The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-11-22
So Declares DR.. P. B. Barrin-
ger in Address Before
Industrial Educators
VA. "TECH" PRESID'T
SAYSMORE PRACTICAL
STUDENTS ARE NEEDED
State Teachers Assemble in
Richmond for Annual Con-
ference--Prof. Mcconnell
Discusses Latin
Instruction.

SA(%C09 IpIAES W pbls abodL VitN
boy in fifty who leaves school at an
early age and goes into the world
without completing his education al
high school or college, according to
DIR. Paul Il. Barringer, president of
the Virginia Polytechnic Institute, who
delivered an address Tuesday before
the Industrial department of the yir-
ginia Education Conference at Me-
chanics Institute.
The type OF boy who succeeds I'M
der these circumstances Is an ever
lasting source of worry and study to
college authorities said DIR. Har
ringer in the course of his address.
because OF the numbers influenced
to leave school too early by reason
OF his success. Such boys are rare.
They belong to a type that could do
almost as well without any teacher.
But this is not appreciated by the
kenera! public, and so the example
stands.
That the college should not rob the
high school and that the latter should
prepare a hoy for life. above all else.
was the keynote of DIR. Barringer's
talk. His general theme was the re-
lation Of the State College, of Agri-
cultural to the agricultural high
schools.
Need Practical Students
To-day he went on. colleges
need more students OF practical bent
Too often this class OF boy finds moth
ing to appeal to him at high school.
and one year OF STUDY II about the
most to be expected OF him. In equip
ping boys for college the high schools
should sssk tn send thsm on better
prepared, for the hoy on reaching
co.zege frequently things that he IL
mentally Incapable when no grappies
thi1 Or that subject ana finda that he
II not able to comprehend It. In many
Of such cases. lack Of preparation In
the real trouble, and the boy not In
frequently leaves college totally dis
couraged.
1T Ii better that these boys should
be turned .down when they apply for
admission. Such stand on the part
Of the college authorities will do jus
tend to improve the standard of prep
aratory schools.
High schools Important
"rpbuilding OF the high schools is
easily the most important question In
Virginia education to-day. First Of
all, these schools should begin by CIV
ing three-fourths OF their curriculum
to studies of a practical nature. the
remaining studies being academic
The second year academic and prac-
teal might be more equally divided
The balance might be inverted the
third and fourth years
Former Governor A. ]. Montague
will preside A. toastmaEer at this
luncheon, and when the proper time
arrives he will call upon Mayor David
Crockett Richardson to introduce
President Taft to tho guests Then will
come speech. which IL expected to
prove OF far more than ordinary in
terest.
Practical Appliances Needed.
Professor Lindsey Crawiey. OF Ap-
pomattox. began with q ten minute
discussion OF the Aim and Methods
OF Instruction declaring that no pupil
should be given instruction in axri-
cultural schools without an oppor-
tunity for expression. In other words,
the pupil should not only have the
advantage OF teacher and books but
practical appliances ~ we'll.
He was followed by Professor J. c.
Stiles. OF Chester. who urged the use
OF experiment plots. whenever possi-
BILE. In connection with AGRICULTURAL
school training.
Professor J. II. Hutcheson, Of Mid
dietown. discussing agricultural extern
sion work. said II was first necessary
for the teacher In rural districts 10
mix with the farmer and an far a.
possible give him new pointers on the
art OF filling the soil and getting n
living out Of 1t.
Give Farmer Pointers.
1T the schools in the country are
to 90 ahead and succeed" ne said.
the farmer must be impressed with
the fact that the Instructor or his
children In agricultural subjects knows
his business. After all, the farmer