The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1923-10-24
Special Training Urged
for Teachers in Country
Rural Problems Require Special Study, Con-
ference Members Claim

Wednesday by Chester II. Thomp.
son. chairman or tho educational
committee OF tho state grunge.
Tho primary fault with the pres,
ent system lies IN the fact that
grade teachers must first graduate
from a high school and then take
normal school work." was Thomp.
sons statement. ION tho face Of
Il. this sounds alright yet wo have
convincing objection.
We OF tho rural communities
and by rural mean removed from
range OF towns large enough 70
support high schools-fcsi that we
can be better served by teachers ds.
yeloped from our own population.
Then wo could have instructors who
understand our problem. our home
life and our children.
As matters now stand, few rural
students can afford 10 pay their
living expenses away from home in
order TO complete high school and
enter the normnla. We think that
this difficulty can be remedled only
BY n revision OF tho system that
would permit tina establishment Of
special courses In tho state normal
schools for eighth.grado graduates.
and allow them 20 get the necessary
high school work and the normal
training NJ TIM Same institution"
OFTEN OBJECT 10
LACK or FINANCES
Teachers reared and educated In
.he city not only do not understand
the problems OF the country stu.
dents and parents. but arc usually
unfamiliar with living conditions IN.
tll they accept positions. and often
are intoisrant % tho lack Of fur.
naco heat. water and Ugh; systems,
and often eenvenloncea regarded as
necessities In thickly settled dis.
trlcta.
An effort to Introduce adoption Of
a uniform system Of textbooks. 10
be printed by the state printer from
materials purchased exclusively In
the state. hiso VIII be made by the
conference, according 10 Thompson.
Il happen 10 know that In sin.
gio county 10 different series Of
textbooks are being used. For one
thing. this practice often woriss a
hardship on Eighth graders. IN TAX.
ing the graduation examinations. II
easily happens that student who
knows his textbook on n particulr
subject thoroly Is forced 10 fall on
questions made up from a different
book
Thompson estimated that the
state would save isso.ooo In one
year By having tho state printer do
tho work. and pointed out that
Warrington manufacturers would
be benefited II all materials were OBJ
talnnd within our borders.
WOULD AMEND
DISTRICT LAWS
An amendment 20 the legislation
governing consolidation OF school
districts that would porrnl; the dis.
trio; surrendering It's independence
20 withdraw AZ its own pleasure AZ
tho conclusion OF six years Of con.
solidation Is advocated by the con.
ference.
I'm msny cases. where country
districts have consolidated with city
or town districts. the hitter have
found tho plan unfeasfole after
fair trial. There Is no reasonable
argumen, against granting n dlssat.
isfied district permission 20 cancel
the agreement if Il does no. work
out" Thomson declared. I'VE feel
that the school property in each dis.
trict OF consolidation should re.
main intact during tho first six.year
period. 20 that II the bond Is sev.
cred. nothing win have been lost 10
either of the contracting parties