The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1913-05-02
as the chief purpose.

zenship as the chief purpose.
To the system now existing will be
added the Agricultural High school,
which the speaker believed becomes
at once a suitable centre for the or
ganization of complete county sys-
TEN of educational and industrial CO.
operation for the fullest development
of country civilization in all of it's
phases. The agricultural high schools
will serve as a channel through which
the state institutions and state depart
ments can reach the people directly
with their extension courses and work
ers, and supply the leaders necessary
for the development of community en-
terprises.
Under Mr.. Smiths plan the Agricul-
tural High schools should have prin-
cipals who are thoroughly qualified in
scientific and practical agriculture, a
four-year academic course and all the
industrial branches. They should
have two-year teachers course to
supplement the Normal college, and
this course, or its equivalent, should
be required of all applicants for posi-
lions as teachers. Connected with
this department, should be a force of
three to five district school supervis-
ors having under their charge a group
of schools and being themselves under
the supervision of a trained county
superintendent, for the training of
rural teachers. The duties of these
supervisors would be to organize the
teachers by groups, supervise the
school room work, organize the boys
and girls clubs, discover and develop
the community leaders, initiate social
and economic reform, and group the
schools for economy and efficiency.
To the faculty and trustees of the
agricultural schools should be added
the county commissioners Of agricul-
ture and the county superintendent of
education who could assist in the train
ing of the teachers and students and
themselves be stimulated in their
community work by the influence and
lives of the unselfish leaders.
Short Courses Needed.
In addition to the courses and de-
partments mentioned another and
| or nj - h.
tural high schools would be to assist
the state agencies and extension eff
forts in providing short courses that
would attract and hold under their
influence for a few weeks, or months,
at least, that large number of young
men and women in the state, who, for
lack of time or courage to meet the
standard requirements, have come to
that period of adolescent awakening
which comes to every youth with its
lyearning for enlightenment.
I'm providing such advantages and
in learning how to adjust our educa-
tional system, SO as to enable it to
answer the subdued but nevertheless
persistent cry for help in this crisis
of life," said Mr.. Smith, probably lies
our greatest opportunity today and
one Of the sources of our short-com-
ings in the past"
Have you ever stopped to consider
what it would mean to our state If
that great stream of young people who
are annually passing over this border
line into the busy world Of life, having
opened their eyes only to close them
again to the cleaning lights of civili
cation, having heard the call of wis.
dom but know not whence 1t came OF
whittier it has gone,-I say, have you
stopped to estimate what 1t would
mean to our state II all these young
Imen and women could be collected to
Igether in suitable groups and for ever
-four or five months during the winter
season caused to sit together in fel
lowship under the influence Of scholar
ly men and women who would Lead
them at least into the by-paths Of wis
dom, bringing them for just once Yin
der the charming influence of song
literature and art and giving then
something Of the marvellous story o