The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-04-17
TEACH OLD PEOPLE
IN RURAL SCHOOL
Kentucky Woman Has Taught
Everybody in Community to
Read and Write
SCHOOL WORKERS. SESSION
Many Suggestions Made for
Better Things in Country
Districts.
SCHOOL. WORKERS. SESSION

Many suggestions of tho first impor-
! tance for making tho rural school the
centre of community life. making IT do
it's part in tho battle against ignorance
and making It the feeder of tho citi-
zenship of the future. were presented
yesterday Mt the Interstate Conference
Of County Superlntendents. which met
In force in the auditorium of tho Vir-
ginia Mechanics Institute It was not
by any means limited to county super
intendents. but included school work
crs OF all kinds with supervisors and
teachers Of education and State super
intendcnts.
Tcnches Old People.
Ono of the most remarkable ad-
dresses was delivered by Mrs Cora
Wilson Stewart of Morehead. Ky Her
subject was eliminating Adult 1llit-
eracy. Realizing that many of the
older people. especially those in noun
tain sections, were not permitted the
educational advantages within the
reach OF every child to-day. she set
about to teach grown men and women
TO read and write.
On moonlight nights she has almost
the entire population Of her community
at her school, where grRyheaded grand
IA thers and grandmothers pore over
spoilers and readers. Mrs. Stewart cx-
hibited a portrait OF her oldest stu
dent eighty-seven years Of age. who
is an earnest seeker after knowledge
These folks take the keenest interest
IN the proceedings and have made of
tho little schoolhouse the centre OF their
entire interest
Mrs. Stewart stated that within one
year she Will have entirely eliminated
illiteracy from the community and that
every inhabitant Will be able TO read
and write and cipher.
Developing RurnI Schools.
r. l.. Mcfarland. of Kentucky. pre-.
sided. The ground for the conference
was laid by y. c. Monahan of the Ma
tional Bureau of Education, in Wash
inBton, VINO discussed the most effect
i've means for developing the rural
school The efficacy OF supervision was
the topic for Zebulon Judd. OF North
Carolina: j. y. Hillman. OF Coeburn
Va; Albert S. Cook, OF Maryland; Miss
Rhea G. Scott. of Virginia, and l.. J.
Hanifan. of West Virginia
Regarding consolidation there was a
decided difference of opinion Some
teachers thought the building OF larger
schoolhouses. with better teaching
force. the sum total of achievement
in tho Improvement OF rural schools
while others doubted very much wheth-
er II was best TO take away the schools
from helpless and remote communities
Miss Jessie Yancey Of Kentucky: w
w. Edwards. OF Waveriy, Va. and l.. G.
BroRden. OF North Carolina, were the
speakers.
Agreed Facts.
Everybody seemed to agree on the
following propositions:
/. TACT is all-important, and tact
means largeness OF soul, as we'll as
kcenncss of intellect
The county unit is n good thing
superintendent Stearnes thought that
IN virginia a mistake was made in
taking away some of the powers of
the county school board. which was
done I'm 1902
!" School premises must he made san
itary within and without the building
ana IT is wise to get the community
10 DO as much OF this as possible
through Improvement leagues.
4 The county superintendent must be
master of finance and of almost
everything else
5. The school must touch roo, nfo
by means of public exercises school
fairs and home making studies In
The country, corn clubs and canning
clubs are easily attainable and i'm
mensely valuable.
9. Supervision and teaching-conse-
Need County Leaders.
j. y. Joyner. State Superintendent OF
North Carolina. brought a message
which was that the old-time COUNT
tuperintcndcnts are an absolute ncccs-
sty and form the cornerstone of sue
rcssful education in rura! communi-
ties.
~ c. Hammock. OF Union County.
NN.. and y. j. Coates Of the same
state discussed demonstration schools.
10th thought it "A good idea to have
desired methods perfected in one school
ana then Ia have teachers visit il and
20 out with the picture in their minds
INC one-tcacher rural school was tho
problem for consideration by G. O.
'oNncs or Virginia; w. 6. Edmondson.
o, washington County. Va. and Mrs.
metty ,. Browne, of South Carolina.
Talklng of What One Teacher can
Do Mrs. Browne advocated matitn
the country school the centre of real
life
b G. Hull. OF Columbus. Miss. talked
OF his experience as {; country teacher.
~ r. Jones. OF Equality. Ark, fifteen
.nlics from railroad. wanted trained
,eachers; w u, fIalbrook. Of Choctaw.
Ark, who perhaps got the most an
plause Of the entire meeting. advocated
athletics and careful supervision.
BrIef reports of plans for the train
ing OF teachers were made bv Joseph
>: stewart, Of Georgia, and Of certitica
.,oh OF teachers by Il. j. Woofter. OF
me same state. MIR. Woofter repeated
we hnd'ng or the presidents of State
normal schools that the Virginia plan
~ the best in the Union for issuing Ger
tificates to teachers
superintendent Stcarncs OF Virp;ni,
summarized the findings of tho confcr'
ehce aiohs the lines outlined above