Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-07-02
SCHOOL MEN TALK
Of THEIR WORK
Georgia County School Commits
sioners' Convention Marked by
Good Attendance and Many
Interesting Speeches.

TALLULAH LODGE, Ga, July l.
The secession yesterday Of the Georgia
county school commissioners conven-
ton proved to be of unusual interest
and the discussion showed conclusively
that the county school commissioners
of Georgia are not mere theorists with
visionary dreams, but a body of prac-
teal men who in their everyday educa-
tional work are meeting conditions in a
commonsense manner. .I-
Hon. B. S. Fitzpatrick, county school
commissioner. Twiggs county, delivered
forceful address on course of study
and how applied-to develop the agri-
cultural idea. He stressed the import
ance of introducing nature study work.
the very first day of the child's school
life, even in the most isolated rural
school. and eloquently portrayed the
possibilities and practicability of teach
ing of every branch in the course of
study for our rural schools directly
with reference to the pupils environ
ment, and thereby educating them, not
away from the farm but to the farm.
URGES INDUSTRIAL EDUCATION.
He suggested that the training
schools for teachers should keep. this
end clearly in view in their courses of
study and that in the regular teachers
examinations, applicants should be ex-
amined fully as to their equipment to
develop the agricultural idea.
Mr.. Fitzpatrick is in very truth an
apostle of agricultural education and
is doing a fine work in Twiggs county.
Hon. v. a. Ham. of Coweta county,
followed with an address on how the
course of study may be applied to de-
velop the industrial idea. Employing
apt illustrations he discussed the ques-
ton very clearly from the viewpoint
that mere knowledge in the potential
state is not the great disideratum. but
that kimetic knowledge is. knowledge
applied is the force that has revolu-
tionized the industrial work.
DISCUSSES GOOD ROADS.
Never has a better-prepared or more
practical paper been read before the
association than the one presented by
Professor H. p. Stone on good roads. as
applied to good schools. Professor
Stone desired the close connection be-
tween good roads and good schools. His
more than twenty years experience as
president of the board of education of
Newton county has thoroughly familiar
lied him with the necessity of good
roads in order to render practicable the
consolidation of the small spelling
school or even to maintain small
school worthy of the name.
Hon. ]. o. A. Miller, of Spalding
county. followed with a practical dis
cussion of the subject and mentioned
that the Spalding county board of edu-
cation is planning to have auto cars
built for use in transportation of pupils.
Hon. John F. Howell, of Colquitt coun-
ty discussed telephones and rural mail
delivery in their relation to the COM
mon schools. He protested against the
grind so characteristic of the long-term
| city school and declared that telephones,
rural free delivery of mail and other
oonveniences Afforded rural schools in
some respects the educational means to
better product than that of city
schools. ...
A visitor to beautiful TalluIah cannot
but be at first impressed by the new
Georgia federation school building, now
just completed. and opened Wednesday.
The interest taken by the good citizens
of Tallulah and the help given by them to
the furnishing and completion Of the
school building has been something Won
derful.
THE WORK OF WOMEN.
The school building. planned by the
federation president, Mrs. M. A. Lipscomb,
and built under her direction, Is a fine.
beautiful building, situated upon five acres
of well located, high mountain ground on
the Turnersville road about a half of
mile from the center of the town and
half way probably between the Cliff house
and the Lodge. ,-
The ground was given the federation
by Miss Sarah z. White. and is we'll
wooded and watered by fine pure spring.
The good people of Tallulah have given
help of their substance in every way pos
sibe The Odd Fellows have loaned chairs
for the opening.
Others have helped by loaning chairs
and hauling them. benches and stools
have been sent by the good town people,
and the town marshal and a number Of
young men came to the school house and
helped to unpack and place the furniture
and clean up the building. Mrs. McWhor-
ter, the president Of the Tallulah Wo-
mans club, helped all the day, and 1t
has been OF great assistance to the cause
to know that one citizen OF Tallulah has
offered five dollars a month toward the
salary of the teacher for one year, and
board for one pupil for the season. The
dedication of the school building, picture
of which Will be given in the paper later,
will be held this afternoon.