The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-04-03
NEARLY 2OOO TEACHERS ARE
 ATTENDING CONVENTION
Interest in Campaign to Remove States teracy Outstanding Feature of Educational Convention Prominent
 Speakers Address Body
By FLORA MIIxER HARRISON

Montgomery, April e.-tSpeeia1.) It is estimated that there are between 1900 and 2000 teachers in Montgomery for the annual meeting of the State Teachers association. While the crowd is somewhat smaller than it has been for three years, the interest is good and today's campaign for the remov- ing of illiteracy is especially attract i've.
 Dr. John Lee Coulter of Peabody college spoke this morning on "Com- munity Organization"
 Later in the morning the rural school section, which was organized last year, held its meeting with Pres ident R. E. L,edbetter of Cullman pre- siding. Forney Reese. principal at Irondale, spoke on the uniform seventh grade examination for rural schools and Miss Delphine Feminear, principal of the Johns school, on Homes for Rural Teachers" County Superintend- ent R. Lee Barnes of Marshall county. who has done notable work in rural schools, spoke on -Four Years of Pro- gress in Marshall County Schools" S. J. Chandler, also from Guntersville, talked on the meaning and scope of supervision. The fifth number on a strong programme was a discussion of living conditions in rural Alabama by J. E. Hobdy, state supervisor of rural schools
 Following MT. Hobdy were two speakers from without the state, Dr. Thompson from the Ohio university, who addressed the teachers on Indus trial Training in Rural Schools" and l.. A. Miller from the United States department of agriculture. Mr Miller illustrated his talk with charts relat- ing to agriculture and spoke practi- cally on the needs and the methods of teaching agriculture and of the teach CTS encouraging an appreciation of the merits and possibilities of farming.
 He said in part, after stressing the feasibility of suiting the teaching of agriculture to local conditions:
 Attitude of Teacher
 While the attitude of the teacher toward rural life is the first essential, preparation for the work is second only as a qualification. thorough knowledge of the fundamentals of ele- mentary agriculture is necessary. Knowledge of it's practical application as manifested in the school and home garden, the club activities and the more common practice of the farm should supplement theory. With such an attitude and with such training the rural school teacher becomes a recog nized leader. With such a leaNer and such a vitalized course of instruction the calling of the farmer will be given it's proper prospective and the leading g spirits of rural life will be drawn to it by its attractiveness Then and not until then will the rural uplift move ment be established and the glory of country life be made secure"
 The same plea for strong teachers and for teachers with interest and sympathetic understanding is being made throughout the sessions, particu- larly to those concerned with rural school work, and there is a decided ten : dency to broaden rural school teaching for the better. The department of rural schools bids fair to be a popular one and the programme it gave today was one of the best of the associa- tion.
 At the same time, the teachers of the upper elementary grades held their meet ing. at the Sidney Lanier high school. The programme consisted of discussions of one subject and was an innovation in the usual style of programme. The one topic was ITO What Extent and by What Means Should Pupils in the Upper Ele- mentary Grades Be Taught to Take the Initiative in School Work?" The subject was one that appealed to the teachers of these grades and was heard with interest. The speakers were Mrs. R. c. Johnston