The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1911-08-01

IFS u l41fe@-
ship is constantly increasing Among
| the books read in these reading err
cles during the year We're Rltchie ,
Primer of Sanitation. Jean Mitchell s
School. McMurry's How to Study. and
Dinsmore's Teaching a District School-
There has unquestionabiy been d
marked Improvement in the efhclehcE
and professional spirit of the rural
teachers.
Rural School Supervision.
There is an evidence OF a grow
ing desire among the county supeIln-
tendents for more thorough probes
sional preparation for their work
More county superintendent are en-
tering the work to devote their ehtlre
time to the cause Of the schools some
of them are attending Columbia Uni.
! versity. the East Carolina Teachers
Training School and other colleges and
universities for summe courses IN
school supervision and administration.
This is an encouraging sign.
Our Supervisor Of Rural Elementary
schools has been working with the
county superintendent for two years,
as students together. trying to con-
centrate upon the most vital prob
lens of supervision. such as how en-
rollment and may be IN
creased. the elimination of tardinesS,
how the superintendent can help his
schools most in his visitation, and bet
ter ~gradation and classification of
pupils. They have accomplished a
great deaI by showing teachers VIA
helpful things they may do during the
week Just before the opening Of the
school to Ia ready for the school
term. Some counties have worked out
a practical plan for the graduation
Of the pupils of the county from the
elementary schools. The Supervisor
hoe y;Ci+Ol cchnnfc with fbn c1J T1nrIn-
tendents and studied the needs of the
individual school and discussed them
with the Superintendent, also with
the teachers, such as the physical con-
dition of the school room. its heat
ing. lighting, ventilation, its appear
EDUCATIONAL TT
ance. its comfort and equipment. the
condition of the school yard and its
provision for sanitation, the teachers
daily program, the course of study,
methods Of teaching, etc.
The last Legislature made provision
for the transportation of pupils at
public expense in consolidated dis
tricts. A few counties have arranged
tc inaugurate this feature which in
other States long ago passed beyond
the experim entail stage. The super
visor has prepared a bulletin on Con-
s%olidation Of Schools and Public
Transportation Of Pupils. This is the
result of a thorough study OF the
actual operation of this feature. The
bulletin Will be published by the early
fall. am sure it will exceed
ingly useful to the superintendent and
boards OF education all over the State.
On the whole, superintendent are
making marked advance in their
work. They are loyal to their trusts.
They are putting their hearts and their
time into the cause, although re-
m I nnTatin QXcant IN rarn instances
is far from adequate.
Teaching Health in the Schools.
A plea for simple practical instruc-
ton Of the rising generation through
the public schools in the simple laws
of health and sanitation was started
by the State Department Of Public In
struction in cooperation with the
State Board Of Health about two
years ago. Bulletins dealing with
these subjects in a concise and simple
way have been and dis
tributed to the teachers Of the State.
In this way we have tried to bring
the power of the elementary school
tC bear in a most vital way upon the
community where it exists, and by
this health work among the children
reach every home and help to increase
health, dispel disease, make life longer
and the whole community happier
and better.
The first of these, "A Manual Of
Physiology and Hyg1ene,' gives gen
eral outlines for a three-years' course,
beginning when the child first enters
school, and covering a period in which
heretofore there was no prescribed in
stfuctiOn in these subjects. 1t deals
in a simple, practical way with the
child in his everyday environment
in home n school, n with the
simple hygienio laws affecting the
everyday life of the child. This bull
letin was used in the teachers in
! stitutes last summer and later put
into practically all the public schools.
A bulletin on Eyes and Ears" was
next prepared under the direction of
| the Secretary of the State Board of
Health. 1t is intended to give, help