Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1923-08-27
DEVELOPMENT
OF VOCATIONAL
TRAINING FAST
Wonderful Progress in Cam
eron County Schools in De-
|, velopment of Vocational
Training Features.

One of the most important phases in
the development Of the schools OF Cam.
eron county, and one in which this
county is showing the way TO other
parts of the state, according to County
Supt. hennamcr. Is the work that is be-
ing done along vocational lines. and
the enthusiasm with which vocational
couIses are being received. While in
many sections Of the state. the larger
city schools are employing teachers OF
domestic economy. manual training.
business and other vocational courses.
in no part Of the state is this type Of
work being introduced in the rural
school. where according TO Mr. Kenna-
mer it is mos, needed. as in Cameron
county.
Industrial Work in Rural Schools
Fully fifty per cent of the schools
in Cameron county will be equipped for
industrial work this coming session.
Many OF these schools are one-teacher
rural schools. but in these schools. the
boards are installing cook stoves. cook
ing utensils. sewing machines. and
manual training equipment. and what is
more they are demanding teachers qua
lifted TO teach these subjects says Mr..
Kennamer This year the schools AZ
Encantada. Santa Rosa. Stuart Place.
Villanueva. and perhaps Wilson tract
are adding equipment Of this kind.
Courses in vocational agriculture. do
mestic economy. manual training. etc.
will he offered in practically every
school in the county within the next
few years. If the present demand for
this sort of work is kept up. states the
superintendent. In the city schools Of
the county. from one TO three teachers
already are employed that teach moth
ing but such courses.
Solving the Rural School Problem
THE introduction Of the project
method into rural school work. is do
ing more than any one thing. perhaps.
to solve the rural school problem. says
Mr.. Kennamer. land We are this wear
making this work feature or in fact
launching a drive to interest schools
in the really practical side Of cduca-
tion."
The institute this year vii make this
a special feature. Miss Amanda Stoltz-
fus, Of the Extension department Of
the University Of Texas. an expert on
rural school work. has been secured es-
pecially to conduct work along voca-
tional lines, and her room will he fit
ted up as a model rural school building
Teachers and patrons of schools alike
are showing a great deal Of interest in
Ser work, and the effect is already ap-
parent
I'VE are cndeavoring to raise the
rural schools of Cameron county 10
greater degree Of usefulness than eveg
before" stated Mr.. kennamer "for
that is one Of the most basic phases Of
our educational work" "We are try
ing to join the schools. the county agri-
cultural agent. and the home demon
stration agent into one big team. TO
better rural conditions. and 20 assist
in the progress OF rural education.
Needed in Border Countrie.
Vocational work in the rural school
IL particularly beneficial in this hor-
der section. according 10 Mr.. Kenna-
mer. for IL is vital factor in hold.
ing the interest of the pupils. II j.
the one sure method Of keeping the
Spanish speaking pupil in school. and
thus carry On the Americanization pro-
cess. BY making the school plant as
attractive as possible. anu Ly conduct
ing the work along such lines a. will
naturally hold the interest Of the pupil
the rural schools are sure 10 progress
The present school administration ~
attempting in every way possible 20
build up the rural schools and the ru-
raj school system in Cameron county /.
rapidly becoming ore Of the best IN
the state. This county is showing the
way in the introduction Of vocational
courses. in construction OF good school
plants. and in building tenchcragcs.
so that the best teacher can he secur-
ed for the rural schools. The difficul-
~ cf providing attractive and convcn-
lent homes for teachers has been on ~
the greatest handicaps 10 rural edu-
cation. states the county Superintend-
ent.
The administration is however going
frf'hr than 'h~ schools themselves.
and is attempting to organize tho
schools. the agricultural arents. the
schools natrons. and an other rural
organizations tc meet the many prob
lens that face the rural population
"The work j. linking up tho school
work with the home life ard the farm
life. for the mutual good OF them all.
Superintendent Kennamer says.