Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1912-12-11
Rockbridge Teachers Institute at
High School Auditorium

day OF this week. and nearly "a the
teachers Of the county were in at
tendance, there being present ia
out OF the 128 teachers. The day was
devoted to lectures and teachers con-
ferences. and closed at night with a
talk on plays and athletics in country
schools and an illustrated lecture on
rural schools.
County Superintendent Efflnger
called the institute to order at IL
o'clock, and Rev. DR.. Alfred t.
Graham offered prayer. The first
speaker was President Henry Louis
Smith Of Washington ahd Lee Uni
versity, who gave a practical talk OH
some of the elements contributing
to the success of school work. He
spoke under FIVE heads, as follows;
ID Bodily Health; (2) Buoyancy :;
90 Manifest Interest; az Spirit Of
Fri endliness; 90 Personal Power.
Developing these thoughts the
speaker addressed the teachers out
of rich experience, and emphasized
the importance Of bodily health, Of
buoyancy and Astounding good will,
of personal interest in pupils, Of
friendly interest in school life and
home surroundings of pupils, and OF
proper equipment and personal
power OF the teacher to accomplish
in largest measure the proper train
ing in books and character of the
children.
Mr.. r. f. Moore Of Texas, repre-
senting publishing interests ir
drawing, gave a most interesting anC
instructive chalk talk, illustrating
the influence of drawing in tht
schools, of securing and holding the
attention of pupils, besides the value
Of such training to eye and hand.
In the afternoon teachers confer
ences were held, the various teach
ers gathering for discussions oil
problems peculiar to high school,
grammar school and primary school
Many teachers gave valuable sug
gesiions, and altogether the confer
ences we're helpful and inspiring.
At the night session Captain Al
pha Brumage, physical instructo
at the Virginia Military Institute
made an address on athletics in dis
trict and village schools, in which
was. emphasized the Importance O
, play-life in the school-life of boy
and girls. This part of school cur
3 riculum, declared the speaker, i.
largely neglected in rural schools
on the assumption, perhaps, tia
country boys and girls get sufficien
j bodily exercise 10 the home and i
: the walk to and from school. Will
e this exercise is good it lacks the el
y ement found in games, the elemer
OF contest, of pitting strength an
! skill against endurance and cuI
g ming. Games develop manly boy
q and womanly girls, and on the pla.
u ground the children are their ma
i ural selves, and here their neeC
S and deficiencies and requirement
can be more accurately gagged thf
in the school room. The playgrour
is as essential for the successf,
Y training OF youth as the school ROOF
IS and educators are waking up to tn
r. fact.
/. Mr.. T. S. Settle, State superb
l. tendent of rural elementary school
l. gave an illustrated lecture on rur
d schools, in which was shown son
a OF the poorly equipped as we'll
f. OF many of our modern school bull
a ings. A portion of the lecture al
IS pictures was devoted to the VOL
q. last summer on Irish Creek nei
20 Cornwall in Rockbridge count
r conducted by Miss Sallie Dickinso
,e Miss Aida Wade and Miss Ada p
is terson, and assisted by Mr.. H.
a Carson, a ministerial studen.
O Washington and Lee Universit
IN For three months these teache
g. labored patiently and lovingly wi
IT. the mountain people of that sectio
a and in the school were found chi
r. rem and part nts studying togeth'
Religious instruction was also give
The people received gladly and {