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the right direction when teachers are taught how
to tell a story well and effectively.
This subject includes fairy and folk tales, the
use of story telling in expression, composition,
grammar and history; its deeper significance in
aesthetic and spiritual life; origin and history of
story telling; psychological basis; how to tell a
story. To take teachers back to these delightful
sources of inspiration, and to show them how to
tell a story, is the object of this special course,
says the management of this institution.
Improving Public Schools.
Yet another practical conference held at the
Summer School of the South was that of “The
Interstate League for the Betterment of Public
School.” Round table discussions were had with
practical suggestions from teachers as to the va
rious methods used and needed, gave to this general
subject a most particular interest and weight.
Leaving the general consideration of school work
there was held at Knoxville a special conference
between the principals and teachers of high schools,
as it is believed that “the most important devel
opment in public education in the South to-day is
to be found in the high schools.” This conference
was productive of much interest, and must result
in great benefit to the schools which were fortunate
enough to have had representation at Knoxville.
We have considered the rather unusual work of
the Knoxville Summer School, before touching on
the regular curriculum, for it must be understood
that while it is possible to secure special instruc
tion along any desired line, there is also a prescrib
ed course of study for which students are given
regular degrees, credits and other university meth
ods of recognition.
Courses of Study.
While it is impossible to more than mention the
various branches covered at Knoxville, still the fol
lowing list will give some idea of the scope of the
work it is possible to cover at this institution.
In addition to the special branches covered by the
conferences already mentioned, there are courses in
primary work, in literature, penmanship, music,
drawing and art, manual training, domestic science,
expression, physical training, agriculture, horticul
ture, school gardens, nature study and biology, bird
life, physiology and hygiene; geology, geography,
chemistry, physics; old English, literature of the
Bible, Latin, Greek language and literature, Ger
man, French, history, mathematics, bookkeeping,
economics, philosophy, psychology and education.
The Study of Education.
The latter course is of special moment to this body
of students, all of whom are or have been teachers,
and under the general head of “Education,” is
found: 1. The history of education, including a
course of ten lectures on historic types of education
from the earliest times to the present. This course
covered a period of two weeks, and was conducted
by Dr. Hailmann.
2. Principles of Education, covering the aim
and utility of education, as well as the various
uses to which education is put.
3. History of modern education, including the
emancipation of the profession; the unity of head,
heart and hand, etc.
4. The kindergarten and the primary school, and
all the vast subject covered by the history of
“learning by doing.”
5. Froebel’s system of education, or the practical
application of tlie Flroebel principles to public
school education.
In connection with this subject there is a special
course devoted to the consideration and earnest
study of Froebel’s Philosophy of Education—a phil
osophy which has revolutionized the educational
systems of the world.
It is almost impossible to estimate the value to
* teachers of this exhaustive study of practical edu
cational methods, and the interchange of personal
experiences, the discussions of plans, the suggestions
and theories offered from one distinguished edu
cator to another, transcend all possible computa
tion wh.n considering the gain of a summer spent
ftt Knoxville, ___
The Golden Age for Angust 23,
Social Features.
The social element, too, must be given a due
place in a record of life at the Knoxville Summer
School. Each evening there is an entertainment
of some sort—either a reading, a lecture, a concert,
musical or dramatic recital. Varied are the enter
tainment features, and vast are the audiences. The
people of Knoxville patronize the Summer School
as a summer evening’s diversion, and only a slight
entrance fee is charged to these entertainments.
It is not uncommon for a famous lectiirer to be
heard at the Summer School for the sum of twenty
five cents, who could not be listened to during the
winter season for many times that amount.
State Colonies.
In a student body numbering, as has been said,
more than 2,500 members, it is but natural that
those coming from the same state should affiliate,
hence small “colonies” are formed each year con
sisting of teachers from the various states. A
Georgia colony, remembered with cordial good feel
ing, is that which was, for several sessions, con
ducted by Dr. P. D. Pollock, the late lamented presi
dent of Mercer University. The very summer be
fore his death Dr. Pollock, himself a foremost edu
cator, conducted a party of Georgia teachers to
Knoxville, and this party formed a bright feature
in the social life of the Summer School. Many date
as one of their most cherished memories the privi
lege thus afforded them of knowing Dr. Pollock—
a privilege so soon to become among the “things
that are no more.”
General Advantages.
It is impossible to cover even all of the special
features of this great institution of learning which
each year convenes at Knoxville, and which has
gained power and reputation as the Summer School
of the South. Next year, however, there is to be no
session, as the Exposition at Jamestown is thought
to be a Southern Educational feature which will
attract many educators. It is pertinent, therefore,
to dwell on the session at Knoxville which has just
closed, for even to the most unthinking mind it
must appeal as both a practical and a profitable
way of utilizing a summer vacation.
On the theory that “a change of occupation is
rest,” it might be helpful for the teacher to turn
pupil for a few brief weeks, even under the most
adverse circumstances, but when there is added
every possible advantage which environment, con
tact and advanced intellectual and social culture
can offer, then we feel that almost ideal conditions
are reached and a technical education is acquired
under the happiest possible combination of circum
stances.
Tomorrow.
By EFFIE SMITH.
I saw the masons going home
Today at set of sun,
Leaving the masSive arch unbuilt,
The lofty walls half-done.
Although their task was incomplete,
Cheerful they went away,
Knowing that they should woik again
Upon another day.
When on our lives’ half-builded towers
Too soon the sun shall set,
I would we, too, might leave our work
In faith and not regret.
Is there a task so vast and high
It may not finished he
Upon the endless morrow morn
We call Eternity?
Then amply let us plan our lives,
And lay foundations deep;
We shall have time to finish all,
After the grave’s short sleep.
Os all European cities, Rome has most frequently
been in the hands of enemies. It has been entered
or sacked more than forty times since 390 B. C.
News of General Interest.
Preparations are being made to celebrate the
500th anniversary of the University of Leipsic in
1909.
The tea gardens of Northern India extend over
500,000 acres, and they produce 190,000,000 pounds
of tea per annum at a profit of about SIOO an acre.-
The International Association of Auctioneers, at
its convention in Chicago, adopted a resolution al
lowing women to become members of the associa
tion.
A tri-weekly “train de luxe” is to be placed in
service over the new Simplon route for passengers
between England and Italy, via Calais, Paris, Lau
sanne and Milan.
The Republics of Salvador and Guatemala de
clared war against each other only a short time
ago, but as the United States and Mexico offered
to settle the differences by arbitration the offer was
accepted and an armistice was declared.
The vindication of Capt. Dreyfus by the French
Government and the reinstatement of that officer
into all the honors of which his unjust sentence and
imprisonment deprived him is a subject of deep
interest and one which would have been deemed
almost a miracle a few years ago.
New York City consumes nearly 1,000 million
units of electricity per annum, while London, with
nearly double the population, consumes not more
than one-fourth of that amount. The consumption
jper head of population in New York is stated to
be 282 units, against only 42 per head in London.
It has often been erroneously claimed that Jews
never adapted themselves to agricultural pursuits,
and an evidence of the falsity of this statement is
the recent movement by the wealthy Jews of Phila
delphia to purchase farm lots in Pennsylvania and
to form a suburban colony of Jews taken from the
thickly settled parts of the large cities.
A Memphis, Mo., man has discovered a
new way to get rid of mosquitoes. He says to
rub alum on your face and hands. When the mos
quito takes a bite it puckers his buzzer so it can’t
sting. It sits down in a damp place, tries to dig the
pucker loose, catches its death of cold, and dies of
pneumonia.
Yet another child holding an unusual position
is Miss Jessie Johnson, of Kokomo, Indiana, who,
although only fourteen, is an accredited notary pub
lic. When her application was made it was care
fully considered and as the laws of the state fixed
no age limit for its notaries, the appointment was
given to Miss Johnson, who filled the other requi
sites of “good character and educational ability.”
For the first time in six centuries Norway has
now a monarch of its own in King Haakon VII,
who was crowned on June 22. The attitude of the
Norwegian people might be construed into favoring
a republican rather than a monarchial form of gov
ernment as they are quoted as saying that “the
King comes to make his home in a Norwegian cap
ital, elected by a free people, to occupy conjointly
with free men the first place in the land.”
The youngest railroad magnate of which we have
accurate knowledge is Gordon Thomson, of Glas
gow, Mo., who, although only six years old, owns
100 shares of stock in the Missouri Valley Central
Electric railroad. The stock was given to the child
by his grandfather and the little fellow takes great
interest in the affairs of the road, of which he de
sires to be an officer as soon as he reaches the requi
site age.