Daily Kennebec journal., 1916-09-18

VI speech-maklng, games and pageants
at Illon, where Governor Whitman of
New York State, Senator Warren G.
harding Of Ohio. and Major General
Hugh L. Scott. chief Of staff of the
United States Army, and many other
notables, will be entertained.
School Department
H. A. Allan, Maine agent for rural
education. today mailed from the Of
nee OF the State superintendent Of
public schools to the superintendents
OF rural school systems throughout the
State, letters advising membership in
the National Rural Teachers Reading
Circle as a step towards progress in
cooperation with the Bureau of Edu-
cation, United States Department of
the Interior. The letter follows:
To the Superintendent:
During the school year 1856 there
was established and successfully
maintained under the direction Of the
United States Bureau Of Education an
organization known as the National
Rural Teachers Reading Circle. AL
though this department early signi-
ned its desire to cooperate, it SEEM
ed desirable for many reasons to post.
pone the adoption Of the plan in this
State until the opening of the pres
ent school year.
l am enclosing copy of a pamph-
let which describes the plan and out
lines of the course. You will agree, I
am sure. that the completion of such
q reading course covering a two-year
period will do much to broaden the
teacher and increase her efficiency.
VIII you not send to me on the en-
| closed form a list of your teachers
who may become interested in the
plan? To teachers so named the Bu-
reau of Education will send descrip-
tive material and enrolment blanks.
The full list of books to be read may
be secured from the State library at
Augusta. No additional burden will be
placed upon you if any of your teach
ers undertake the work, other than as
certaining from time to time whether
the work Is being done in a conscien-
tlous manner. A teacher completing
the course would so report to you and
you would be asked to furnish a GER
tihcate to that effect. Your certificate
may be based on your personal knowl-
edge OF the teachers work, an oral or
written examination, or any other
means that would suggest itself to
you.
Please note that while this course
was planned primarily to meet the
needs Of teachers of rural schools it
offers an equal opportunity for teach
ers of village schools.
hope that large number of Maine
teachers may avail themselves Of this
plan. am sure that your teachers will
feel under obligation to you for call
ing their attention to this course.
| H. A. ALLAN,
| Agent for Rural Education.
A pamphlet published at Washington,
D. c., has the following to say regarding
the purpose of the Circle: THE vital
factor in education is the teacher. With
out the well-educated, broad-minded,
sympathetic teacher, any system Of edu-
cation can only be a lifeless mechanism.
The rural teacher means more for rural
| education and rural life than the city
teacher can mean for urban education
and urban life Therefore we must look
| to the country teachers and their prepa-
| ration. and see to 1t that they must be
men and women Of the best native abili-
ty. the most thorough education, and the
highest degree of professional knowledge
| and skill. This will come to pass If a
| general understanding of the needs will
create the demand, and secondary
schools. normal schools and colleges will
| redouble their efforts to meet the de-
mand.'
| I'm the meantime there is great need
| fnxr
| every county-men and women who.
| through their native ability and persist
ent study, have risen above the humdrum
routine Of the daily school tasks per-
| formed in moro or less per-
functory way; men and women who have
read broadly and thought deeply on the
problems Of life and citizenship, upon the
scientific principles involved In farming,
and upon the principles Of education and
their application to the conditions and
| needs Of American rural schools
1T is to assist In finding and equipping
| such leaders that the United States Bu-
| reau Of Education, with the assistance OF
| committee OF the Association Of State
Superintendents. has arranged the First
Rural Teachers Reading Circle. open to
the teachers Of every state under the
rules and regulations for its government
Cooperation with State Depts.
This course Is intended only for teach
ers who are in earnest and who are will
ing, by continuous study and effort, to
pay the price Of recognized leadership
and Of a consciousness Of work well DONE
It will not interfere with the teachers
reading circles as now organized and do
ing good work in many states The pur-
pose is rather to supplant these as kind
Of graduate course"
1.-THE work is to be offered in co-opera-
ton with state departments Of education.
Teachers will be enrolled from states
whose authorities express their desire for
such cooperation, and from these alone"
Tho Study Course
The books to be read in the course are