Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1909-04-11
The Morning Session.


 In the state present.
 The Morning Session.
 Immediately after arriving in the city the visitors were received at the magnificent Pine Bluff High School building. on South Laurel street. and shown over the building. They ex- pressed themselves as being highly pleased with the interior arrange ments and the completeness of the school building.
 Dr. Junius Jordan, superintendent of the Pine Bluff public schools, in a neat speech welcomed the visitors and in calling the conference to or der made known the objects of the session The conference organized with the election of Professor Clary as permanent chairman and profes. sor Thach as secretary.
 Professors Thach and B. w. Tor reyaon, Of Little Rock, made brief talks on the attitude of colleges and uni- versailles towards high schools and reviewed some changes that ought to be made in high school work. State Superintendent Cook made a brief talk on the general course of study, criticized the grammar schools and incidentally cited some needed changes In that department
 Dr. Junius Jordan, of the Pine Bluff schools, brought out the fact that there was entirely too much dif- ference in requirements for entrance to colleges and universities and or dinary school work of pupils prepar- ing themselves for lfe's work. 1t is impossible for high school students to prepare themselves for the present requirements of colleges and uniyer- sitiea and at the same time perfect themselves in school work
 Dr. J. l.. Caldwell, secretary of the Pine Bluff Board of Trade, made a short talk, in which he urged higher education. He said he hoped the schools, colleges and universities would reach q satisfactory agreement for the good that will result for the pupil, if nothing else.
 On motion of ]. IF. Wormack, of Stephens, the following committees 1 were named to report on the-respect- i've course of study for high schools: English committee, J. F.. Womack, Mrs. Shields and J. w. Hammond. Mathematics committee, Asa Me Cain, J. N. Williams and w. P. Keith. Science and History, J. H. Thach, F.. w. Torreyson and R. C. Bright. Latin Committee, William Town send. R. T. Benton and w. H. Buck Mrs. Shields, in submitting the re- port of the English committe, stated that the work would be kept within college requirements, allowing the teachers to select the class of books to be used In study. In the discus sion which followed Professor Town send said that course of study should be accepted that would be sat- isfactory for secondary schools as well as colleges and universities Professor Thach said the course out to be broad as we'll as uniform.
 In discussing the report of the com mittee on Mathematics, State Super intendent Cook contended that there were 300 special school districts in Arkansas which should have a say in these matters. He urged that the re- ports be printed and distributed among the superintendents and prin- cipals of the various districts and that suggestions be asked for on each report. He said the committees should then rearrange the reports and that if they were adopted within six months from now they would have the desired effect
 Dr. Jordan favored an immediate adoption of the reports, asserting that they were drawn by educators of years experience and that they knew much of the subjects handled. Others argued that they were too hatsily drawn and that the reports should be given much thought and consideration before being adopted.
 Superintendent Torreyson, of Lit- tie Rock, said nasty action on reports concerning matters which had been a problem for more than twenty years in this state would not be advisable, especially when the reports were pre- narpd in f1ffaon nninn&oa