Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-03-20
By MISS CELESTE PARRISH.

By MISS CELESTE PARRISH.
Under the new regime, which Super
intendent NJ L. Britain has inaugu-
rated, teachers institutes have func-
tons which were hardly thought of
few years ago.
Teachers have been contending, for
long time. that patrons need to be
taught as well as they. and the new in
stitutes are shaped to this end. In
number of counties an institute has
been held on each day of week, in
different place, and the patrons and
children in this and neighboring locali-
ties invited to be present picnic din
ner, in which Georgia housewives excel,
has been served, and a session has been
held for work in both morning and aft
ernoon The supervisor tells the chill
dren stories gives short lectures on
ethical subjectsi adapted to the young
people. organizes junior civic leagues
holds conferences of teachers and par
ents. organizes parents into home ana
school clubs or civic leagues, and leads
in mutually helpful discussions.
Wherever an institute is held, minis
tiers. physicians, farmers, business men,
women's clubs, boards of education aud
chambers of commerce are urged to at
tend and take part in the discussions.
A conference of ministers and teachers
frequently is held and means of mutual
helpfulness sought. A noteworthy meet
ing of this kind has been set for Apri!
5, at Madison, Ga, for the purpose Of
discussing the moral training Of chill
dren. All parents and Sunday school
teachers are invited to attend and take
part in the discussion.
Policies Succeed Methods,
The institute program IS very diff
ferent affair from that of the old time.
Methods" have given place in large
degree to policies, and the How to
Teach" to What to Teach" A subject
which has excited much interest and
evoked spirited discussion has been
THE Nature of Education" Opinions
have been various, but the eliminating
agreement nearly always has been,
Education is training in living now
and preparation for future living"
This year the wording has been va
ried. and the question has been asked,
What should the schools Of the county
enable the child to do?"
Again the answers have varied, but
the following represents very fairly the
consensus Of opinion among the teach
ers:
To make living,
To make a home.
Cd,
To read.
To write and spell.
To express himself in good English.
To solve the problems, make the cal
culations and keep the accounts needed
in daily living.
To understand the working Of forces
so as to be able to help in promoting
civilization.
To understand the earth as mans
home so as to be able to adapt condi-
tions to his needs, or to adapt himself
10 Interchangeable conditions.
To understand his relations to others
and perform his obligations to them.
To exercise self control and to CO.
operate.
To be sincere and honest.
To love nature. art and good litera-
ture.
To love all beauty and try to pro-
mote it.
To be reverent.
Work Follows Statements.
The work which follows is apt TO
grow out of some Of these statements.
The question is often asked, What
should a child be able to do in order to
make a homer" This has been dis
cussed at length, and a very satisfac-
tory syllabus made by the teachers.
How to lead the children into love of
good literature has led to How to get
a school library" with very gratifying
results. one Of the most important
discussions has been How to train a
child into the power Of self-control,
and this is held in almost every lnsti-
tute.
As a matter of course, the supervisors
are making a strong effort to have agri-
culture better taught in every school IN
the state. The subject is required by
law. but the purpose Of the law has not
been carried out. and the teaching has
been very perfunCtOry. One cause Of
this is that very few teachers know the
subject in any adequate way them
selves, and the institute work has been
directed toward a better knowledge on
their part Dr. Soule, of the State Col
lege Of Agriculture, has co-operated in
very helpful way and all his teachers
have been ready to help. The super
visors have sought earnestly to pro-
mote interest in boys corn clubs and
girls home life clubs and to vitalize ed
ucation in every possible way
Fix School Standards
one Of the most important matters
now engaging the attention Of the in
stitutes is The Standard County
school" In order that a school shall
be entitled to this designation il must
reach high standard as to teachers,
buildings. grounds. gardens. libraries.
furnishings and clubs. So far only four
have been accepted. but an earnest cf-
fort is being made to induce many
others TO meet the requirements. The
response is gratifying. and many others
viii soon apply. The schools at Rock
Vile. Putnam county: Bethany. Morgan
county: Flint Hill Newton county, ana
Tate. Pickens county have the priority
in the order named
Local tax for education. consolida-