The Lexington progress. (Lexington, Tenn.) 1884-current, 1922-11-24
AMONG THE COUNTRY SCHOOLS.
BY r. E. Powers. Co. Supt.

By r. +. Powers, Co. Supt.
| have been asked to announce that
there will be a short our Of agri-
culture this winter at the University
of Tennessee, beginning January Bird
and continuing n month. This is a
great opportunity for you to become
acquainted with some Of the modern
methods Of farming. 1t will be n
month of real work that will bring
you good returns. II there should be
anyone in this county interested in
this work, l shall be glad to assist you
in any anner possible.
There are several schools in the
county that will lengthen their term
of school . / hope that more of them
will be able to do so as this will be a
great help to the children. You will
get more good from n OF two
months Of extra school than you will
realize at the time. 1t will just make
your school that much stronger. II
all the patrons of the school will aid
in this move it will not place the bur-
den upon the shoulders Of any one
person. Then this will keep the child
in the school room where he will be
engaged in something useful rather
than running around idle and not be-
ing occupied.
| again call your attention to the
Teachers Meeting this coming Sat-
urday at 10 a. M, in the High School
building. Let's get together and have
a real teachers organization this year.
At the Teachers Meeting Saturday
we will organize the basket ball
league for the county and make plans
for a tournament here sometime af-
ter Christmas. This form of sport is
being organized for the purpose Of
giving students some outside interest
in the school. 1t is not for the pur-
pose of making any alterations in the
work they do in the classroom. II
your school Is interested in this part
of the school life, be with us Saturday
and help organize it.
| have been visiting some schools
this year and | find some of the old
faults and mistakes | did last year
and the most common Of these is the
teacher allowing the student to recite
with his book open. One teacher told
his class the other day that they could
recite that day with their books open
but tomorrow they would have to
lClpsa thana T41ar IL Al. A...a a. Il
things as tomorrow never gets here.
1t is always n day ahead Of US II
you are n Of the teachers allowing
this to be done ! urge for the sake Of
the child that you do all in your power
to overcome this. IL you cover only
one-half the required amount of the
book and do it we'll this IL worth much
more TO the student that if he were
to owe the entire text twice and Mt
the same time be allowed to rccite
with an open book. In schools where
this has been allowed you will have to
give short lessons.
Also, | find that some Of the teach
era are doing good work in their
spelling this year as compared to last
year. Some of the schools are teach
ing the diacritical markings and are
having good success with IL. This is
not so difficult and should be taught
in the fifth grade at least. I would be
glad to help any teacher in this or any
any part Of the school II you will on
~ call on me. This Is one Of the most
commonly neglected parts Of the
school today and it Is not only In the
schools Of this county but in all 9TH
ers alike. A business nan today will
first investigate your manner Of let
ter writing and spelling before you
are able TO secure q position. Now is
the time to begin to improve in these
deficiencies and the sooner we begin