The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1913-07-18

Ekers' Report.
To the Superintendent and othel
members of Board Of Education o
Lawrence county:
Gentlemen:
| AS shall not be able to attend
your meeting tomorrow. / will sent
you a short report Of my work
when commence the work of SUI
peryision in July. ] was little
doubtful as to whether 1t could be
made pay or not. that is doubt
ed wheather / could possibly carr
for the county the meager salary
was to receive, but went to work
to organize on course OF study and
assist in grading on my first trip
around. which / made as fast as
could. and was surprised at the
hearty cooperation received from
nearly all the teachers OF my work
along this line.
Hence as one result of my work
and the work of the many live
teachers who aided me. believe
every school followed the graded
course as nearly as 1t was possible
TO do so on his particular school
and this means in most schools that
1t was followed almost to the let
ter. There was some opposition to
this work from parents who did not
thoroughly understand what It
meant to their children and they
refused to buy the necessary books
and in districts infected with this
opposition and neglect. OF course
the teachers could not do their
best work.
After organization Of the school
was as good as l thought 1t would
be possible TO make 1t this year l
turned my attention to improve
ment leagues, agriculture and do
nestle science in connection with
the school.
Quite number Of teachers gave
instruction in elementary agricul-
ture and l found great interest in
this subject where / found teach
err who had given it thought and
realized the Importance of It to the
children
As to domestic science. found
the greatest interest manifested In
that part of Il called needle work.
/ had quite number of teachers
show me samples OF sewing and
Fancy Work" done by pupils that
called real good work. also
saw other things that we're suggest
ed in the little bulletin on Home
practiced in the homes
Of some OF the larger girl pupils,
there is no doubt but what this
subject can be made of more in
tefest to girls than the map Of At
RIGA can be.
The Improvement league was not
its foes. In many districts
The teacher would talk the subject
only to find the trustee and Lead
ing Citizens" were not in favor OF
hem SO they did not attempt TO
organize. In few cases the teach
Or alone was to blame for not hav-
ng a good league. In addition to
nearly 200 calls that | made on
schools and almost one months
work as substitute teacher, put
IN quite number OF nights in as
,isting teachers in these organiza-
ions and / think when the reports
ire all in from them it win show
hat they have done considerably
,ver 100000 worth of improve
nent at cash value. This Inn
provement has been In the estab-
ishment of Libraries. white washing
and painting houses. cleaning off
play grounds and white washing
trees and doing work on school
grounds to render them more san
Itary. The above may be called the
cash value of theae meetings, but
from what have seen of them
consider their greatest value to be
Ia the interest they stimulate in
school work. No district that has
had a good league this year will do
without one next year, while sew
eraI of them intend to keep up
permanent organization from now
on.
Not the least part OF my work
has been the enforcement Of the
compulsory school law. have writ
ten several hundred letters and
notices to parents concerning the
attendance Of their children and
have put in much time talking to
them and investigating cases re-
ported for violation OF this law.
Now as last thought when / have