The Palatka news. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1905-1908, 1907-04-19
State University Notes.

DR.. Yocum, head of the Depart.
ment of Education, has arranged fol
a series of lectures upon subjects OF
special interest to teachers. The
first of these lectures was given by
President Sledd, his subject being
"The Teaching Profession" DIR.
Sledd took the high ground that on
ly those persons highly qualified
Internationally, combined with an ir-
reproachable moral character and a
great spirit of self sacrifice, should
enter the teaching profession. Those
seeking riches as we'll as those seek
ing a soft snap" in the profession
are doomed to disappointment.
| While many teachers would be dear
at any price the majority are doing
a high grade of work for very low
pay. The average yearly pay of a
teacher in Florida is seven dollars
less than the yearly pay of a convict,
while it is less than half that of an
average negro laborer. Neverthe-
less, DR.. Sledd held out great en-
courage to young men wishing to en-
ter the profession in the forcible
manner in which he showed the
great spiritual reward in the con-
uplift given to fellow man, and in
the feeling Of mental power that
comes from honest preparation for
the work.
The second lecture of the series was
given by DR.. Benton on the subject
1.-The Spectroscope." The announce
ment of lecture by DR.. Benton is
always pleasing one to the students
and they greeted him with their
usual large and enthusiastic attend
ance.
Mrs. Schmidt and Mrs. Grow have
been furnishing some excellent mu-
sic as a variation TO the lecture pro-
grams. The number presented by
Mrs. Crow giving representative COM
position from English, Scotch, Ger
man, and French authors.
The course of study in the Depart
ment of Agriculture has been revised
so that students entering the SUBJ
freshman year can get some work in
agriculture. This provision was
made in order that some profession
al training can be Immediately given
to backward students from the farm
who might wish to enter the college
of agriculture and work their way
through. A short course in agricul-
ture has also been provided consist
ing of two years work in practical
studies. The only requirements for
admission to the short course are a
thorough knowledge of the common
school branches and an earnest de-
sire to profit by the work.
DR.. Sledd recently gave a talk in
chapel in which some interesting and
instructive statistics were presented.
While our attendance is not as great
as it ought to be, in view of the lib
eral provisions made by the state
and National Government for higher
education, we have more male stu
dents in attendance here in proper
ton to the population of Florida
than are in attendance at the State
Universities of Texas, Alabama, or
Tennessee, in proportion to the pop
ulation of these states. Another in
teresting fact presented, and one
perhaps not generally known in the
state is that the state of Florida has
expended less than ten thousand
dollars this year in the maintenance
of the University, the remainder of
its running expenses being provided
by the National Government. The
recent legislature in Missouri gave
over eight hundred thousand dol
lars to the University of Missouri to
be expended during the next two
years, besides providing an equiva-
lent sum for other state institutions.
Gainesville, Fla. April 18th, 1907.