The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-08-13
NEED PREPARATION
NEGRO TEACHERS WANT AID FROM
 THE STATE.
!. R. E. Lee of Tuskegee, President ef The state Association of Negro Teachers, Confers With
 GsunnsIs,

Led by ! R B. Lee, of Tuskegee. President of the State Association of Negro Teachers, a delegation of promi- nent negroes of Alabama had q confer ence yesterday with Hon. H. c. Gun nels. State Superintendent of Eiuca- State would aid in the work of better 1 education of the negro teachers of the | state.
 The delegation especially stressed | the matter of summer school for | normal work and assured Superinten- dent Gunnels that the negroes them selves would help the movements 1 In order to put their ideas into for mai shape an address on the subject was submitted to the Department of Education which was as follows:
 Hon. Harry c. Gunnels. Superintendent of Education for l State of Alabama, Montgomery, Ala.
 Honored sir:-'we, committee sociation. and representing teachers in several different Congressional Dis- tricts, wish in the first place. to as-> sert anew our confidence in your administration, and assure you of our own deep appreciation of the interest on your part, and on the part of the white people of Alabama, in the wei fare of the colored people. l Knowing this. your deep and hearty interest, we feel the more free to call upon you when considering our needs, and to ask your favorable considera- ton and help.
 "The state under official direction, has made wise provision at A and M. l College, Normal. Ala. at the State Normal School, Montgomery. Ala, and at the Tuskegee Institute, for prepar- ing colored teachers for the public schools of the state. We are deeply grateful for these provisions. Through these schools in large measure. teachers are sent out to serve in the sixty-seven counties of Alabama, and are a great credit and help to the state in its development of the colored people.
 Further Preparation Needed. l "The teachers thus sent out from the state schools. and other institu- tions, would not be worthy of the ad- vantages they have had, nor of the name of teachers. if they were satis- fled with their first preparation for l teaching.
 They are satisfied. and thus this | committee. We wish to express the desire on the part of the teachers to have provisions for further prepara- ton during their course as teachers. each summer. It As our feeling. that | unless we are able to make some pro- 1 gross year after year. as teachers, we | are not serving the state as 1t should be served.
 So far as individuals, and as is within our power through our State Association, with your cooperation, some efforts are made to give inspira- ton and suggestions for better preparation each year. In addition to this, we wish to ask that you con sider the giving of the colored teach CTS of the state something in the way of summer normal, or summer-insti- ute work.
 No Provisions. | There are no provisions by the state for the least training in summer normals or summer institutes for | colored teachers. We should be leep- | ly grateful if either one large sum- mer school might be provided for colored teachers. or that number of summer institutes in the various Con- gressional Districts. | The several thousand colored teach CTS cannot keep abreast with the pro- | gress of methods in teaching, or with l the new practical phases of education l which now obtain. without some such help If we could have summer i'm stitute for every two or three Con- Rressional districts, under the direc- | ton. and partially supported by the state we believe that large gain in the proper teaching could be had. We note that in some way or an- other, almost every Southern State, ex- cept ours. makes some provision for the summer training of colored teach- CTS. Through these. the teachers are l compelled to make a study of the latest | and most practical methods or teach | ing More and more our own State IS l demanding better teaching and indus l trial work in the public schools:-sew- | epfn r. ure especially. The vast majority Of the teachers, even the very willing1~are unable to do much in teaching these in- dustries without some special training. If this special training could come through the summer institutes. we be- lieve that great good would be oo- tained.
 You will, I know. pardon us for ref erence to what we regard a good ex- ample of what is being done along this line in the State of Louisiana. In this State there has just closed four sum mer institutes for colored teachers. each lasting six weeks: each under the immediate direction of the State Su- perintendent. Through him, teachers were brought into the State 10 teach the colored teachers cooking, sewing gardening and agriculture. This teach ing was done by actual demonstration in the most practical home and farm
 
 much feel that something of this kind would be a vast help to us. Our teach era may study in theoretical way, books on these subjects. but until they have had presented to them. the man ner in which they may teach the sub iects. it will be practically impossi- ble for them to do much efficient work If is our opinion. that nothing will | serve better In inducing our people to have pleasant homes in the country and especially the young people to re main on the farms. than the propeT kind of teaching on the part of the rural teachers This proper teaching they can become efficient in doing, if we can have every summer some prac- ttcal summer institute.
 We do not attempt to suggest what you shall do, or how you shall do 1t; we take this matter only to call your attention to the earnest desire on the part of several thousand colored teachers of the, State. feeling sure that whatever may b. in your power in this direction. you will do.
 We feel also. from talking with the strong white men in our various dis- tricts. that you will have. in whatever you attempt for the betterment of the colored teachers. their hearty cooper ation.
 If institutes could be held for but two weeks. much good would be the result.
 Respectfully, A, H. Parker. Principal Negro High School Birmingham.
 R. B Hudson. Principal Clarke School.