The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-09-10
BUSY PREPARING
 SCHOOL MANUAL
GUNNELLs MEETS EDUCATORS TO DISCUSS MEANS OF GETTING MORE UNIFORMITY IN TEACHING ELEMENTARY BRANCHES

A number of the leading educators mingham yesterday. the results of which should mean a long step forward | in the efficiency of the elementary l schools of the state.
 The conference was called by State | Commissioner of Education Harry c. Gunnells and was for the purpose of completing data and material for a manual for teachers in the elementary schools of Alabama.
 Heretofore there has been no uni | formity in the methods of teaching the different branches in the primary schools. Many of the teachers that go out to teach the country schools, for instance, are young and inexperienced. Many of them are young women They have their individual ideas of how to
 teach certain studies, some of them more or elss practicable and accord
 ing to the best methods.
 The object of the manual which will
 be issued by the department is to lay | guidance of these teachers. The rules will not be compulsory but merely for | reference.
 Superintendent Gunne1ls has called in | to service in the preparation of the work the most expert educators in | the different lines of study in the state They have been at work in dividually for some weeks and the meeting yesterday was for the purpose of comparing notes and going over the ma terial that has been prepared. The book will be off the press and ready for distribution by October l. Commissioner Gunnells said: Tt is my | opinion that such a manual as we are having prepared will do more to put | the elementary schools of Alabama on
 uniform basis than anything else
 that can be done. We have in Alabama great number of teachers who have no clear idea of the best method of
 giving instruction in some of the stud | ies that are required to be taught in the sch ools.
 "The manual that the department Is having prepared is intended for guide to teachers in all these studies. The different branches are being treat ed by experts In the different lines. "This conference is for the purpose of comparing notes and rounding up the work. The manual should be in the hands of the teachers by October and I believe 1t will be of great value in improving the elementary school system of Alabama"
 The following we'll known educators took part in the conference and are assisting in the work of preparing the tea achers manual:
 William F. Feagin, chief clerk of the department of education; Principal E. E Smith, of the Martin school, Bir- mingham; Prof. I. w. McAdory, super intendent of education Jefferson coun- ty; Miss Margaret McAdory, instruct or of drawing in the Jefferson county schools; Assistant Superintendent N. R. Baker of the Birmingham schools; President D. s. Burleson, of the Flor ence normal school; Professor l.. N. of the Alabama Polytechnic institute President J. P. Hobdy, of the Seventh district agricultural sch ool; Superin- tendent W. F. Striplin, of the Gads- den schools; Pres. c. w. Daugette, of the Jacksonville normal college President F. W. Shackelford, of the Troy normal college; Professor J. J.
 
 Superintendent P. w. Hodges, of the Greenville schools; Mrs. Maud Truitt, of the Mobile public schools.