The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1911-08-11

SCHOOLS nelu meeting at ST. Paul
yesterday and considered the matter
of providing courses i'm agriculture
in the normal schools in view of the
demand for principals and teachers
for the consolidated country schools
who are capable of teaching agricul-
ture and manual training, among 9TH
er things. The movement for these
consolidated country schools is be-
coming strong. and trained teachers
must be provided, and the presidents
felt that it was up to the normals
to fill the demand.
Ii was decided to provide at least
two courses in agriculture i'm each
of the normal schools, beginning in
the fall. the subjects to be taught
two-thirds of year i'm the advanced
course.
All of the presidents came to Man
kato to attend the meeting of the
state normal board today. They are
Presidents G. +. Maxwell of Winona.
w. A. Shoemaker of st. Cloud. F. A.
Weld Of Moorhead. f. w. Bohannon
of Duluth and c. III. Cooper of this
city.
Dearth of Learned Ones.
The st. Paul Dispatch refers to
the meeting yesterday as follows:
Such dearth of school superin-
tendents competent to teach book
lore and agriculture exists in Mime
sofa that c. G. Schulz, superintend-
ent of public instruction, has called
in the presidents OF the normal
schools for conference today, and
the situation they are facing is under
discussion at the Saint Paul hotel.
The law passed by the last legisla-
ture providing for consolidation in
rural districts prescribed require
ments that all superintendent can
not meet, and just what must be
done is to be determined.
The new law gives state aid to
school consolidation, provided, among
other things. that the principal of
each shall be normal school grad
uate and must have training, like
wise. in agriculture. 1t also pre-
scribes that one of the assistants in
each school must have training in
home economies, such as sewing and
cooking.
instructors Hard to Get
Up to the present time there have
been about fifteen rural school con-
solicitations, and it is found that each
ers who meet the requirements are
about as scarce as ward bosses when
the grand jury meets. Plenty there
are who can satisfactorily teach what
the books tell. and plenty there are
who can teach agriculture, but there
is a sad lack of those who are COM
petent to teach what is told in the
books and advanced agriculture, too.
The demand for those who can
practically consumes the present sup
ply and Superintendent Schulz looks
for at least fifty consultations OF
districts before the year has ended.
Where competent principals can be
found 20 meet this increased demand
is the question being discussed to-
day.
Must Look to the Normals.
1--WE will have to do something at
the normal schools" Mr.. Schulz said.
"The supply must come from them.
Agriculture has been taken up In
them only within the past year and
the crop OF graduates now is small.
A certificate of graduation from
state normal school entities the hold
er to teach for two years. and is a
lifetime certificate if the holder
teaches continuously.
Problem of Supplying Teachers.
The problem Of supplying the
teachers for the new rural school
is very dinicult one," said q. f.
Maxwell. "a man or woman to be
an ideal teacher in agricultural dis
tricts must be trained not only in
agricultural subjects but in the
wider aspects of country life. The
teacher must instill into his little
pupil the germ that will later de-
velop into a full-grown love of the
country.
ct is wonderful work these
teachers have before them. The
rural school through consolidation is
lust coming into its own. The rural
home through the rapid mail service
bv rural free delivery and the high
class, low priced newspaper and
magazine is undergoing revolution
distinct and different from all other
reformations 1t is not merely a
craze that has sprouted full grown
in a single night; it's growth has
been gradual and will be permanent.
1--WE think many women and men
will appreciate the great Opportuni-
ties for doing good work, and also
look with favor on the increased re-
enumeration to be obtained by taking !
this new course. I'm few years
do not doubt we will have all the |
trained rural school teachers we will
need The addition of this course !
will also be of great benefit to the
normal schools of the state"
Pttsburg, Pa, Aug. S.-A real old
fashioned "hog. killing time" is what
is promised the butchers from some
forty states who are in attendance
today at the initial session of the
twenty-lifth annual national conven-
ton of the United Master Butchers
&C Annrica Tho convention is eX- l