Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1903-01-23
THEY MET AND DISCUSSED
MATTERS.
Continued from Page Oae.)


Mrs. j. w. Dubois of St Louis who
asked several questions, Mrs. Saunders
responding in very able manner
AS this was the last topic on the pro-
gram for the afternoon, President Burns
announced the committees on nomina-
tions and on resolutions. The commit
tee on resolutions We're II. r. Hathaway,
lothian Allen and Silas Moody. On
nominations, John T. Smith, Thos.
Richards and L. A. Ely.
The evening session opened in the NJ
e. church with short talk by Mrs.
Saunders who made few remarks about
her subject for the woman's section that
would be held the following day.
Needs of Our Rural Schools" by
Prof. A. p. Cook was the first topic on
the program, and in few brief words
the speaker told what, in his opinion,
the needs OF our rural schools were to-
day. He stated that the topic was one
OF vital Importance to everyone, and that
it behooves us to take notice of the needs
of the present day in our rural school
system. Beautify the grounds with
trees and flowers and make these grounds
liberal. On the inside OF the school
house, libraries are the first TO consider.
OF wall maps there is at present woe
full lack. Among the chief difficulties
IL that ~ bain ~ nna hla IN oat tborouublv
prepared teachers for the district schools,
owing to the fact that the wages paid
are not sufficient, and that the methods
of too many teachers are wrong.
In answer TO the above subject Prof.
Chas L. Grawn of the Mt. Pleasant
State Normal. addressed the institute on
How Can We Supply Them" Prof.
Delos Fall, superintendent OF public in
struchon, was on the program for this
subject, but being unable TO attend Prof.
Gsawn consented to fill his place. The
interested in educating the children
should have heard. In his preliminary
remarks he said that the schools are not
as good or inspiring today as 20 years
ago, although we have as good aud better
teachers. The rural schools have not
kept pace with the high schools and
colleges, or the improvements that have
been made on the farm as we'll as in
other matters of educating and better
ing the welfare of mankind. The most
practical study is English and the proper
use Of it, while many waste their time
and energy in studying arithmetic and
algebra to the exclusion Of the other and
more important. There are two ways
to improve the rural schools. The first
plan is Capitalization do away with the
small schools and build one school house
in the center of the township, this school
TO be graded on the plan of the city high
school. Prof. Grawn then thoroughly
explained the system of Capitalization,
the saving in expense, etc. Under this
plan the rural boys and girls would re-
ceive as good an education as the city
boy or girl. There would be better
! buildings, with better heating system
and ventilation, and d better grade of
/ teachers could be secured. In the second
place il should be the duty Of the parents
to insist that better grade Of teachers
be employed. To secure the best re-
suits we must secure for teachers to the
eighth grade these who have taken q
four years'course in the high school and
for the grades higher, graduate Of a
college. or, better still, university
graduate. No teacher should be allowed
to enter the school room to teach child
rem who does not possess good moral
character, although it is to be regretted
that such teachers are too often en-
ployed today.
z. II. Kelly. OF Detroit, member
of the state board Of education, was
present and spoke upon the.subject. He
thought the boy should be educated to
stay on the farm and the Capitalization
of schools would tend to keep him there.
Agricultural Education" was the
next subject on the program and it was
ably handled by O. p. Goodrich. He
said that education was fitting and train
ing a person TO do something, and that
agricultural education is the most i'm.
portant of all. The speaker thought
that the principles of agriculture should
be taught in the common schools.
On Saturday morning the program was
opened by @. p. Goodrich who took for
his topic 1.-THE SilD in Dairying." MIR.
Goodrich quoted figures and facts to
show that COWS fed on ensilage pay bet.
ter than those not so fed. He also gave
his experience in building silos and told
how, in his estimation, a silo should be
built. This subject was followed by q
general discussion.
The report of the committee on nomi
nations was called for and announced al