The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-03-25
KNOW YOUR STUDENT
ADVISES DR.. CHANDLER!
Richmond superintendent of schools
Addresses Third District Teach
crs' Association.
ELEMENTARY AGRrcuLTURE
should Not BE Side Issue. as II Now
Is In Many SchooiS--Tcacters At
tend Informal Reception in High
school Library.

Laying considerable stress on The
necessity of teachers accepting, study
! ing and learning the new conditions
! that now exist in the schools, Dr. j. a.
e. Chandler. superintendent of Rich
mond public schools, made a most
+ interesting and helpful address last
night at the opening session OF the
Third Congressional District Teach
7 ers' Association Conference in the
auditorium of John Marshall High
! School.
DR. Chandler impressed on his hear
ers how essential IL is for them to
grasp the new ideas and to take ad-
vantage of the suggestions yearly sent
out by the State Board OF Education
in order to get the results from the
/ children and for educational advance
ment in Virginia. He declared that
the suggestions that are made TO the
teachers by the board are most val
liable. and said that IL the teachers
failed to take advantage of them and
followed teaching along the old lines
they cannot hope To get the best re-
suhs.
Need of Elementary Agriculture.
: pr Chandler also told OF the need
of elementary agriculture in the rural
communities He declared that child
should be educated according 10 the
life OF community
Children living In rural communl-
ties should have a scientific knowl-
edge. as we'll as a practical one" de-
clared the speaker. 1t is very essen
tia1 that they take botany and
zoology. In addition to their regular
studies" He said that in some coun-
try districts agricultural study in the
schools is merely side issue with the
children. but as a matter of fact he
declared. II should be one of the prin-
eipal studies and that much larger
amount OF time should he devoted 1t,
should Know the Child.
The speaker declared that it is very
necessary for teacher to know the
child lie said that they should be-
come better acquainted with the
pupils. and know them in their homes
as wei rs in the school room. He as
serted that the teachers should pay
/ visits to the pupils in their homes
and learn Of the conditions that sur
round them
1T is very essential that the teach
ers famiiiarize themselves with the
! ehildren's tendencies in order to as
| Fist them along certain lines. | don
! believe child should be made to re-
| peat a grade Just because he fails on
| one or two subjects. 4 child should
| be promoted on n subject as soon as
| he completes IT, and not be made to
| go oil over IL again Just because he
! fails TO make the required percentage
! on one or more of his other studies.
I We are trying to promote this in the
| junior high schools, and ] believe
| that this will also come within a short
while in the grammar schools"
! In closing he declared that every
/ teacher should recognize the dignity
! Of a lady, and not only preach 1t to
| tlre children, but practice it them
| selves.
| Attend Informal Reception.
I Following DR.. Chambers address
! the meeting adjourned in order to al
! low the teachers present to attend
the informal reception rendered them
in the library on the second moor OF
the John Marshall High School build
T ing. Several interesting selections
were rendered by an orchestra, and
! refreshments were served.
! 4 large mum Der of the teachers had
arrived Yesterday morning and some
| 500 of them paid visits to the various
schools throughout the city during
/ class hours Visitors Day was oh
served in the schools from O'Clock
/ Yesterday morning until o'clock IN
! the afternoon
/ ms ulbi mug iitt S'SSaph 49,
open promptly at . o'clock and a list
of twenty five questions, ranging from
tes-te tiat-tise- sag it-f
in the home. viii come in for dis
cussion Among those who will speak
today are Or. Chandler. James b
! DohertY. Joseph II. Saunders and j
Hoge Kicks.
The teachers viii adjourn and de-
part .nr their homes this afternoon
! Physical Training Demonstration.
The program as arranged in ply
aiCal training was demonstrated De
fore a large audience of teachers In
the gymnasium of the John Marsha
High school yesterday afternoon
The splendid work of the children re-
fiected their thorough training anC
their own interest in the activities
The afternoon was ushered in By
the little tots from Ruffner School
both boys and girls. They played the
games with a naturalness that was I
10Y to behold. Miss Thorpe deserves
a great deal Of credit in having train
ed them so well,
BOYS from the fourth and fiftf
grades in John h. Cary and William
l Fox, from the sixth and seventh
grades in Nicholson and Highland
Park Schools, demonstrated very sat
ders in military tactics. u caiistheni'
drill, aN-up relay and a pick-aback re
lay. The latter afforded much amuse
ment and excitement both to the boys
and the spectators. A baseball drill
was also part of their exhibit. Rich
mond ball teams will have some goot
material to draw from when these
youngsters have added a few inche:
to their stature.
Randolph and Springfield Schools
i were represented by girls from the
grades. who gave a very pretty dem
onstration of folk dances The dances
were joyous and the happy faces OF
the children. together with their white
dresses and ribbons. radiated cheer.
fulness on all those about The chill
dren went through the dances with.
out aid OF any kind. their rhythm was
good and they kept step. Miss Diet
richson, under whose leadership they
we're can he very proud OF them
Women from the evening classes in
the John Marshall High School dem
onstrated a folk dance and marching
A very interesting basketball and in
door baseball game were thus omitted
The boys and girls from Binford
] Junior High School were also not able
to give their demonstration Moth
ing daunted. however. they stayed and
had their game without any audience
and doubtless enjoyed 1t more. Miss