The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1917-03-08

NATIONAL EDUCATIONAL con-
FERENCE

attendance at two National Educa-
tional Conferences. He reports
these TO have been strong confer
ences which voiced the thoughts OF
the leading thinkers Of our nation.
The following resolutions passed by
Rural Life Sections OF the Conven-
ton at Kansas City give us an idea
of the problems discussed. The
Craftsmanship Of the resolution COM
mittee was held by Dean Clark.
WHEREAS, there are certain con-
ditions generally prevailing in the
rural schools of the United States
which tend TO prevent the progress
and efficiency Of these schools,
therefore be IL
RESOLVED, by the National As
sociation of the State Supervisors
and Inspectors Of Rural Schools, in
session at Kansas City. Mo-, Febru-
airy 2sth to March fist.
FIRST: There should be unit Of
school administration that is sum
GENTLY populous 10 make possible
an efficient school. In such unit
there should be not only good ele-
mentary schools. but also good high
schools. reasonably accessible to all
the homes of the unit. In laying
out units smaller than the county,
county or state supervision is ad-
visable.
II is the duty Of the State when To-
cal funds are not sufficient, to sup
plement the funds of such a unit to
the end that the children residing
therein may have school opportuni-
ties equal to those enjoyed by any
other school unit in the state.
SECOND: The state Superintend-
ent's Office should be provided with
such help as is needed to properly
guide and stimulate the work OF the
rural schools of the state.
THIRD: The County Superintend-
ents Office should be provided with
sufficient number Of supervisors
10 properly direct the instruction
in the rural schools. There should
be one supervisor for every twenty
teachers.
FOURTH: The Rural superintend-
ents, supervisors and teachers should
he paid as well as, or better than.
persons in similar positions in city
schools in the same state
FIFTH: The State Superintendent
Of Public Instruction should receive
salary equal TO or greater than
that Of any other educational officer
in the state.
SIXTH: County. and state Super
intendents should be selected by o
small Board of Education, the mem
beers Of which are Ia serve without
financial remuneration.
SEVENTH: No person should be
appointed as rural teacher who has
not had at least six years OF train
/ ing above the elementary schools,
the last two years Of which should
be largely professional in character
This training should be Of nature
which will best III the prospective
teacher for his special rural work
EIGHTH: State school moneys
should he distributed to the various
school units in direct proportion Ia
the number of teachers needed, the
total attendance Of pupils. and the
rate of tax levied in the unit; and
inversely in proportion to the fin
ancial ability Of the unit to main
tain its schools.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that
we indorse the following ideas sci
forth in the resolutions OF the Lin
coin Rural Life meeting held Feb
ruary % to 81, 1917.
1. There should be school tern
of not less than 100 days in ever,
rural school community.
2. There should be a home fol
teachers, and a demonstration farm
of five or more acres as apart o
the school property; and the teacher
should be employed for twelve
months in the year.
3. There should be a system o
travelling libraries, with brancl
libraries at the centers of popula
ton; the public schools should b
used as distributing centers.
4. The schools should be the edu
cational, social, and where desirable
the religious center OF the commu
! nifty.
5. The course of study in ele
, mentary and secondary school
should BIO adapted to the needs @