Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-03-19
By MISS CELESTE PARRISH.

70 the state. Here is her aruCie'
By MISS CELESTE PARRISH.
Under the new regime, which Super
intendent NJ. L. Britain has inaugu
rated, teachers institutes have func-
tions which were hardly thought of a
few years ago.
Teachers have been contending, for
long time, that patrons need to be
taught as we'll 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 a week, in a
different place, and the patrons and
children in this and neghboring local.
ties invited to be present. A 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 and
school clubs or civic leagues, and leads
in mutually helpful discussions.
Wherever an institute is held. minis
tiers. physicians. farmers, business men
womens clubs, boards of education and
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
heIpfulness sought. A noteworthy meet
ing Of this kind has been set for April
S, 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 a 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 a living
To make a home.
To keep himself we'll and strong.
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-
tons to his needs, or to adapt himself
to 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 reyerent.
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-
to-v 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
child into the power of self-control,
and this is held in almost every insti-
tute.
As 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-op operated in
a very helpful way and all his teachers
have been ready to help. The super
yisors have sought earnestly TO pro
mote interest in boys corn clubs ana
girls home life clubs and TO Titalize 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 it must
reach a high standard as to teachers
buildings. grounds, gardens, Libraries
furnishings and clubs. SO far only four
have been accepted, but an earnest ef-
fort is being made to induce many
others to meet the requirements. The
response is gratifying. and many others
will 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.