The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1912-03-12

. W $1,000 wv
Derived From Approved Sum-
mer School Than 1nStitute-A
Letter is Addressed to Summer
School Directors in Regard to
Actual Needs Of Public School
Teachers
The Wake County Board of Educa-
liCn is taking hold of the question, Of
the professional training 6; the public
scnool teachers in a very definite ana
systematic way. For two years it has
been paying an increase of $500 per
month, and $1,000 annually. to all
teachers OF primary grades grades
one to three) in consideration Of their
pursuing a course Of training for a
full session. Of not less than six weeks,
at some approved summer school.
Teachers of all other grades have
been given an annual increase Of
$1,000 to aid IN paying their expenses
at summer schools. For the ensuing
year the increase will pe $1,000.
The discrimination in favor Of the
primary teacher is due to the fact that
she has hitherto been the most poorly
paid OF all teachers, and, further, tC
the fact that the board wishes TO en-.
phasize the importance of efficiency il
these grades.
At its recent meeting the Board O.
Education and the superintendent
conferred as To the relative merits OF
the two-weeks' county teachers insti
) tUte and the regular summer session
5 ef an approved school. 1t was tn
unanimous opinion that, while mucl
good can be derived from the inSti
tutes, the work Of the ummer school
IT properly pursued, will les inf
nitely more good to the teacher.
IT was. also, the unanimous opinion
that no better use can be made Of
reasonable amount Of the publ
: school funds than to increase the sal
l aries Of w~ide-awake, progressiv,
] teachers, 50 that they may pursu,
courses Of instruction.
During the two years that the oar,
of EDUCATION has been putting publ
r funds into the unme training o
teachers. much Improvement has bee,
{ noted: but results have not been alto
! gether satisfactory. The board be
leTes that this disappointment in re
S suits has been due to the fact tina
directors OF summer chOols hay
+ Lot kept themselves advised as to tn
actual needs Of public school teacher.
. Least OF all, have they kept in clos
touch With the problems Of the rura
. school. The supcrintendents. to,
have been largely At fault in not not
. ing the needs and advising the sun
> mer school directors Of those needs.
This year the board instructed tn
2" superintendent TO get in touch wit
ihe directors Of the ummer schoo
: OF the State and. as far as practicabl,
II to work out curses Of ~instructio
winch Will meet the specific needs {
the rural school teachers. After *
= labi of the courses have been printe
and submitted, the superintendent wi
le go over them with each and ever
~ teacher who Expects TO attend = SIM
le mer session and to receive. in cor
slderation thereof. an increase {
n salary. and advise with each an
st every one as to the courses to /
n pursued.
e The board expressed the hope tn
lie with the Inducements offered to a
IS tend summer sessions it would be III
N Necessary TO hold in Wake county tn
N Year a teachers institute.
IL Pursuant to the Instructions Of II
I'd board. Superintendent Judd Will q,
he dress the following letter to the sun
nler school directors Of the State.
= Dear Sir: The Board Of Educate
q encourages Wake county teachers
n attend summer sessions. instead
Ia teachers Institutes. by making alloy
~ ance for expenses and by increasir
their salaries. The board does IN
- feeling that it is the best way ia o
- increased efficiency through tba M
h0 lie school funds.
| do not believe you will think
am presuminS. TO say that this )
- SUMPTION on the part Of the boa
. has not always been justified by r
!" SUITS. mere nave been d number
IN, reasons for this.
~ our teacher who have cona n 4
summer schools have not ben ~
70 seiect he courses Of study VIII
" tnet most needed; conseauantly IN
nave selected subjects that had an
0fio'@ bearing on their school pra