The star-progress. (Opelousas, La.) 1917-1921, 1921-01-12
MEETING
RECENTLY HELD,
WAS GREAT SUCCESS
Three-Day Session of st:
Landry Parish
Instructors
SPEAKERS STRESS
IMPORTANT FACTS
Forward Movement for Pub
lie Education in this
Community

day institute was held at Opelousas
Tor the teachers of St. X.andry parish. |
The attendance was exceT2ent and the
interest manifested throughout the
program was great.
Every part of the program<Was
made as practical as possible. 1Ae
only two speakers outside Of the pafN
ish were Mr. Trudeau, state high
school inspector, and Miss Margaret
Graham. reading specialist Local
problems in the different school
branches were discussed in an inform
al manner In every case the discus
sion was led by someone who was
prepared because OF experience to
judge what should be taken up and
how it SHOULD be guided.
Tells Of Situation
Mr.. Trudeau gave the conference the
benefit of his observations in the
schools of this parish and in other
schools for a number Of years, and
everyone who heard him went away
with the conviction that he knew what
he was talking about because he had
met the real classroom situations
which he discussed. He gave a num-
! Der of good common-sense, practical
suggestions and furnished great deal
of inspiration to the teachers both
( young and old.
I Miss Graham took up the question Of
classroom procedure with the differ
ent primary and intermediate subjects.
Her experience with school work
makes visit from her very profitable,
and it is certain that the teachers Of
! St. Landry returned to their schools
better prepared to meet their daily
problems after hearing Miss Graham.
Careful Preparation Needed
Mr.. Robert, rural supervisor, gave
the teachers the benefit of his investi-
cations and observations throughout
the schools of the parish. In his talks
he emphasized the necessity for max
ing careful daily preparation of every
! lesson to be taught, of taking into con-
sideration the individul differences
among school children, the aims in
teaching reading, spelling, and arith-
metic, and suggestions for improve
ments to be made in the instruction
of these important branches. The
question of library for every school
was again taken up and plans suggest
ed for raising money with which 20
buy books. Over twenty schools have
started good libraries already, since
the beginning of the school year.
Mr.. Prescott's Address
Superintendent Prescott addressed
Il the conference on several occasions EN-
, phasizing that there was far more
than mere subject matter to be taught
by the real teacher After ALL" he
, said, mo education that does not make
| better American citizens is worthy the
name" He went into the question Of
supervised play, of interest in the com
munity, and preparation Of teacher:
for the profession of teaching.
Mrs. Alpha, state director of public
nursing, introduced the work Of oul
new parish public health nurse, Mis-
: Stockton. Great good must come O
: having Miss Stockton with us. The
school officials and all techers pledg
ed their hearty support and co-opera
= tion in the cause Of the physical healtl
of our children.
Aycock on Intelligence
J Round table discussions Of English
Mathematics, Botany, History, ant
/ Play were led by teachers who hav
made a success in the teaching o
. these subjects. Mr. Aycock Of the Eu
2 nice high school gave very interest
ing and forwardIooking discussion 0
T Intelligence of School Children" MI
/ Aycock emphasized the fact that if "
5 can test the general intelligence of
child early in school life we 3an sav
that child and the teacher time an
trouble by placing the particular chill
e in class where work can be give
$ that will meet his needs. All childre
l. can not become lawyers, doctors, etc
4 because numbers have not the nativ
ability. Why train all in the sam
o classes and give them the same sui
le jects if we can tell, by inteIIlgenc
n tests, just what work the boys an
+ girls are able to do, and what profe
le sion or vocation they are because {
1t native ability, able to take up an
make a success Of
Mendoza on Farm Work
II Mr.. Mendoza, county agriculture
agent and club organizer, address,
II the conference OF club work and otht
i agricultural interest of the parish. Fl
called the attention of the teacher
: and school officials to the aeploraD
fact that there is not enough agricu
ture taught to the boys and girls of