Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1906-08-04
In Gratifying Man
ner Says Superin-
tendent Hadley
INSPECTION TOUR 800 MILES
Includes Trip to College Of
Agriculture---Some Valu-
able Suggestions.

Gently returned from an official VISIT
to several teachers institutes IN Une
counties of the Territory, was greatly
pleased with the work being done
there. However, he found a number
of suggestions and in several talks 10
the teachers gave them some good ad'
vice. In speaking of his trip to
New Mexican reporter, professor
Hadley said:
"This is the season for holding
teachers institutes, and | try to look
in upon as many of them as can;
but in this Territory OF dntermlnaDle
distances, find it a great task TO
meet with many of them.
During my last trip travelled over
800 miles and visited the institute OIL
Sandoval County, the joint institute
of Socorro and Sierra Counties, and
the institute of Lincoln County held
at White Oaks. | also attended a
meeting of the regents OF the Col
lege of Agriculture and Mechanic
Arts. Teachers institutes have come
10 be an essential factor in the school
systems of all states. They are the
schools in which teachers are trained
for their duties for the coming year.
The attendance of the teachers is re-
uuired by law. All good teachers are
anxious to attend and become better
prepared for their work. Many So
called teachers attempt to dodge them,
and it is a safe rule in selecting q
teacher to pass the dodgers by and
let them remain at home. Such do
not possess the spirit of the teacher,
and are dear at any price.
Noticed Many Gratifying Improve.
nlents.
81 am greatly gratified al the evi.
dent Improvement in the character
of the institutes this year, have
never seer better index of the en-
terprise and intelligence of county
than the institute, and from the in
stitute it does not take one of exper-
ience very long to correctly estimate
the county in these respects. There is
a large margin of difference in insti-
tutes, but / do not want to RISK my
personal safety by being too specific
in my statements as to where TO md
the best and where the poorest.
will however, venture to point out
some of the characteristic differences
Here is one institute held for the pur-
pose of complying with the law. The
fewest number of days is consumed
in Its session, and each day is made
as short as possible; the tasks as
signed are such that little interest is
aroused in anything attempted, The
instruction is in the form OF lectures,
that receive little or no response from
the listless attenders. Another class
of institutes has for conductors teach
ers who understand the school bust
ness, and know just how to sympa-
thize with the young teacher in
school work At the end of the first
day, he has every member of the in
stitute aroused to a proper sense OF
the importance of the work in which
they are engaged. During the ses-
sions. the conductor so manages his
audience that every mind is actively
participating in the discussion OF
whatever topic is under consideration
During the afternoon and evening re-
cesses, the members of the institute
are found gathered into groups work
ing out the questions assigned for
the next days session. Such an in
stitute becomes a source of inspira
tion to many young teachers, and II
IS no exaggeration to claim that many
of the most successful have in such
institutes received that peculiar
awakening that has ultimately given
them great success. During my last
trip | found just such institutes, ant
there can be no question that the
schools of the coming year will bt
the gamers from the work that is be
ing done.
Fine Course Of Study Adopted for
Schools.
"The territorial board of education
has adopted fine course of stud.
for the common schools, and one i'm
portant work of these institutes is Il
familiarize the teachers with thi'
course of study. I confidently expec
great results in unifying and improv
ing the work of the schools through
this course of study and the institutes
Scarcity Of Teachers is Quite Appar
ent.
Judging by the attendance at tn
Institutes there is an apparent scaI
city of teachers. But do not worry
Plenty of outside teachers want t.
come to New Mexico. My advice !
to let the New Mexico teachers VIII
will not attend the institute and quail
fy themselves for their work remail
at home and hunt some other en-
ployment. At best, poor teachers ar
worth very little in the school room
| feel greatly encouraged over man
things. Especially do l want to mer
tion the way in which the poll tax |
being collected I predict that tn
year 1906 will witness four times a
much poll tax collected as any prt
Yious year. When the reports are |