The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1912-11-21
STATE Superintendent
SPEAKS AT FLINT

superintendent of schools In IRON
wood and present state superinten-
dent of public instruction spoke at
Flint Court House Tuesday to
about 100 county school officer, and
all the teachers and students Of the
county normal school. He M lie a
strong plea for more practical teach
ing in the public and especially in
the country schools, the latter of
which he referred to as ineff cient
and not up to the proper standard.
Mr.. Wright said in part
1t is fact that any new teac hings
winch are instituted in the sc !. ools
or community bring forth upon
/ the teacher no small amount of eriti-
eism. Throughout the state there
are Al normal schools, graduating
about 800 students annually. The
object Of the innovation of these
normals is TO institute educa ional
reform, which Is so sorely needed.
Teachers are born and not made.
Those girls who are graduating from
the normals every year will be bet
ter teachers than il they hal not
attended the schools. They en- do
a lot more for your children han
can graduates, but they can
not carry out any reforms wi,aout
the support of the parents of their
pupils. | recommend this county
normal to your esteem and conf
dence. You should rely on the
Judgment of those in charge of
the school,
Il ask you the bosses OF the
schools to protect the teachers from
the wave of criticism that is Lound
to assail them when the new sy stems
Iof teaching are instituted We are
In the midst Of great change in
our educational institutions. People
of the country are demanding a more
practical code of learning in the
public schools.
Our schools should come closer
to the big problems of life. Periodi-
calls are taking up the campaign in
favor OF more material education. It
is bound to come.
"Our whole system of schools is
run under the assumption that all
of the children entering the first
grade intend to go to college At
"a matter of fact just SEVENTEEN
tieths of one per cent of the pupils
who begin school really attend col
lege. Only seven out of every one
hundred who enter the first grade
ever reach the high school. Yet the
state university dictates what the
high school shall teach and the high
school in turn maps out the curri-
culum Of the grade schools. There
is not enough practical teaching.
"The primary purpose of any
school should be to serve the people
who pay the taxes in the community.
Country schools have heretofore been
teaching their pupils knowledge that
the boys and girls would need If they
lived In town, and at the same time
they have been inconsistency urg-
ing the children not to desert the
country for the city.
There is no business that is in
such need of scientific manager nent
as that of farming Scientific knowI-
edge is getting to be a requisite to
the successful farmer On account
of the increase in the population of
the country II has now become nee
essary to grow two blades of grass,
where previously only one was rails
ed. This demands science. Yet
when we began to teach scientific
agriculture to eighth grade students
iH the country schools, self-made
farmers rose up in arms. You must
stand behind us in this campaigns
for practical education. l would
rather see Babcock butter fat
tester In country school than q
dictionary, II we had to choose be-
tween the two. l have been trying
to install cook stoves. heating and
ventilating plants, farm implements
and sewing machines In the rural
schools. These are needed as much
as the arithmetics and Biographies.
Let the boys learn to use the tools
of a blacksmith and the carpenter
Let the girls learn to cook and sew,
All of your sons and daughters can
not attend the agricultural school
at Lansing. Teach them the prin-
ciples~ OF science In the country
schools,
".BefcFe these reforms can Be fui-
~ attained two thinss must preceda
A larger unit Of organization must
BE- Instituted. Instead OF town and
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