The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1912-10-04

superintendents to get these to an
nounce the date of school opening two
or three weeks before the event. This
will Civ parents time to get their chill
dren ready for school. 1t is frequent
" possible to get trustees to give in
formation by postal card to every pat
ron in the district as to the date OF
school opening.
4. See that each teacher in the coun-
ty is supplied with copy of the Ele-
mentary Teachers Manual. A supply
of these manuals for your teachers
may be obtained by writing the Hon.
]. Z. Swearingen, State superintendent
of education. You can assist the coun-
ty superintendent in the distribution
of these manuals and can urge eacn
teacher to make herself thoroughly ia
miliar with the contents. In this. book
it has been my endeavcr to make sug-
gestions which may have a practical
application in the country schools OF
this State.
). AS YOU visit the schools encourage
the teachers to read and study other
pamphlets, journals and books. l
wish every country teacher in the State
would read during the year Miss
Fields little book, "The Corn Lady"
This is published by A. Flanningen &
Co., of Chicago, and costs so cents.
In the manual will be found a list OF
books which will be helpful to your.
teachers. The school News and Prac-
tical Educator, published sat Taylors--.
Vile, ILL.,, is one Of the best papers for
country teachers which has come into
my possession. A card addressed to
the publisher will bring sample:
copy. School Agriculture, published
by the Orange Judd Co, New York
city, is an invaluable aid to the coun-
try teacher. Direct your teachers con-
tinually to the publications of the
United States Bureau of Agriculture
and to Clemson college. Write the
bureau of agriculture for a copy OF
their bulletin entitled Publications of
the bureau of agriculture classified
for the use of teachers" You may
remember that last spring I sent
circular letter to every country teach
er in the State calling their attention
to the most important of these publ
cations. If you can use copies CT the
bulletin entitled School Exercises in
Plant Production I have perhaps g.
600 copies of these in my Office for
distribution. have also 1900 copies
of a pamphlet issued by Clemson COL
lege at my request entitled Home
Gardening in South Carolina" can
send you as many of these as you
wish
6. Encourage the establishment and
development Of country school libra
ries in your county. The teachers are
not taking full advantage of this act
of the legislature. BY complying with
the law, a SIS addition to the library
may be made annually. Look care
fully through the State library list
and help the teachers make a sensible.
selection of books. Most of them
show a tendency to select books be-
yond the interest and capacity of the
country child. Every library should
have at least one good set of supple
mentary readers which may be used
to vary the monotony Of the reading
lesson. Show the teacher how to
make the school library a center for
dissemination of the government bull
letins and other helpful and interest
ing literature among the ADULTS of the
school district.
7. AS you have opportunity, encour-
age the Introduction of elementary
manual training, cooking and home
keeping, and sanitation into the coun-
try schools of your county. Every new
building erected should have the
workroom suggested in the State plans
A special bulletin will soon be issued
giving detailed suggestions for the in
PRODUCTION of this work. Encourage
the corn club, the tomato club, and
every other agency which will bring
about a closer relation between the
schools and the life of the community.
Show the teachers how to teach coun-
try children in terms of their own life.
"The Corn Lady will give you valu-
able suggestions along this line. II
you can lead the teachers of your
county to grasp this one idea, you will
be worth $4,000, to your county this