Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1916-02-24

In fixing a course of study the
teacher should understand the p1y-
choIogy Of education. Instinct func-
tim AT certain times and if the pupil
does not have the proper environment
when this response is needed, the IN
st;nct dies. The child up to the last
period of high school life has natur-
al desire to see. explore and traYel.
This desire should be gratihed by
school and home. We should ac-
quaint the child with the world. All
the activities Of the community to-
gether with the river, hills, DlrdS'
wild animals and insects, have to DO
with the child environment. We
should not only study these things
ont Of doors but should be made the
subicct matter OF school work. The
EXPLORATION of the locality. charting
its ceosraohical features, surh as
streams. hills, mountains, forests.
etc. the study Of land forMalloh
| fjrst-hanA, the study OF the fora and
fauna. can he the content of Botany,
Physical Geography and Physiogra-
nhy. English, Physics. Chemistry, in
fact can be made to embrace the
whole line Of work. This opens
good field for general science. The
pupil could test the soil and prepare
a book showing the things that
should be grown on the different
farms or part of farms of the COM
munity and the book be placed in the
library where it could be consulted
by the farmers. Also, he can test
the milk of COWS of the community,
test the water, test the medicines sold
at stores, and the record placed in
the library.
A room in the building should be
set apart for the museum, and the
aim Of this museum shouiS-SS.1te rep
ff1fe=4dt ,sorarlss2!I:tKe,4Ofsa gal environ:
ment, the natural and physical en-
vii onment, and the industrial civil
and social environment The museum
would be educative in it's making and
would be of an immense value to the
community, not to the children only
but to the old people. In this room.
we should find mineral, rocks, soils,
in sccts-particuiaTly Of economic i'm
pol ;ance-birds and specimens o.
wild animals Of economic importance.
Meetings can be he'd occasionally
with parents and visitor, in attend
ance and ahve each student describe
to them what he collected, giving its
history as much as possible and tell
different places where the specimen
can be found. and whether useful
or not to the community.
I think the educational value OF
this plan can hardly be measured ana
! is in reach of most communities. 1t
will cause an enlivened interest, will
keep more in school, will aid in the
development of community interest,
and will stop the going to the city.
Now, as to the new studies, namely:
| Agriculture, Manual Training and
| Domestic Science in the schools. No
one rural school can have these new
studies in the best manner without
cooperating with other schools. Two
| plans may be suggested. The county
may have one high school strong in
! Domestic Science, one strong in Agri-
culture, and one strong in Manual
Training. The pupils desiring any
ore OF these rourse5 loud a.tend the
high school. giving it without extra
cost IS far as tuition is concerned. Ii
the districts in the county were we'll
to-do these schools could be increased
in number
Second plan: Since the district
could not pay enough for expert
! teachers in this line. several schools
could go together and hire one teach
er. This would make it ha.d for the
teacher but ne ccu!d DO very COED
work. Two days at one school. 80
a. another or : ne otEe: plan would
work. This would I'VE &c @chool
coed trained teach=.. 'od courses
along this line and w2a!d place this
chase CT cdu-ation within the reach
Of more pupii: 3Ila:t might also De
conducted along this lille. Since the
IRA: High School IS han >;icapSei by'
not being able to hire 4 sufficient
force. and By Tot being able 10 !o4k
out for the individual pupils az to.
elective subjects. this plan seem: 70.
n Gov i c01:1f;0n Z