The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1904-06-11

List, by any chance, Supt. Whit.
eds circular letter to the teachers,
has failed to reach them. we give il
tn substance. in this column, realizing
It's paramount Importance. A fuller
and more comprehensive statement OF
me work conte mplated will be given
later. n will. have place in these col
umnS also.
First, the University Normal will be
gin work June IA, at Oxford, and will
5e conducted as last year. No primary
work will be offered at this normal
some of the finest teachers and think
erS IN the country will lend their tai
ent n experience to the success OF
the session, which will last four weeks
O those in the normal, and six for
those in the regular department. One
fare plus % cents win be charged by
the railroads, and unless the agent has
instructions to this effect be sur to
take his receipt for your fare.
State examinations will be given at
the opening and closing of the normal,
and at its close a cheap excursion will
be arranged to visit st. Louis and
take in the grandeur of the exposition.
Second. A school for primary teach
US II w ORSACO 1T Nv l. d" OF ~
iumbuS. June 20, and will continue
four weeks. under the direction Of
Mrs. Florence Ward. of Chicago-a
world famous primary worker. This
faculty will be made up from the best
teachers this country can afford. and
every primary teacher in Mississippi
should make a strong effort to attend.
The railroads will give reduced rates,
and hon ri will hn flrnichn1 in tho col
Iege building. at absolute cost. This is
a great opportunity for our primary
workers, and through them, for our
children.
Third. The Institutes will be held
iu the various counties during August.
Wherever possible The institute will
continue four weeks. Text book work
will be lone largely in these country
schools, and teachers who are deficient
in the text books of the common school
curriculum should. by all means. at
emo these schools. The schedules
will be published later.
MIR. Whitfield closes his letter with
an earnest appeal to the teachers to
avail themselves of these great OPP
portunities, and get all that is to be
gained from them. He Saiys: W.
are further behind in the training of
DER teachers than in any other depart
ment of our educational work. The
State has recognized her teachers, n
the teachers should show their appre-
citation of this recognition by making
the very best possible preparation for
the work"
One cannot pick up 4 paper these
Ia-,1 without -nahinT cO cpcnnnt Of
some public school commencement,
it makes good reading especially
between the lines). A few years ago
the CLOSING exercises" of the average
mississippi school was 2 monOtonous
affair, with its "Curfew Shall Not Ring
Tonight" style of e~lOcution, and its far
from original essays, and h same
old rogra of music CD. Today
the program of the average school
shows culture, thought and ability,
and, above all, and better better than
all. originality. and 1T is a real JOY to
attend. and to note the wonderful
progress our children are making in
educational work. Some of the schools
especially, show a grade of work in the
various classes that compares favor
ably with the work in States which
ffd*S iOuS SuJOJOu INK 0lSob nv
OF a splendid public school system.
A noticeable fact, in reading over
these many and varied reports, is hat
the schools which are distinguished
by this high grade CT excellence have
in their faculty one or more of the
teachers who go each summer to some
% the splendid summer schools pro-
vided for them. There they learn all
~. ~Arv -~0thal- 6rnDN tho xyrnrid'C host
teachers, and take in a full share of
the enthusiasm all around them. and
which is so necessary a part Of q
teachers equipment. If all the weary,
worn out teachers, to whom their
blessed work is growing b~urdensome
would just pick up and go to one of
these summer schools, and study and
mingle with the hundreds of others
who are engaged in the same noble
service, for a few weeks, the gain to
our children next yea would be i'm
measurable. A child is quick to detect
a lack Of interest Oh his teachers part,
and we may be very sure thai the
children will not do enthusiastic work
when the teacher goes through hers
as though it were an unpleasant task.
Love begets love-" is a saying the
truth of which is universally recOg-
niZed. In equal measure does interest
arouse interest. and enthusiasm Gre
ate enthusiasm. Without this to
brighten and sweeten our work among
the children, teaching very soon grows
po be fiat" stale and Improbable
70 all concerned. Let us then-though
IT, may entail some sacrifice-do our
level best to get from the States gen
erous gift enough of help and courage
to carry us we'll through the work of
next year. Then, indeed, will our gen
erous law makers rejoice that the chill
dren are reaping a worthy harvest
from their generous sowing.
Ii gives us especial pleasure to note
that several graded schools gave a
prize at commencement time to the
best and most attractively decorated
room in the building-the visitors
making the decision; and it is worthy
OF comment, that without exceptions
ESQ far as l have fearned) the prize