The farmer and mechanic., 1912-07-30

IN unusual scene Of activity is be-
ing presented throughout the state
this summer in the very important
matter of teacher training In the
first place the summer schools are
crowded as never before. At the
State University, the Normal College. !
the East Carolina Training School !
more than 1900 teachers are learn
ing not only what to teach, but how
10 teach. And then in the county
teachers Institutes between four and
five hundred thousand teachers are
learning better ideas Of their pro-
fesSlonal duties. The time has al
ready come in our educational ad-
NanCement when teacher who has
not had some preparation in the art
Of teaching can not hope to secure
a position, eYen in the rural schools
For the guidance of the conduc-
tors OF the Institutes a pamphlet con-
tanning a program for each day of
the two weeks course has been issued
from the state department. Another
bulletin contains suggestions for
opening exercises and still another
contains an admirable selection Of
patriotic and other songs. Before
going into the work for the summer
the conductors were required to meet
with Supt. j. y. Joyner and J. A.
T'iVlnS, supervisor Of teacher training
in q conference Of four days for the
purpose of discussing plans of work
This insures something of uniformity
in the Institutes. When the present
plan was set in operation, it was
contemplated to make the work pro-
GresSve in character. That is, no
series Of institutes shall repeat the
work of a previous series, but shall
emphasize some new phase. TWO
years ago primary methods were
placed in the forefront. This year
intermediate methods receive much
attention, with especial reference to
the new textbooks on geography
history and language.
The Institutes have a morning and
an afternoon session. In the morn
ing session all Of the teachers meet
in one body for the consideration
Of subjects of general interest; such
as. preparation for the first day of
school and what to do on the first
day, keeping the register, graduation
and classification and promotion Of
pupils, the rural library and how to
use it, various phases Of school and
class management, drawing and spell
ing. A period is given each forenoon
to the practical consideration of Nc
Murry's How to Study. The guiding
principle, as may be stated, at all this
work is not how much the conductor
may tell the teachers, but how he may
direct and control their activities
their failures and triumphs in the
School-roOm The institute thus be.
comes far more interesting and prof
table than under the old "hot air
system of lectures, where the teach
ers had nothing to do but to sit and
listen
In the afternoon the teachers are
divided into sections. The new
teachers and those who are especially
interested in the work of the purpose
of studying primary methods. Actua
lessons, taken from the textbook
used in the rural schools, are her.
studied and recited. These lesson
embrace the subjects OF phonics
reading, language, writing. number
drawing and "seat work" The teach
ers are instructed in all of the activi
ties OF modern primary school, car
Icing taken, of course, to give then
nothing that is not practical, tina
can not be used in the rural schools.
.\nother section of the teachers
comprising those who have attende
an institute before or those who ar
especially Interested in the work o
the intermediate department, NEE
with the conductor He assigns an
hears lessons in the subjects Q
geography, history. language an
arithmetic, using the new textbook
as tasis for his work.
one excellent feature Of the insti
t,,tes is known as school day. Thi
is designed to give the teachers
practical and concrete idea of ho'
a one~teacher school nf seven gra tc:
WIN lIOU twenty-five 10 tHlIly ISC.
tatiors. may be realized-a ditticu
problem. as car may say To
this. the teachers are regarded q
pupils, rr'n@ry or intermediate, at
.s:ding tt. the sections in which the
are enrolled. The conductors are tn
teachers II this school,
.AuOtiier interesting variation {
the regular work Of the institutes
model Friday afternoon exercis
This consists of fire-minute stOrulc.
songs, readings. discussions Of libraT
books. short dranlatizations of Chi
dren's stories, games and so fortl
This consists of five-minute storie
feature and one that is entered int
heartily by the teachers.
On the last day of the Institutes
held Il joint meeting of the teacher
allG The s,cnAal cQmmitte eneD OF u