Pocahontas star herald., 1922-11-03
county Teachers Association


Inc attendance was unusually LARGO,
most OF the teachers Of the eountv
oeing present, besides many citizens
who are interested in school work
The first on the program was a
chorus by eight P, Il S. girls and
was well rendered. The audienca
then sang "Amerloa." THIS was
followed by splendid patriotic in.
vocation by DR.. Horace Z. Ruff.
Next was an address on Arkansas
by DR.. Harding of the Uniyersitv
OF Arkansas His lecture was illus
trsttd by slides and the fr,l flashed
on the screen was the words of our
state song, "Arkansas," which he
requested the audience TO sing. He
then showed our state flag and some
school buildings of which Arkansas
people are justly proud. DR.. Hard
ing said he wanted to show some of
our good buildings before be showed
our poor ones. Below are some Of
the statistics which show the deulor
able condition Of our state. Some
OF our good citizens say, "Lets not
talk about our condition, keep it
quiet for we are ashamed for other
folks to know It," But there IL on
ly one way to ever change IT. and
that Is to talk it, publish 1t and al
ways heep it before the people until
everyone awakens to the need of bet
ter schools, When they do, It will
be easy to raise our standard over
the top educationalIy as we are al.
ready hrst 10 resources aud products
Whv does Arkansas stand 46ih in
education IN U. S. A? Because
there are IN our state 35 600 white
and 1000 colored lllilerates; per
cent of our children never reach the
fourth grade;r 43 per cent never
reach the sixth grade; 81 per cent
never reach high school and SO per
cent never finish.
In the state of New York the av-
erage school term Is 9 2 months; IN
Arkansas 1t Is only 6.5 months.
Thus it would take one of our boys
Is years to receive the same educa.
ton that a boy 10 New York receives
in ~ years During the school term
Of 6.5 months the average child at
tends only 7s days Would 1t not
be we'll for those who are interested
ID law enforcement to consider the
question OF enforcing the compulso
ry school law? Inasmuch as a boy
trained to obedience to the laws oI
our country during his childhood, II
not 80 liable to violate them wher
he reaches manhood.
One of the slides bore the state.
ment, awe get what we pay for,
which Is borne out by the follow
ing figures: U. s. average is S7.2t
per capita while Arkansas average
is 81 % per capita. In 1921 Arkar
sas spent five times as much for to
bacco az for schools, besides Sl2,
500 for face powder, perfumes, etc
Are we, the men and women Of Ar
kansas proud Of this record? How
can we change these conditions anC
figures? By having an eight month
term of school; enforcing attendance
and a higher standard for teachers.
The patrons we're 50 Impressed
with DR. Hardiug's talk that we are
assured Of their desire to raise oul
rank.
Saturday morning DIR Gran; gave
a splendid address on "How can
teacher know whether be is progress
ing or standing still?" HIS address
was interspersed with round table
of the different tests on
The subject.
Miss Irene Williamson and six oil
her pupils from Biggers gave a help
ful and interesting demonstration OF
Glass work IN muscular movement
penmsnshlp. Prof. Daily Thomp
ION, superintendent of the +. II 5
made a very intere'trng talk to the
eachers. Profs. Hulen, bawhon
md White postponed their speeches
Until another time ss so many OF the
eaohers had to leave on the after
loon trair.
During the meeting IS teachers
in the ASSOCIATION. This
vas one of the best teachers assocIa'
IONS ever held IN Randolph county
nd every teacher present received
many helpful suggestions.
n. II Price, Pres.
Berns Finley, Sec.