The Richmond climax. (Richmond, Ky.) 1897-1914, 1911-07-26
Madison County Teachers
Hold One of the Most Profit
able Institutes, in Years, as
We'll as the Most Enjoyable
Supt. Coates an Excellent In
Structor.
lclimax specIal correspondencel

tCllmax Special Correspondence
The child, the home and the school
are themes that occupied the attention
of Madison county teachers throughout
most successful and profitable Insti.
tute.
Monday morning July 10, the teachers
Of Madison county gathered in the
handsome new Caldwell High School
Auditorium and followed throughout
the week the earnest and devoted
leadership of Superintendent John
holland, State Supervisor t. J. Coats
as instructor and Miss Mary Traynor
musical director.
Mr. holland started the work with a
brief outline of the duties of each
teacher for the week and for the follow
ing school term
Mr. Coats introduced Prof. F. c.
Clark Of the Department of Agriculture
Of Berea College who in spite of his
boyish appearance, soon convinced the
audience that he is master OF his
subject.
He told how to use the interests OF
the children and parents in having
school fairs, how to conduct a school
corn show, how to teach corn testing
and cultivating for the boys as well as
aporn contests and cooking contests
for the girls. He also suggested that
our farmers should learn to test their
soil and fertilize it properly to use the
stock skilfully in doing the heaviest and
greater part Of the work and
finally to stir the soil deep and cultivate
it shallow. One of the few talks we hear
full of theory that may be put into
actual and immediate practice. Mr.
Coats followed up Prof. Clark's talk.
Supporting all his suggestions especial
ly concerning the need for seed testing
and selection and fertilizing. He again
urged that seed corn should be selected
on the stalk and not in the crib since an
ear from weak or diseased stalk
might be selected after gathering
Further it was urged that most of the
fertilizer now used acted upon the soil
just as the many kinds Of worthless
patent medicines serve the human body
and instances given showing that one
kind Of fertilizer is sold in one state
under several thousand different names.
Mr.. Coats in conclusion said that the
purpose OF this Institute was to make
people think and to get an efficient
school in every district in the county.
This he called the Bigger Game for
which all teachers should prepare. He
defined an efficient school as The
school that teaches the children OF
causes them to learn the things neces-
sarY for them to know in order to enable
them to live better lives. that the
home cannot or does not teach them tc
know.
Committees were named, the rol
called showing an excellent record OF
attendance and short recess given fol
the Program committee TO arrange the
afternoon work.
The program this year was a mos
systematic one as arranged by Mr.. L.
n. Taylor, First Clerk Of the Depart
ment OF education. 1t gave the WORK
in divisions, assigning subjects viii
TOPICS and sub topics so that eacf
teacher placed on the program had nc
difficulty in understanding just wha
the subject demanded. After reces
the announcements were made, thl
Program committee reported and thu
Institute adjourned until l;30 p. NJ.
The Monday afternoon session wa
called to order at 1870. The differen
teachers on the program responded
IcheerfulIy. special pleasure being
given by Prof. F. c. McDougle's tail
on the aim OF the school" Prof