, said
that he was glad to say that the charge
Of iliiteracy did not apply to Neck
lcnburg. He was proud to say that their
teacher Werc all highly educated young
men and women. Among them were 20
graduates of Wake Forest College. He
thought that the summcr school, when
available, was an excellent thing; but
where it was not available, tho present
| method. when properly conducted, was
likewise d splendid thing.
Supt. Gather, of Pcrquimans, said
that the northeastern part Of the State
had been neglected. IT was cut OH. II
seemed, from help from the rest of the
State. and had suffered considerably
as a result. He told very graphically Of
the efforts he had made to get some OF
our prominent instructors 10 visit that
section.
Supt. Geo. T. Farnell, Of Pamlico,
moved that the State Superintendent be
mcmorialiZed to print pamphlet form
his very excellent opening address de
livered Wednesday morning. The motion
was unanimously carried.
SuDt. p. 7. Long, of Northampton
opened the discussion on "ToWnship
Teachers Meetings-How to Conduct
them and What to Get out Of Them.
He said his plan was first to have re-
ports from the teachers on their work.
some very good work was done IN schooi
government. The most noticeable re
suit had been a feeling of unity among
the teachers, and a better understand
mo of the situation. Another result was
hal thcv stimulated a sentiment Of con-
solidation and local taxation. He had
great hopes of passing a local tax II
one of the districts.
The textbook law had worked a haro-
ship because the people were not aole
10 Get the books. But these meetings
had been instrumental in explaining the
law ard persuading the merchants .
take contracts for the books.
1Tpon request of Supt. Sentell, all who
had held township meetings. stood up
more than half arose.
Supf. Venable said he thought that no
,attor law had been passed by the
IooisIature than this one requiring q
tov,shin meeting at least once every
serm. He had held forty-two during
he last year.
He had found them Of vast benef1t IN
rizfne education by bringing To-
80 her the teachers and parents.
These township meetings are educa'lhs
he people Of the counties.
Sunt. KittrelI, of Vance, said that an
institute had been held in every 1o"h-
ship of the county. Prof. Alderman
superintendent OF the graded scnooi - -
Henderson, had personally assisted II
The work. Everyone was invited to these
meetings. local speakers were secured
md the crowds kept getting bigger Is
| hey went along.
His experience had been that they
were a splendid thing in stirring up
enthusiasm and interest.
This he followed up by securing I'D