The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1915-05-07

ADVANCE
In the School Work of
Adkin District
(Continued from page

tOohtlnued from page I'D
should not only he readiness 10 exploit
the educational advantages of the district
from within, but also, from without.
During the last two years the work of
the schools of the district has more near
" approached acommunal character than
ever before. Harmony and active co
operation between the teachers and the.
district supervisor have not been want
INK, excerpt IN rare instances Both the
Fdistrict superintendent and the teacher.
have been less periunctnry and machine
like IN the Discharge Of their respective.
duties. A real, human interest has been
awakened. which has permested parents.
pupils aud teachers. OF course, such a
change could not have been wrought
without moving spirit. AMI that NOV
ing spirit has bs-en vigorous, helpful, So
l'cit'us and firm district supervision.
The district institutes have been AFFAIR."
IN which the whole ...-.-:>t felt an inter
est and had an active part.
The inauguration Of the social center
and community meeting was not met
with the GOODNESS and indifference OH the
part Of the people that many teachers
predicted and feared. On the contrary.
the several school communities have
seized with avidity upon the chance u
share IN the educational work Of their
neigbborhOOds, and have eagerly Accept
Ell and, Tor the most part, crditably per
iormed such parts have been assigned
them by the district superintendent and
teachers
Many years Of continuous teaching leave
the persons 80 engaged with CLASSY"
nane expression, except i'm those 10y no
means numerous cases IN which AN ell
thusizstic devotion N the profession has
kept the heart young and unsesred by
the HOMOGENEOUS grind, but any slgges-
ton of a more life-lIke way OF doing
things invariably meets with opposition
from uIe teachers, though they may re
frain from outward expression OF such
opposition.
The colored teachers Of Adkin District.
and perhaps the white Ono-, to. had
concluded that the reading circle cour-e
wa 81 no great Use or benefit other than
u SECURE the sale Of books for authors
who enjoyed the friendship Of eur eIuca-
tional authorities. IL required, there
fore, patient and long sustained egOrt on
the part OF the district superintendent -
destroy this prejudice and awaken an
interest in the reasiing circle work which
should lie self supporting
The requirement made by the Dist.
Supt that tearhers write outlines 81 earh
week : study and send such outlines o.
him, together with the leading and per-
sonai part taken by him in the reading
circle meetings in which the teachers did
not dissiaIn - recite upon the part- OF
the books previously outlined, before en-
gaging in general DISCUSSION, resulted i'm
an entire change Of view by the teachers.
and their interest Wa - thoroughly
quickened, that il bids fair u remain
permanent, II the same conditions con
tinue, that brought IL forth not the least
consequential Of which were the freslnen-
y, regularity, heiPfulness and indi-crim-
mate visits - all Of the schools by the
district Supt., Mr.. .. VI. stark, while
the u-e Of report cards (also intro,inced
by the district Supt } bY which parents
could observe the progress or failure T.
progress II their children, stirred the
pupil - their i<~t endesvOrs and lei h
q letter understanding between parents
and teachers.
There j.. however. under circumstances
seemingly most satisfactory, something
laeking. The 'vOid'' In this csse i. tire
allure " have m Adkin Distinct q con-
sOlidated graded srhOOi for the colOred
youth, which would fashion material for
district high school. admirable exam
pies Of which are furnished ~ three 9th
er districts Of the county.