The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-05-15

Now that all the rural schools have
closed for the session. and in a few
days the last high school will have
closed, the time for reflection comes.
Colcridge says that there is one art
of which man should be master, and
that is reflection. The last teachers
meeting has been held. and look to
the past Is now in order
The fundamental idea of success
full school must have. as its basis, the
interest of the teacher in each pupil
The modern trend is undoubtedly
toward study of the individuality OF
the child. The parents, of course.
have large share in the success Of a
school, but It is the teachers interest
which goes to make pupils look for
and attain the best in life. The
teacher must have the welfare of the
child at heart. and not leave the
school room in the evening with no
thought of the morrow, but instead,
Should be ever planning something
which would further stimulate the pu-
Pill to do better work,
AT the Educational Conference in
the speakers made the remark that
there were too many "novices" teach
ing school nowadays. and this fact he
| ascribed to the failure of the public
schools. up to few years ago, teach
crs being given certificates 10 stand
before the young people OF this State
and attempt to train the young minds.
when. as a matter of fact, they should
be in some normal training school
where the erstwhile teacher might
gain some idea which would tend 10
give the pupil larger and more glo-
rious view of mis- surroundings. teach
the child with the idea in mind that
the future of this grand old Common
wealth depends on the Inspiration
which must be instilled by the teacher.
for if the teacher possess not this
inspiration. what hope have we for
the future generations?
In an issue of the Virginia Journal
of Education, before Christmas, there
was an article under the caption, The
Aim of Instruction. and how many of
us who are teachers come within the
category as outlined by eX-President
BInford. of the State Teachers Asso-
citation, when he remarked that there
were too nanTa men and women
teaching who are apending few
years In the school room merely as a
stepping stone to other work? Such
teachers have no aim. in sd far as
the true idea of teaching the young is
concerned
Needs of Rural School.
AS to the matter of the rural school,.
so much is involved that the subject
needs very careful study. especially
when we consider that about so per
cent of all the school children arc in
the rural districts. What we need
here in Orange county is more
thorough knowledge of just such
things which will interest and be Of
use to the country pupil, and not to
try to have a city school in the rural
districts. Country schools for coun-
try life is motto to be thought over
and studied by many of our teachers.
and the introduction of agriculture in
our schools is a good evidence of the
growing Importance of farm life.
Addison says, "A statue lies hid in
a block of marble, and the art of stat
uary only clears away the superfluous
matter and removes the rubbish.
Thus it is with the teacher not so
much to imprint q character upon the
child, but rather by interest In that
child to bring out in the best way
the character implanted there by the
Divine Being.
It is not the purpose of this article
to go into a detailed statement of
, educational methods, but rather to
present the conditions as they exist in
Orange county.
So many teachers have awakened
from state Of lethargy that even