The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-24

which is often entirely foreign to their
interests and experience, and since they
find this interesting, and find that ii is
through study that they become more eff
f1cient, they are better satisfied with
school than they are when they see no
evidence of advancement.
Vocational Credits
Principals are now giving attention to
plan of allowing certain amount of
nome work to count in the pupils month
~ average Bullock county has a school
in which this plan has been adopted and
In which 1t is highly successful. Ten per
cent is allowed each child as maximum
grade for his home work, but low deport-
ment or irregularity in attendance may
cancel these points. The home work
credited includes feeding stock, milking.
gathering eggs, sweeping, washing dishes,
making beds, cleaning finger nails and
brushing teeth, and a child's record must
, be signed by his mother or father and
submitted to the principal
The teachers are trying to make the
study of agriculture as attractive as pos
slple The textbook used Is by Mr.. Dug
gar, one of the Auburn professors. and
so is well suited to Alabama. 1t includes
chapters on live stock and poultry, as
well as on methods of farming The work
is done in as practical way as possible
and individual teachers add to the study
by trips to fields and barns. where the
children can see improvements in use, or
can see the need of improvements. Espe-
cially in the agricultural counties is this
| important, as it has the closest relation
to the child's life. The accompanying il
lustrations show some of the work done
IN Chambers county in the study of harm
ful insects.
Uniform Examinations
Whlle the practical and Industrial side
Of school life is being emphasized, text
book work is being better. taught than
ever and is not being neglected fer the
other To make the grammar school
work uniform throughout each county,
ana TO encourage pupils to good work.
county examinations are now given to
those pupils completing the seventh
! grade. and render unnecessary further ex-
animation for entrance into their respec-
1--WE. county High schools. In 1910 only
two counties held these examinations In
1913 they were given in 40 counties. These
examinations are prepared by a commit
tee and after being given by the teach
| ers In different parts of the county, the
papers are sent to the committee for
grading. The examinations are uniform
=" each county, but not throughout the
state.
Randolph county had its examination
neid IN Y places In the county and had
q applicants. Sixty-two of these passed
the examination and were given their GER
tlncates during commencement at the
High school at Wedowee.
Other Features
1t is now the tendency to have birth
days OF celebrated men and other special
days observed by appropriate programmes
during school hours, instead of by holi-
DAYS. While little benefit may result from
holiday, the special programme is in
struetive and 1t relieves the monotony of
the regular school routine. Bird day. May
I, is widely observed and is usually met
with enthusiasm. The state deoartme IT
OF education publishes Bird day book
each year. which is exceptionally tasteful
rrf attractive. II contains excerpts from
nsh and game laws of the state, pictures
O tsins, including beautiful colored
plates, suggested programme for the day,
and list of all birds found in Alabama.
The department furnishes teachers with
programmes for Washingtons and for