The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1908-08-06
TIE SUMNER SCHOOL,.

Charlottesville is the Mecca of
Southern educationalists. From
the far away DAYS when the great
Jefferson founded the University
of Virginia it has been regarded
as our intellectual center. The
Summer school is now a noted
feature of the work of the Univer-
sity and it is but natural that
while the South is having veri-
table renaissance, this magnIfi-
cient Institution should be the
great Centripetal and centrifugal
force drawing, to itself from all
over the land the earnest teachers
and through them sending out
life aud light to the remotest
bounds of this beautiful and bles-
sed Southland.
The session just closed has been
an eminently successful one. The
attendance of over nine hundred
teachers and students represent
ing twenty-four states of the
Union is an evidence of the way
teachers are approaching what is
being done for them. DR.. Bruce
K. Payne, Director of the school,
is an educator of high ideals,
qroad sympathies. marked mental
power AMI a genius for organiza-
ton and hard work. His thorough
oversight of the entire machinery
IS seen from beginning to end Of
the session. from the introduction
of the visiting speakers to the
minutest details affecting The ply
steal comfort of the humblest
student. His work is ably sec
onded by Mr.. c. G. Maphis, Ex-
aminer eff the Fifth Circuit and
Registrar of the Summer School.
The course Of study offered is va
ried and intensely practical. The
instructors are picked men and
women chosen because Of rare
ability and extensive experience.
The daily gathering in the audito-
rum for worship and some social
feature, as we'll as the evening
lectures, and the occasional en-
cursions to places of interest. re-
lleve the strain on the hard work
ing students. A teacher from
MARYLAND, who this year attended
Cornell and who has attended
both Harvard and Charlottesville,
considers that the Summer School
of our State is of more value than
those of these noted institutions.
Vlrglnians may rest assured that
they are getting the best that can
be given them. 1t has been our
privilege to spend a short time at
this center of opportunity, to
to gather information and catch
inspiration from the lips and
spirit of those who stand IN the
forefront of the battle which is
being waged against the forces of
Ignorance and mental darkness.
A measure of this spirit has be-
come ours and we are debtors to
be an echo sending on some of
the lessons we have learned. Let
me mention three.
I. The Commonwealth is get
ting wide awake to the needs of
the rural school. The race for
High schools was begun several
years ago and the movement then
inaugurated is going steadily for
ward. But while the Interest in
secondary education is intensi-
lying the rural school is claiming
as never before its share of atten-
ton. Nothing could be more sig
nihcant than the setting aside Of
a week during the Summer school
tor the consideration of the preb-
lem affecting rural schools and
rural life. Morning. afternoon
and evening, during this Rural
Life Week" speakers from with
out and from within the State
discussed ways and means of help
ing the country child to get his
heaven-born rights of bringing to
the country the same advantages