The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1919-05-02
COUNTY SCHOOL NOTES

For reasons which 1t is felt are
self evident this entire column is
again devoted to discussion found in
the latest report of the State Super
intendent:
an the past two years instances
have been found where enemy aliens
have been teaching in the public
schools of this State. This should not
be possible. 1t is the belief of the
State Superintendent that the Legis-
lature should also enact a law pro-
viding that all teachers employed in
any grade of school in the State, ele-
mentary, secondary, or higher, should
be native born or naturalized Ameri-
cans. He would extend this provi-
sion to all educational institutions,
public or private, A famous German
once said that you must first put in
to your schools what you would put
into your national life. We cannot
put right ideals of American institu-
tons and right conceptions of Amer
lean citizenship into the minds of
Missouri children unless such chill
dren are taught by teachers who be-
lieve in America enough to become
citizens. He would not prohibit for
eign professors from coming to our
higher schools and colleges, but he
would insist that these professors
should not be allowed to remain for
reasonable length Of time without
applying for their naturalization pa
pers so that they may become citi-
zens of America.
"In 1918, the course of study for
elementary schools has been COM
pletely revised. This was done by a
committee under the direction of the
State Superintendent He feels that
the revised course will compare ia
vorably with that of any other State
in the Union. Effort has been made
to emphasize the essential things, to
provide for more hahdwork, and to
bring about a proper correlation of
the various subjects.
an 1917, a plan was worked out by
which high school credit could be
given for Bible study done under the
auspices of churches or Sunday
Schools. Proper safeguards were
placed around it SO that only work
done under properly prepared teach
ers could be accepted. The State Su-
perintendent feels that a large num-
Der of students should take advant-
age of this arrangement. The plan
appears elsewhere in this report un.
der the head of Circular Letters
Recognition has been given to the
work of the Boys and Girls Clubs
If he is correctly informed, Missouri
is the first State in the Union to ac.
cept the work done in Boys and
Girls Clubs in lieu of examinations
in the prescribed course of study
This action is in line with modern ed,
vocational thought. As long as the
boys and girls club, work is directed
by such men as State Leader, r. II
Emerson, there can be no question
as to its value.
"Under the inspiration of DR.. Perry
J. Holden, work in 'Vitalized Agricul-
ture' has been introduced in many
counties in Missouri. Agriculture is
one of the subjects in the elementary
school curriculum. In many instances
teachers have had little or no prepa-
ration for teaching it. 1t appears in
the seventh and eighth grades, is fire.
quently taught from textbook, and
fails to accomplish the purpose for
which it was introduced into the
course of study. The underlying
'Vitalized Agriculture is to teach the
child in the terms of his own life. II
might more properly be called the
study of farm life and farm prob.
lens. One of its chief advantages
over the present teaching of agricul-
ture is what farmer would call ro-
tation. All the children above the
fourth grade are to study together
the first year, "Farm Crops" The
second year they are to work on
Making Things the third year
livestock, and the fourth year they
will study about the soil and the home
All this is to be laboratory work. I'm
der the guidance of skillful teacher
there is no question but that it can be
made the most valuable period of the
school day for the country child. The
success of the movement depends up
on the vision of those who have the
direction of it, upon the preparation
of teachers who are to teach it, and
upon the longer tenure of teachers in
their positions. The State Superin-
tendent feels that with proper atten-
ton given to the above matters the
subject of 'Vitalized Agriculture has
great possibilities in the schools OF
Missouri"
J. CLYDE AKERS,
County Supt. of Schools.