The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-09-07

riod of five days in each county. In some
and hold joint institute. Coosa and FL
more counties held theirs together during
the past week. All the teachers except
those holding life certificates are required
to attend for least four days the insti-
tute held in their county. The license
of those who fail to attend are cancelled.
The teachers are not paid for the attend
ance upon these institutes and those who
are teaching at thetime are not allowed
was formerly accepted. This is rather un-
fortunate, as many of the teachers incur
considerable expense in paying railroad
fare. board, incidentals and the institute
fee, besides giving their time. The orig
inal intention of the bill was that when
attendance was made compulsory, the
teachers would be paid for their week s
time, btu 1t was changed, cancellng this
provision and making attendance without
pay compulsory. 1t is to the credit of the
teachers. however, that before this law
was passed and when attendance was not
compulsory. the majority of them at
tended the local or congressional district
Institutes from a sense of professional
loyalty and duty, although then, as now,
no money compensation was attached
Working Plan
The purpose of the institute is four
fold. They are planned to assist in the
development of the unframed teachers
and those who are beginning in the pro-
fession, by suggesting good methods of
teaching and by explaining practical ma
terial, by advocating proper methods of
discipline and by arousing interest in the
study of the child. To the experienced
teacher the institute suggests improve
ments in methods of teaching major stud
les; approved methods of teaching the new
subjects; such as music, manual training
and nature study; proper appreciation OF
parallel work. research, decoration
school mechanics, improvement of the
course of study and elimination of school
room waste. For school officials and
patrons the object of the institute is to
suggest methods of supervision and to
arouse a proper school spirit by discuss
ing methods for securing better attend
ance, better teaching. better building. and
equipment, and more active attention to
school work in general. The fourth aim
of the county institute is to familiarize
teachers, school officials and patrons with
the ne wand broadened scope of the pub
1Of'ON@N
cles, libraries, school Improvement asso-
Citations, clubs and other vitalizing agen-
cies.
The instructors for these institutes are
chosen from among the teachers in the
state who are best qualified. As each in
stitute is held for only five days and the
whole plan must be covered in that time,
1t is imperative that the instructors have
their programmes made, their material
prepared, and every point arranged be-
fore the opening day, and that they be
men and women who regard the work
from the standpoint of loyalty and oppor-
tunity, rather than from a consideration
of the salary paid them Besides this,
they must be true teachers, for there is
much they must do in the week allowed
for their work. They must be social fac
tors in the Institutes of which they have
charge, for the fellowship side of the in
stitute is important. They must be able
to adapt themselves and their work to the
section of the state In which they are
working, for, as an example, an institute
held in Mobile county would necessarily
differ from one held in jefferson, and
much that would apply to Lauderdale
county would not be appropriate In Bibb,