The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-10-26
By FLORA MINER HARRrsoN.

the association. giving the teachers op-
portunity for consideration and discus
sion of school work of broader range
than that of the school room alone
Music and drawing had been presented
to the teachers several times especi-
ally at the time when they were added
to the course of study in order that
they might become more familiar with
the objects of these studies. Mr.. A A
Persons has addressed the association
on agriculture and practical chemistry
In relation to the country schools and
others have spoken on the same fea-
ture Of school life. In this way the
attention of the teachers has been
drawn to the connection thnt may be
made between the home life and the
school life OF the country children
Through the association plans for cor
relation have been outlined, and tho
country home and the country school
have been drawn more closely together
CONCENTRATION of Purpose
particular advantage of the teach
ers' association lies in 1t being planned
for body of teachers whose work Is
In the same county and who have very
much the same conditions surrounding
their schools. Most of them are in
either mining or farming districts,
Programmes fors the teachers meetings
can be much more definite and appli-
cable than could thase of an organiza-
tion whose members were mofe widely
scattered and who taught under radi-
cally different circumstances In addi-
tion to pedagogy and school extension
the teachers reading circle has, during
the past three years, received direct at
tention in the teachers association
Discussion of the books of the reading
course are made in these meetings, as
1t has been decided that these talks
would be of value 10 the individual
teachers in their study of these books
The books under discussion last year
were Dickens as an Educator" and
McMurry's How to Study and Teach
ing How to Study" In addition to the
discussions of these books, the sub
ject of Conservation" was given a.
place on the programmes during the
past year, and a number of talks were
given upon this topic. This was in
tended to give the teachers some study
ber on each programme dealt directly
with the class room.
The association has been fortunate in
securing speakers from among educators
in different parts of the state, and these
men and women have been especially
helpful in presenting school extension
work and matters of general interest to
lift StDOOiS. ne members OF the aSS0-
citation unusually have charge of the dis
cussion of instruction and school man
agement. This division of the programme
has been most satisfactory, as the visiting
speakers are specialists in the lines along
which they address the assembly, and the
teachers themselves are better prepared
than anyone else to speak on the daily
routine and course of study in this
county.
Displays From the School Rooms
For the past two years displays of
school room work have been held in
connection with the monthly meetings
of the association. The school districts
of the county have been grouped into
eight sections, and the teachers of each
group in turn exhibit at the association
work from their class room. This dis
play consists of written work in tho
major studies, of basketry, woodwork,
sewing, of maps made in sand, pulp, out
line, and colors. This display, like all
work of the association, Is voluntary.
1t is done through the teachers profess
sioEal pride and through their willing
ness to contribute a delightful part to
the association. 1t Is encouraging to
the children whose work is shown to
know that their productions are inspect
ed by many teachers, and are compared
with those of other pupils. As there is
no prize given, or especial mention made
in connection with this exhibit, and as
each school contributes to only one dur
ing the year, neither teachers nor pupils
are unduly taxed in arranging for their
display. The intention is to add an at
tractive feature to the meetings and to
give the teachers the privilege of seeing
what other schools are doing in COM
parison with their own. These displays
have been the center of interest for par
ties of teachers who gather about them
and spend quarter hour noting what
is being done in different parts of the