The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1903-07-14

IN our own city. but in Chapel Hi and
IN the summer school in Virginia. has
charge OF the sound spelling and reading
II Is wonderful to see her work with tho
little tots. She illustrates her method
with a beginning class-a class som4wbat
hIgher-uslng old Greek stories as q text
book, and one higher stil with Gods and
heroes as a text book. This particular
method Is gotten up by Mr.. f. +. Moses.
superintendent OF the Raleigh public
schools.
Not only are these things taught Int
there are also practical classes in Latin
German and French taught by skillfu1
teachers.
Mrs. Williamson's French classes. esne.
claliy the beginners. are intensely inter
estlng. Mrs. Williamson is the principal
OF the Murphy SCHOOL, lady of rare IL
telllgence and one who makes the study
Of French a delight. To see the little
children interested in recognizing 4he
French words and writing French sen
fences on the blackboard in spite of con-
slant visitors and a distracting piano next
door, Is remarkable.
The classes IN German are taught By
Miss Bryan of the Wiley school, and in
Latin by Mrs. Terrell, of the Centennial
school. The work of these charming
A0d1N9 y IlStIl. i lie growing de-
mands for the foreign languages is a
healthful sign of the future culture of the
State.
BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL.
1t might not be out of place In this
article to tell the story of the con
ceptlon of the idea of the Summer School
and something of its history thus far.
! Superintendent E. p. Moses, of the Raj
elgh graded schools, conceived the idea.
and County Superintendent w G.. Glenn
ents, who thought of holding a local sum
mer school for Wake county teachers and
those OF such adjoining counties as might
be Interested. superintendent Moses
asked Mr.. Charles j. Parker, of this city.
to take charge of the business side of
the undertaking. Not a cent of money
was IN sight at that time, but it was
thought that sufficient advertising might
be secured from the business houses of
the city to defray the expenses of publish
ing circular matter, and to cover post
age, etc.
About that time Mr.. Parker learned that
President Winston was thinking of holding
a summer school at the A and M. College
for teachers who desired courses in agricuI-
ture, nature study, etc. At Mr.. Parker's
suggestion the two were brought together.
After two on three conferences between
MeSsIs. Winston, Burkett and Parker and
the teachers who had been spoken to about
1t, they agreed upon that proposition, and
the Raleigh Summer School was formally
organized by electing DR.. Winston presi-
dent; Prof. Burkett, Dean of the Indus
trial Department; superintendent Moses,
Dean of the Normal and Literary Depart
ment, and Mr.. Parker, secretary and bust
ness manager.
The next question was where to get the
money to push the enterprise on the scale
it was proposed to be conducted. They
applied to the Southern Education Board
and the Peabody Board, but neither would
make any appropriation for this school.
because 1t was a new thing, unknown and
untried, and its success was uncertain.
Then they appealed to the Chamber of
Commerce of the city, but that body was
unable, to its regret, to be of any imme-
date material assistance.
SO they went 10 work to secure a faculty
with the distinct understanding that they
were to be paid out of the receipts for
tuition. This of course meant that the
faculty must be composed of home people,
and with one exception they are from Raj
eigh and the college.
The management secured a liberal ad-
vertising patronage from the publishing
houses and a half dozen Raleigh firms.
This enabled them to publish an edition
of 5000 copies of the handsome pros
pectus, and the enterprise was launched
Its success IS all the more gratifying in
the light of this story of difficulties en-
countered and surmounted in the outset.
RAGSDALE ON RURAL LIBRARIES.
superintendent w. II. Ragsdale, of Pitt
county. delivered a series of addresses last
week on the subject, Rural Lib
T&ries." which have been pronounced by
all who heard them master pieces of ar
gument and most eloquent and powerful
appeals for the establishment of libraries
in every rural school. No speeches that
have been delivered have created more
real enthusiasm and doubtless great good
viii be the result. At the close OF his
last address a large number of teachers
declared it their purpose to agitate the
question and to urge the establishment
of these libraries in the schools III which
thew are teaching. 1t Is impossible to
get an epitome of the addresses as they
were entirely eXtemporaneous. However,
we have secured a synopsis OF the sub
icct from superintendent Ragsdale.
He. along with the State Super
intendent, regards the rural library
question as one of vital Importance IN the
| development of our school system along
vigorous and healthtul lines.
His subject was divided as follows:
I The necessity for the library. This
is shown by knowing: (a) What are the
conditions surrounding the schools? %
What means are now being employed to
better these conditions? Co Ought some
thing to be done? Cd What Will the LIB
rary do towards relieving the situation?
2.-How can we get Libraries? (a) by
creating a public sentiment for them
This may be done by agitation. Cd b
County Boards of Education; 2. BY Coun-
Itv superintendent; 5. BY teachers; OBJ by
securing the interest of the children; (c)
by getting parents interested.
3.-How shall we use these Libraries:
70, Az companions foE the children; (bj
TO cultivate the habit of reading; Cc) &c
enable the child to grow up IN touch VIII
the best thought and literature (d) Il