The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-01-01

While the "first distinctive objccts of Chautauqua are inseparabIy connected with Biblical study in sunday-schooi normal institute" 1t has como to cover almost the entire Held of knowledge Chautauqua extension has been ad- vanced to such a degree that st least q hundred assemblies have existence. Indeed ChautauQua may rightly be caH- cd the mother of summer schools
 Harvard was not only the first of the universities in the United States to att tempt summer instruction In one sub Ject (biology)s but was among the nrst to conduct vacation echool for the teschink of a number of subjects. As result of the activities set In motion by Professor Louis Agassiz in his eff forts to establish the Penikese School. Harvard's present magnificent summer school system has It's being. Tn the beginning. the management of each or the departments was left entirely 10 the professor in charge. and each pro- lessor received as his compensation the fees paid by students in his depart ment. Now the school is under the di- rection of the University. the fees are turned into the treasury. and the sala- ries of the professors are fixed and paid by the corporation.
 Southern Summer Schools.
 1. University of virginia---But to trace the origin and development of all suni- mer schools would require more time than that allowed for the entire pro- gram of this meeting. I shall not un- dertake to do this. but will ccnfine the remainder of my remarks to consid- eration of Southern summer schools.
 It is claimed that the beginning of summer schools in the South was at the University of Virginia In 1870. when John B. Minor opened a school for the teaching of law. Since that date schools of chemistry. engineering, med- icine. biology, and methods of teaching have been added. For nearly tbfrty years. excepting the summer normals conducted under the auspices of the Peabody Education Board, Virginia had the entire field.
 9. The Summer School of the South. Within the past decade in almost every State one or more summer schools for teachers have been estab- lished Some have been of short dura- tion, others give promise of permanent cy. The length of the term is from four ts eight weeks. The average Is about six weeks. As rule they are maintained by matriculation fees. by appropriations of boards of trustees. and by personal donations. So far as I am informed, Alabama is the only State in which the Legislature has made a special appropriation for the maintenance of such a school.
 Perhaps the greatest success has been achieved atlthe University of Ten nessee where the great and popular summer school for the South is located. This school came into being under the leadership of President Charles w, Dabney. and was made possible by the generosity of the General Education Board, which. during the three years since its opening. has contributed an- nually the sum of $10.000 toward its maintenance. The annual cost of con- ducting the school ranges from $20.000 to $3o.00o, and the attendance ranges from 1000 to 2,000.
 The courses of study of the summer school of the South are so arranged as to include almost every subject taught in schools and colleges, but special stress is placed upon those sub jects and those methods of teaching which are most needed by the teachers in the public schools. Many public lectures by noted speakers are pro- vided. Patronage Is drawn from every Southern State, and the establishment of the school has greatly advanced the cause of education in the South.
 3. Other Southern Schools.--While summer schools for teachers were con- ducted in some of the Southern States prior to the opening of the Summer School of the South. they were con ducted upon a limited scale. and that school may rightfully be considered a new movement so far as this section is concerned. Although the attendance there has gone above 2,000, it is realiz- ed that thousands of teachers will never be accommodated. unless similar schools shall be established in each of the States. It Is plain that for such instruction as can be provided in each of the States during the summer months, there is a widespread and pressing demand. It Is gratifying that in nearly every State efforts are being made to meet this demand.
 During last summer, schools for teachers were conducted at the Univer- sities of Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky. Mississippi. Missouri, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia. Though l have failed to obtain information to that effect, 1t Is probable that in every State some effort was mada to maintain such an institution. It may be that in some instances the school amounted to nothing more than the old-time sum mer normal
 AAE NhVNEAmCAN OVYOENuMEs
 1. The Professional Uplift.-So far as the South Is concerned, the summer school movement came none too soon. An awakening along professional lines was sorely needed. Educational ad- vancement has been greatly hindered by lack of professional spirit. Till recently, and even now in some places, with most people engaged in the work, teaching has not been looked upon as a high and noble calling--a profession of the greatest importance, of the highest dignity. It has been entered upon without special preparation as a temporary matter, as a stepping stone to something else considered better, and therefore more to be desired. Time not spent in the school room has been occupied in preparation forEssomething else. As a result, teachers have cared little for their work and have been but poorly prepared for it.
 Since teaching has come to be re- garded as a thing not to be ashamed of as a respectable calling, men and women are choosing 1t as a life work. and are beginning to realize the ne- cessity for spending their vacations in such way as better to equip them for efficient service. The vacation school offers this opportunity. and the figures quoted show that they are taking ad- vantage of it, and in increasing num- bers. They are learning that 1t is most unwise to worK two-thirds of the year and Idle away the remaining third; that what Is needed for recrea- tton is not cessation of effort, but va-