The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1915-09-17
School Improvement.

Obion County Teachers Annual In.
stitute this summer. I urge al
teachers, especially the new teach
ers, to read it very carefully and try
it. 1t seems to me to be one of the
best of it's kind ever read.
eve read many nice things in
books in regard to improving our
schools, but none of them, | think
are applicable to the rural schools
1t is best first to view the situation,
become acquainted with the pupils
and surroundings and then act to
the best advantage.
81 hardly know what to say to
you teachers that would be helpful
in your chosen profession; there
fore, if you will not consider it ego
tism, shall only tell you what
have done to improve my school; as
l know nothing of any other.
First. Win the confidence and re-
spect of your pupils. This can be
done in many little ways. You can
show your appreciation of any little
acts of kindness; let the children
know of your fondness for flowers,
it will not be long before your desk
will be grooming under its load of
fragrant blossoms; enter heartily in
to the sports of the little ones. Di-
rect their play and it will prevent,
in a measure, all disputes and quar-
rels common during the recreation
period; it will also do more toward
winning the love of the little ones
thany anything else. The older
boys and girls must not be forgot
ten while we are doing so much for
the little ones; for during the
adolescent period, they need the
most careful training of their lives.
Be companionable with them. Find,
if possible, in what they are inter-
ested; cultivate the good and quiet
ly destroy the bad.
Second. Teach them the beauties
of nature. Though the rural chill
dren are surrounded by so many
beautiful things, they fail to see or
appreciate them. Show them the
flowers and tell them of the cheer
full influence they have on ones life.
Then in the fall, the children are
likely to complain of lack of beau
tiful things. 1 once had a pupil to
say to me as we stood under a large
forest tree one ideal fall day: There
isn't a thing pretty to bring to
school now" l picked up leaf and
reminded her that we were never
without beautiful things. l also
suggested that they bring some pref
ty autumn leaves the next day. My
desk was fairly loaded with all the
vivid colors of the autumn. Then,
too, we should teach them to appre-
ciate our songsters of the woods.
After several talks about birds, a
little boy, one day in early spring,
me while / was hearing
a language lesson by exclaiming:
"There's a bird singing" Everyone
in the room forgot his work until
the songster was found perched on
the bough of tree near by. You
may think that this was a fearful
loss of time, but l consider it a
gain.
Third. The children must have
their social events. The rural pupils
that their lives are so
hence we should feed
their social natures. This may be
done by an occasional box supper,
Easter egg hunt, or school entertain
ment. This will bring the pupils,
patrons and teacher together.
Fourth. We must secure visitors.
All schools will remain in the same
old rut in which we find them, If
we are not able to induce the patrons
10 WISH Lie SCnOl. OOLuSIlluCo VIC
must resort to stratagem to get
them. Often on rainy days, when
The parents come for their children,
have reported the children not
,hru with their lessons and invite
parents in out of the rain. They
become interested and often remain
ill the close of the school. Their
interest once aroused they spread
he gospel, came again and brought
,thers. The children became more |
;areful of personal appearance of the
chool room. They were more am
,itious to have perfect lessons.
Fifth. They must be taught that
He school house and it's furnishings
re their individual property If
his can be impressed upon them, the
will be kept in good repair.
recently had some boys work cheer
ully all of the noon hour repairing