The log cabin Democrat. [volume] (Conway, Ark.) 1908-current, 1916-01-12
PROBLEM OF THE
RURA. SCHOOLS
DISCUSSED BY Mr. DOYNf
NORMAL SCHOOL PRESIDENT
WRITES ON HIGHLY I'M
PORTANT QUESTION.
Continued from yesterday


| Continued from yesterday
TOO MANY SMALL DISTRICTS.
The one room school, in which the
teacher must handle all grades, vary
ing in advancement from the alpha
bet to Euclid in many instances. wit
nesses much waste of money and en-
ergy. Generally these schools are
grossly neglected as regards furni-
ture and other equipment, and there
is small incentive to the pupils to de-
sire to continue in attendance. Pat
rons are beginning to see the value
in consolidation, and here and there
we find that this has been done. The
results may be noted in better CLASH
fication, longer terms Of school, bet
ter sanitation, heating, lighting and
far better results from the work of
the pupils. When family convent
ence, petty jealousies, and neighbor-
hood strifes can be overcome, and the
fact impressed that the promotion of
the welfare of the child, and the
general good of the whole community
affected will be enhanced by CONSOLE
dation, we shall find the rural schools
taking steps more rapidly to bring
about such conditions, and the waste
in this direction no longer so pro-
nounced.
TOO FREQUENT CHANGE OF TEACHERS.
Nothing has contributed more to
waste in schools than the constant
change in its teaching force. When a
teacher has learned community condi-
tons, has become acquainted with the
individual pupils and knows their de-
fects or excellences, when he adapts
himself to his environment and iden-
titled himself with the home and civic
life, he is certainly in better position
to work to advantage than were he
an absolute stranger. Moreover, if
he feels reasonably sure that his ten
ure of Office will be of some length,
he can then better plan for the fu-
ture and naturally gives more time
and attention to community affairs
than he would under other conditions.
The right teacher will be worth more
and more to the school each succeed
ing year, and the teacher who has
not fully met the expectations of the
district the first year may prove in
the years succeeding the very person
for the place. Let him know that his
efforts are appreciated and he will
strive but the harder to merit con-
tinued approval.
| INDIVIDUALITY is DESTROYED.
The child is too often considered
as belonging to a group, instead OF
being looked upon as distinct per-
sonality, with his own peculiar traits,
tastes and tendencies. While the
methods and plans for the conduct OF
any school must be general in their
character, the wise teacher will be
fully alive to the fact that there is
need of study of the individual pupil
His home life, his associations, his
hopes and aspirations, his merits and
defects should be as far as possible
known to the teacher, and his infiu-
ence should look toward encourage
ment of the best and repression OF
the worst in the makeup OF the
pupil. This failure to recognize the
individuality of the child sometimes
manifests itself in the recitation. The
teacher has his own idea as to how
things should be done, and certainly
the pupil should follow the guidance
of the teacher in the main. If, how,
ever, the pupil has reached conciu'
sions after his own method Of reason
ling, correct, but not after the pattern
set by teacher or textbook, he should
be the recipient of praise for his eff
forts and encouraged to exercise his
own originality, even though he has
no precedent for what he has done
When this has occurred, he may be
lied to see wherein he has lost time
and energy in his search for truth
and thus encouraged to adopt a bet
ter plan next time.
AIM IN LIFE OVERLOOKED.
| What line of activity the pupil i:
to follow when he leaves the schoo
lis too often of small concern to thu
teacher. That this is largely tht
fault of the school directors is admit
ted. While they are responsible fol
the course of study pursued, the tact
full teacher can easily use his infiu
ence to have in that course certain
subjects that will make for the inter
lest and welfare of the pupil, will les
sen the tendency to drop out OF schoo
and will send the pupil out into the
world measurably prepared to make
his way. 1t is not meant by this that
the pupils will be prepared for any