The Covington leader. (Covington, Tenn.) 18??-current, 1917-02-08
SEES MUCH TO COMMEND
IN MODERN SCHOOL WORK
Advises Others To Follow Example of
Visiting Schools and Seeing What
r. Being Done, Then Cooperating.

son, the y, -. r. OF 4. ", AClIH.
Dear Prof. and Super.:-It has been
my purpose for some time to write
you letter. | find that procrastina-
ton is the thief of time. If you don't
hustle, you'll find what I've found.
The schools viii have closed ere you
visit them. Confdentially, let me
whisper into your ear that the teach
ers will appreciate visit from you.
The truth is, we all like to be noticed.
/ visited the Brighton graded
school the other day. | just want to
talk confdentially to you little while.
You need not say anything about it
to any one else Just let this be I'm
ter nos.
AS / was about to say, casually
strolled into the Brighton graded
school few days ago. had not more
than gotten well into the hall until
the affable superintendent of the
school saw me. He told me that he
would assemble the school for chapel
exercises in a few minutes, and that
he wanted me to conduct the opening
exercises. Of course | declined as
courteously as knew how But |
went with him into the auditorium. In
few minutes, the sexton rang the
bell. Then the whole student body by
classes was assembled in a most order
~ manner. Each grade was closely
followed by its teacher, respectively.
We had heard Of the perfect order
of the school. Now we had an oppOr-
tunity to see for ourselves. ! had no
opportunity Of inquiring how this
most desirable condition of affairs had
been secured. But / observed heavy,
hickory-wood cane, about three feet
long, lying on the superintendent
table.
After reading a short passage from
the scripture, and prayer had been,
offered to God, imploring His blessing
upon the pupils and teachers, the SUI
perintendent told the prospective high
school pupils that if they came up
stairs and were not prepared he would
send them back down stairs until they
were prepared to do the work of high
school pupils. Then he requested the
teachers to furnish him with a list Of
the enrolment in their rooms up to-
date, Then all the pupils went to their
rooms as quietly as mouse "canter-
lophysticates all over the equinimity
of room" when a tomcat appears
on the scene. While | did not see it, ]
have been told that the Prof. carries
a cell Of leather about with him in his
coat pocket. What do you reckon he
carries this spiral strap Of leather
around with him for?
The Prof. has the reputation Of be-
ing good teacher. At his request, !
remained to hear him conduct several
recitations in geometry and arithme-
tic. | observed him closely in his con-
duct Of the recitations. Whether this
is his usual method, or whether he was
4siust showing off" because he had
company, as spoiled children do, you
know: have no hesitancy in saying,
he IS well acquainted with the subjects
under consideration. Being an origin
al character, he is original in his meth
DDS. Not only did he hear the recita-
ton without looking at the book, but
the examples given to the pupils were
original--not the examples that were
in the book. 1t occurs to me that at
least one secret Of his success as a
teacher is his familiarity with the sub
iect which he is teaching, and his apt
ness in making his own examples.
Many pupils can solve the examples
which are given in the book, who can
not solve similar examples in every
day life. But these pupils can solve,
apparently, anything that falls under
the rules as far as they have gone. To
test them, the writer gave the class
this example: Three negroes formed
co-partnership to farm an acre of
ground in cotton. They agreed to d.
vide the proceeds in the following
proportion: Jim was to get ", Tom
was to get Is, and Joe was to get a
When the crop was gathered and the
cotton ginned, the lint and seed sold
for $500. What was each ones share
according to their agreement? One
Of the members of the class-a girl
solved it in few minutes without
hesitation. wonder how many pupils
IN other schools can do the same thing,
This girl was so jubilant, and the
whole class showed an air Of triumph,
that It occurred to me to try them
with another example as follows: A
servant, being ordered to expend equal
sums Of money for fowls, agreed to
forfeit 5 cents for every one which he
purchased above what was necessary
% obey orders. When he went into the
market, he found chickens at Doc each
a,.elzs At zoe Zach. and turkeys at tive