The log cabin Democrat., 1916-01-13

pies of history are ignored in the memorizing of dates and incidents that have little bearing on character formation; the obligations, responsi- bilities and amenities of school asso- marks and promotion cards; the great moral and spiritual lessons which may be enforced, sometimes by iprecept but more frfequently by ex- ample, cost too much self-renuncia- tion and self-sacrifce to merit from the teacher that attention which they justly deserve.
 be found under three heads, and these shall be considered briefly.
 MORE REVENUE FOR THE SCHOOLS In Arkansas, under the provisions of our constitution the state levies a three mills tax and the district may levy tax not to exceed seven mills for the support of the schools. Many of our school districts are in need of more money for their schools and are seeking the opportunity to provide means for securing the same Thus it is hoped that a measure will be in- itiated providing for the levy of local tax not to exceed twelve mills for school purposes. The advocates of this claim that it can work no hardship on any school district, as the tax need not be levied unless the district votes for it. It is impossible for some districts to maintain the kind of school they need, unless they are permitted to levy this tax, and it does seem reasonable that permis- sion should be given them to spend their own money for the betterment of their schools.
 No business of any magnitude can succeed without competent supervis- ion. Men in all lines of industrial life have long since recognized this and provided for it. The schools are no exception. Just so long as the in- dividual teacher must depend on his own initiative and his own knowledge of the demands of the vocation, just so long will our schools lack that measure of coherence and thorough ness essential to progress and effi- ciency. There are twenty counties in the state now operating under coun- ty superintendency, and the reports from them will convince the most sceptical of the merits of the plan. A bill should be introduced into our next legislature making the law which now provides for optional su- perintendency general in it's charac- ter, so that every county in the state may reap the benefits.
 TRAINED TEACHERS.
 The State Normal School
 For the purpose of providing train- ed teachers to the state, the Normal School was established, and it's grad uates are to be found in every coun- ty in the state. Their work is an eloquent testimonial to the efficiency of the training they have received. However, the state is not yet fully alive to the value of such teachers in our schools, and the attendance at the Normal School is short of what it should be. School directors, how ever, are beginning to realize that 1t takes something besides scholarship to make a teacher, and they are be- coming more insistent that those who would take positions in the schools prepare themselves for the work. The Normal School looks primarily to the preparation of teachers for the rural schools, but so great is the de- mand for skilled teachers that many of our graduates are gladly received by the town and city schools. The course of study here is such that those who attend have the advantage of instruction from masters in their several lines of work and also have opportunity for practice and obser- vation work in the Training School. Thus they will go to their work after leaving here, not only with such preparation as they may have gained theoretically, but having had the privilege of seeing the work actually done and of participating in the same under the direction of competent su- pervisors.
 Realizing that the rural teacher especially should have ample lnstruc- tion in those matters pertaining to the community life into which he IS supposed to enter, provision is made to give him such help as will best nt him for his work in such field.
 The remainder of the paper IS a descriptive outline of the courses or- fered to students in the State Nor- , mal.
 SPECIAL TAXES INCREASE.