The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-11-03
SUMNER SCHOOL
|. IS VACATION FOR
ENGLISH TEACHER
Instead Of Chautauquas With
Long Programs English Are
Satisfied With Little Talks
and Short Lectures.

school has been 4 popular lhstitution In
BneiHnd Tor 9 good number OF years
past, having been first introduced by
eemireliFious bodies such ~ the X. NJ
2. 4. u eerftaponds IN some degree
known features il America. but II IS
more definite In its aim and probably
more definitely designed TO meet the
needs Of those who find II hard TO af-
ford holiday In the ordinary way. The
comparatively wsll.to-do people VIII?
FREQUENT ehAutauquas as 4 convenient
means OF acquiring some miscellaneous
Information and hearing vel. known
speaRtrs ana politicians, would find the
summer school az established over here
very ssTiout. All on these schools have
the deftnite purpose OF conveying in
Ing propa sanSa IN behalf Of some spS-
ellie Organized body. In most cases
they have q more or less definitely re.
ligiope siGnificanee
Cooperative Schools.
That, Of course, Is not 80 in the case
Of the cooperative schools. These were
first started seven years ago, there be-
ing only one held In the first year;
since that time they have been grow
Ing steadily IN numbers and import
ance Their purpose is 70 instruct the
them 70 enthusiasm In the cause; at
the same time lectures are given IN sucn
subjects as industrial history and gem
eral economies, which enables the stu.
dents 70 set clear grasp Of the part
played by the movement in the gem
eral economic structure OF the country.
Each course Of lectures lasts one week,
two lectures being given each day by
persons appointed for the purpose by
the educational committee Of the CO.
operative union, which has general
charge Of ALI the schools, II is usual
for a school to run for two OF some.
times three weeks continuously, taking
IN q separate set Of students each week.
but certain number occasionally stay
for the whole period, as the lectures
are usually different each week, The
lectures occupy about threA.quarters ~
an hour to an, hour each, and after
each of them q period. Of about the
same length is allowed for discussion
which Is usually very illuminating; II
Is rule Of the school that as far 40
possible every student shall attend each
lecture. The number present is as a
rule from, rs 70 ss according to the
accommodation Available,
Live Near Meetings.
One Of the essential things in the
opinion Of the promoters OF the schools
ID that all the students should live for
the week III InS place where Inc let
lures are held For this purpose a
school IL usually rented during the
holiday season, but there Is frequent
~ some difficulty In obtaining accom-.
mediation. This Is particularly The case
in Ireland, where summer schools have
only been held during the last two years.
But At various places In England CO.
operators have acquired country ss-
tates and houses for use In social and
educational ways and a. convalescent
homes for their poorer members, and
these places serve as excellent centers
for the purpose.
The life at a summer school Is OF
simple, almost Spartan character, but
very healthy and pleasant for the hard.
working people who for the nloat part
attend. The catering 10 done a. rule
by the United Cooperative Baking so
eiety and the charge made for board
.nd lodsinE e each studst y q. about
psnsts Of the school except for the &C.
casionap trips % tho surrounding cour-
| tryside and places OF interest which
| eniiyen the social side OF the week.
| The great majority Of the students are,
Of course, members Of the co-eperaa1li,y,s
cornmittees--but many societies send
one or more Of their employees as well.
In the case OF those who are not able
themselves 70 afford the trip It 10 a
common thing for Scholarships to be
koftered both BY central bodies and Wy
cost Of the week including travelling
expenses These scholarships are sonia-
times awarded AZ the result OF an ex.
aniination, at other times merely on the
Judgment OF the committee. The lee
turera are for the most part members
Of the staff Of the cooperative union:
when outside people are requisitioned
they are paid their out-of.pocket ex.
penses. and there IA no outlay or large
fees AZ IL the ease with chautauquas
In America.
Practical Democracy.
The essence OF the summer school
idea is practical democracy, It's general
teaching is TO emphasize the duties and
responsibilities OF cItizenshIp, and its
Apecial teaching In the case described
Is TO show the cooperative movement
and ito members In their proper rela-
| tionAhip to those duties. There 10 no
departure from thia aim either n the
| lectures or the social side of the schools,
which is almost equally important,
Needless 70 cay the atmosphere OF the
| schools varies greatly, according 10 the
i type OF the students or lecturers who
| happen to attend them, At the ideal
school there is an .almost. continuous
discussion OF the disputed points Of
the movement BY small groups gath
cred together In the grounds or by
those who are walking or driving to-
kether, Az other tiniea the holiday
| spirit Is more In the ascendancy, and rs
soon az the lectures and discussions are
disposed OF there Is tendency to dis
perse In search Of amusement. TO a
certain extent the scholarship system
is responsible for sending many people
TO these schools simply In order to give
them good holiday, and some Of the
persons In authority are disposed TO
criticize " from this point of view;
others point out that the majority Of
the people who attend these schools
have 70 do so at the sacrifice OF ANY
other holidays, for the nature OF their
sence, and that II Is therefore not rea :
sonable 20 criticize them II they wish