The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1914-10-16
RURAL SCHOOL COMMISSION

rural school inspectors, Captain
George NJ Lynch, made possible by
the association of county school sap
erintendents and high school pr:n-
icipals, in annual session at Fort
Myers last spring and appointed by
our able and faithful state superin-
tendent, Mr. w. n. Sheats, have it
as their duty and privilege as well
to examine carefully the condition Of
the rural schools of Florida AMI 10
make a report whose recommenda-
tions shall lead to speedy and large
Improvements in these schools
Another duty of the commission,
and one which it is hoped will pro-
duce results that shall be very bene-
fetal, will be to interest county
superintendent. high school primer
pals, the rural schools themselves
and, most of all, the general public
| the great people. who make legisla-
tors and indirectly give the means
for support, in our. rural schools
and in their Improvements and de-
velopment
How may these schools be i'm
proved? In many ways, bd5 especial
ly thus.
/. Thru appropriation of money
which will permit longer terms
The present length of the session in
the rural schools is Inadequate for
the accomplishment of results which
are large and lasting. The no
school interim is so long that the
subjects learned during this Session
are almost forgotten before the be-
ginning of the next school term. In
all scholastic work continuity, un-
broken save by comparatively
short vacation, is essential to sue
cessful work. "A school term of four
months is better than nothing, but
it is not very far from nothing.
2. Thru the employment of bet
ter prepared teachers. Here comes
the necessity for larger appropria-
tion to the rural schools. There is
merit in the contention of the Tim
es-Union, that we are spending too
much money on buildings, too little
on teachers. A commodious and at
tractive building is desirable; a
we'll prepared teacher is necessity.
The one is, in a sense, luxury,
the other is in every sense, essen
ltiaI 1t may be contended that the
rural school buildings are not expen-
sive. Very true; but when a county
spends SIS. 900 on a high school
building for a town, it almost in
variably spends too little on the
teachers of the high school and
on the buildings and teachers of the
rural schools. The fine buildings
are we'll in their way; equipment is
very desirable, in some particulars,
essential, as in the sciences and in
libraries; but an absolute necessity
is the teacher who can teach.
President Garfield gave the pure
truth of the matter in his definition
of a college: MARK Hopkins on one
end of log and boy on the other. =
The teacher first, and second, at a
distance, everything else.
The commission will do every
thing in is power to improve by
suggestion. counsel, and other act
iyities teaching in public schools.
g. Another duty of the commits
sion will be to investigate the mat
ter of vocational training and to re-
port upon this. There are doubtless
lwise men and thoughtful women
who believe that we begin vocation
al training too soon; that boys and
girls in lower grades are not ready
for it; that what they need is more
Education as foundation upon which
Ito build life work
The most important work of the
commission will be to arouse the
general public to larger interest ant
more helpful cooperation in the i'm
lprovement of rural schools.
Ut has been said 1.-The voice o
the people is the voice of God
This declaration we canot accept il
full; but we must agree that tn,
voice of a Cooled people is the cal
to walk the right pathway in life
When of the people at large in
5 Christian land, the cause for which
. We plead triumphs.
So it is the purpose of the Rura
J School Commission to appeal to tn
+ people of Florida to evince more in
2 terest. in the county schools and t
: stir them to consciousness of oh
legation to these schools, which il
turn shall lead them to demand 70
the rural schools more money, and
therefore, longer sessions and bette
prepared teachers
} If We give our country schoo