The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1908-03-19

pay little or no attention to the de-
mands of higher institutions, but
rather let them adjust themselves
to the needs of the atively
few pupils who come to them from
such schools. 1t may be impossible
at this time to secure the kind Of
teachers necessary TO do this quail
ty of work, but this should be no
objection when planning for the
future. We should set our goal,
outline Our course, and then pro-
vide an opportunity for the prepa-
ration of teachers. Any good teach
er who has had scientific training
and who has desire for useful ser
vice and sympathy with the coun-
try people, can soon develop into a
fine teacher and leader in this great
rural school problem. Personally
we are looking forward to time in
the near future when teachers will
make this line of work a speciality.
Rather than teach in the country
merely to get experience enough to
enter the town, men will live in the
community, do a certain amount of
real farming, teach the township
high school, and work out this ru-
raj problem at first hand; then and
not until then can we hope for
real solution of this problem. What
a wonderful opportunity is here
presented for the progressive young
teacher with these qualifications
The present course of study is
probably as good as could be had
under the circumstances, and in the
past has enabled us to do some ex-
cellent work, but in view of the
great awakening and rapid advance
ment i'll all things pertaining to ru-
raj provements, we venture to
make few suggestions in the hope
of being helpful.
We believe that the course should
be more definite. If every teacher
and all the directors were ideal,
this might not be necessary, but in
view of present conditions, it would
help materially if the course were
prepared somewhat in detail accord
ing to subjects, with a minimum
number of study hours devoted to
each specified. We believe, if a
competent committee would inves-
tigate our State and national bulle-
tins and direct which are best suit
ed to specific purposes, much good
would result. These bulletins rep
resent the very best thought of our
greatest investigators, and several
of those recently issued seem to
have been prepared with such use
in mind. Our State course should
indicate the character and purpose
of each and designate which should
be used. The course should be
more flexible in order that it may
be readily adaptable to an agricul.
tural community, an oil region, a
manufacturing center or any other
locality. A minimum number Of
study hours for mathematics, histo-
ry, English and science should be
fixed and the school authorities of
the various localities could deter
mine the subjects best suited to
their needs.
1t seems to us that it might be
we'll to eliminate solid and possibly
plane geometry, substituting more
thorough study of the mensuration
of surfaces and solids and devoting
additional time to science. We be-
lieve that Latin has no place in
these schools and the time usually
devoted to this subject should be
spent in the study of English. The
course should be so planned as to
give maximum amount of prac-
~tice in composition as related to its
vocational aspects, aside from the
purely literary composition.
We also believe that since so
manv of theSe schools are to,oh<