The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-07-31
SUMMER SCHOOL
HAS HAD MARVELLOUS GROWTH
During Present Session 1850
Students in Attend
ancc.s
l22 COURSES OFFERED
Twenty-tour States Are Repre-.
scnted Among Members
Enrolled.
ny DIR. BRUCE n. pArNE.

BY Dir. BRUCE II. FAM
The University OF Virginia Summer
JchooI. as at present organized, Is the
direct outgrowth OF the Summer School
Of Methods as conducted 50 ably by
superintendent Glass. Of Lynchburg.
in Charlottesville and in various other
cities of the state for ffteen or twenty
years.
The steady growth OF the summer
school since the university assumed
control OF 1t four years ago has been
one OF the pleasing features OF the adj
ministrative life or the University dur
ing recent years This growth has
been shown by the Increase In the
number OF students, the increase IN
the number OF instructors, and the
increase In the number Of well pre-
pared students taking advantage OF
the summer course OF instruction.
The attendance during the summer
preceding the university's control
amounted to something over $50 In
1907 there were 5oi students regis
tered in 1908 there were sos; in 1909
there were LA. There are 1880 In
the present session
There were thirty-two instructors
In the session OF 1907. There were
forty-three In 1908. and forty-five In
1909. There are sixty two In the pres
trained and experienced teachers. All
of them have had college training; at
least th!rty-two OF the men hold mas
ter's or doctors degrees.
1c2 Courses OHered.
In 1907 there were s!xty-three
courses offered: In 1908 there were
ninety-four: in 1909. l0l courses were
provided. while in 1900 there are pro-
vided 122 courses of instruction. Many
- ~ q yI.h
Others are provided for the training
OF teachers, and still others for COL
lege preparatory students who lack
one or two subjects in their prepara-
ton to meet the new entrance re-
auiremsrts OF the university.
The summer school IL conducted prt-
marily for teachers and students in
high schools. academies and colleges.
II takes as its peculiar province, not
the ordinary summer institute. nor
the more popular and inspirational
summer school, but the solid and sub
stantial training OF high school teach
ers, college teachers, college students.
Because the courses OF instruction in
high schools are not clearly defined.
but merge into the grammar grades
below and into the lower college
classes above, the high school offers
itself as strategic centre around
phasis OF which is upon subject mat
ter. The Justification OF such sum-
mer school for high school teachers is
the unusual activity in the South just
now In behalf of secondary education.
The large number OF high school and
college teachers attending the summer
school is an additional proof OF the
need OF such a school.
The distribution OF enrolment Is one
OF the striking features each session.
There are twenty-four States repre-
scented and ninety-four OF the hundred
counties Of Virginia. 1t is notable
also that while the University Summer
School has grown rapidly of It's own
strength and by Its own inherent vir-
tues. 1t has not grown at the expense
OF the various normals being held In
different parts OF the state, estab-
lished by Superintendent Eggleston
some years ago. It bids for and re-
ceives Its patronage from those teach
ers who are working for professional
certificates and from high school
teachers. Because Of the superior re-
sources at Its command. the University
Summer School has been designated by
the State as the only summer school
to award the professional certificate,
which Is the States most important
teaching certificate.
Adjustment of Courses.
In reading the catalogue one cam
not fail to be impressed with the adj
Iustment of courses of study with
present needs OF education In the
South. This is especially noteworthy
in the case of such subjects as agri-
culture. cooking, manual training and
drawing. There are $50 students taxi
Ing agriculture at present. When one
stops to think that this number Is
probably greater than the total num-
Der of students pursuing that subject
in any five agricultural and mechan-
ical colleges of the South it can be
seen what the summer school is con-
tributinE to the teaching OF agricul.
ture. There are about $50 people
taking cooking and sewing: probably
200 taking manual training, and 500
taking drawing Besides these indus
trial subjects, 1t Is probably true that
no summer school In the country has
more men Of full professional rank
Ing offering subjects Of academic
grade. BY these means students are
able to make up time lost In the win
country. and college professors are
able to increase their knowledge OF
sheir speclalties.
In addition to It's function as a
seachIng body. the Summer School has
~.~Ard to Its obligations to society as
whole. There are held at the Sum.
ner School during the year various
meetings and conferences bearing
upon social economic and reli-
gious problems of the day, with the
hope that through the teachers. the
press and the public definite con-
tribution will be made toward the
solving of those problems veSing pres
snt-day society. Each summer there
Ire series Of addresses on Sunday
school problems and religious educa-
lion on the prevention Of disease, on
improved agriculture, etc, The most
+ Important Of these conferences Is the
rural life conference. Speakers are
brought from various parts of the
country to address the public and
teachers assembled upon such ques-
lions as good roads. improved farming,
household sanitation. etc. These adj
dresses are printed and distributed