Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1904-08-13

| RED Wcmen; first adopted measures TO
restrict negro suffrage; first built a
great college and industrial institute
for the young women OF the common
wealth and made adequate provisions
for its support and enlargement.
Therefore 1t is highly appropriate that
the most original and unique normal
school for the training Of primary
teachers ever held in the Southern
States should have been projected by
Mississippi's able and energetic State
superintendent, Henry l.. Whitfield,
and peculiarly fitting that its first ses-
rion should have been held at the
Industrial Institute and College at Co.
lumbus
normal school was held at Oxford,
| Miss, in the summer of 1908, at which
nearly 1000 teachers were enrolled.
While the work done there was Of the
highest order of excellence, yet 1t was
felt by Superintendent Whitfield that
there ought TO be great normal for
tho primary teachers alone. Primary
work is rapidly coming into proper
and intelligent recognition as the one
department in which our educational
work has been weakest. So backward
are we in this work that the wonder
ful science and practical skill of the
kindergarten are almost unknown in
Our State save as name aud theory.
Superintendent Whitfield, with far
seeing mind, conceived that If his
great scheme of primary and second
sry education is to reach its destined
development stress must he laid upon
the part played by the primary teach
er in our comprehensive system. II is
a waste Of time for the primary teach
er to be compelled to attend all or
even part Of the lectures given at
the average summer school for teach
time cannot be given for thorough and
adequate preparation Of primary teach
ers alone Hence the necessity of the
normal for primary teachers.
Inasmuch as It is something new in
the Southern States, It is deemed
worthy of special note in these col.
umns. There are some features at
taChed to it that ought to be OF in
terest in Southern educational circles,
as this Is their first introduction in
the South The course was confined
Ia ,,.i,
from the kindergarten to the sixth.
There were two daily sessions, one
in the morning and one in the after
noon The morning session constitut-
ed a sort Of laboratory, there being q
model school of about fifty children,
the classes being conducted by the
instructors, under the observation of
the teachers, who were attending in
the capacity Of students. The after
noon session consisted In lectures on
the various branches Of instruction
taught.
The session was held in the Indus
trial Institute and College buildings,
which are large and commodious, well
fitted for the work and capable of ac-
commodating very large number of
attendants. Large and well-furnished
dormiiories. surrounded by extensive
and beautiful grounds, added very ma
tcrially to the pleasure and comfort
Of the teachers. 1t is the testimony OF
the visitors and instructors that they
never saw gathering of its size at
which there was such complete unan-
unity in the expressions of satisfac-
ton and delight on the part of those
who attended There was something
better and of more practical and last
ing advantage than this. There arc
very few schools in Mississippi thor
oughly fitted with necessary apparatus
for primary work in language, geog'
raphy reading, physiology, manual
training, etc, and thousands Of honest,
earnest and ambitious teachers in the
rural schools never saw such appara'
tus. knowing that il would be impos-
sible for Mississippi at present to fur
nish such apparatus, since she has no
normal school for the training of her
teachers, Miss Ward. whom Superin'
tendent Whitfield selected to manage
the school, borrowed all kinds of up
to.date and expensive apparatus from
the Chicago schools, brought IT to
Mississippi aud set mp model school
and our rural teachers received an OBJ
iect lesson which they could have
learned nowhere else save in the
North. This was of untold value and
benefit. The scheme was to have
model classes, taught by model teach
ers in model schoolroom under the
most favorable conditions. and it sue
ceeded in a most wonderful way, as
every one Of the $50 teachers will
gladly testify Not only this, but pub
fishers sent beautiful works on nature
study, language work; supply houses
furnished samples and materials for
manual training; music houses sent
school music and song books, while
art supply houses gave costly and
complete collections of pictures, paint
ings, models, etc, and with all OF these
actual work was done by real children
and observed by rural teachers who
could not have seen the same save at
great expense and long travel, both en-
tirely beyond reach. All this, how
over, would have been as dead mate
! rial had there not been accomplished
| and skilful teachers to breathe into
all the spirit Of life and power. What
may be said Of the instructors is not
meant to disparagc any member OF
our own magnificent body Of teachers,
God bless them all; they are doing the
mightie8t work in our commonwealth,
| but they arc awfully handicapped.
Mississippi has no formal school. Her
rural teachers arc poorly paid and
cannot bear the expense Of trlD
whore such work under Ike conditions
is elyon as was al Columbus. Rural
schools are miscrably equipped.
Where. then, was Superintendent
Whitfield to find the best equipment
and the most skilful instructors?
Riaius above selfish consideration and
sectional pride and having at heart
solely the Welfare Of the rural teach
ers Of the STATE. he selected facnlty
Of women trained In the finest normal
schools in the world, women Of cul-
ture and refiniment. of exquisite tact,
| 10 fan ~