The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1875-06-03


LS- There are two things IN which
Trustees and Teachers Of schools might
make a great reform. For one thing,
books are changed too often. The
changes have been so frequent, that
the purchase of books alone has been an
item of expense very oppressive to some
and greatly annoying to all who send
children to school. Teachers have too
many whims in regard to books. One
teacher must have a certain kind of his
tory or grammar or geography or arith-
metic, while another cannot possibly
teach from these books; others will re-
quire a certain series this session and
another the next, and this constant
changing and buying Of school books
has grown to be great nuisance to par
ents, and the complaint is coming up
loud and deep against it. 1t is damaging
our schools and dcterring many poor
people all over the land from educating
their children. The expense of books
alone ina some Instances exceeds the tu-
ition. Teachers and Trustees and Di-
Tectors should see thai tie evil is cor
rected. Another crying evil i'm many
of our schools is che growing and ever
increasing desire on the part of girls, en-
couraged and in some instances insti-
gated and stimulated by teachers, to
NlltSN. Wits NOW Llllilh lllN AiASb NlGSS
all the time, at home, at schOol-dress in
CANDY trappings, wear fine gaiter boots
aud gaily trimmed hats every day.
And Mhen public Friday comes, nothing
less than q new tarletan, fitted and trim
med by the mantua maker will do, and
it would be a positive disgrace in the
eyes Of mamma, and auntie, and teachers
and fashionable ladies, and the other
girls, for one TO appear on such an Occa-
sion IN neaJ, clean, calico dress, And
when commencement comes, she must
have her whole thoughts concentrated
for nc least six weeks upon what she
shall wear, aud how she will look, and
what people will think OF her dress,
while mamma has the house turned up
side down, and the mantua maker busy,
and the dry goods clerks busy, the same
length of time, I'm preparing dresses for
the occasion. Now, some may think
this IN overweight picture, but if
they will take occasion to
investigate the matter in some of the
more ariStocratic families, they will find
it does not exceed the truth. The other
girls, daughters of poorer and palmer
people, cannot bear TO make their ap-
pearance beside their gaily dressed
school mates, and are Inundated and
mortified IL required TO do so, i'm attire
less handsome and expensive than
theirs. The result is that many a poor
man has to do without many of the
comforts of life, i'm order that his daugh-
ter may be made presentable at school.
This Is all wrong. Teachers should
discourage 1t. They should, by all
means, encourage neatness and cleanli-
ness, but not extravaganza and gaudi-
ness. We believe our female schools
would be more literally patronized, at
least patrons would be much better able
to pay tuition promptly, ii calico was
made the standard of dress on all occa-
sions, in our schools. Suppose u school
President were to announce i'm his cir
cular that young ladies would be re-
quired to appear at school on all occa-
sions, including even the public eNer-
eises ut commencement, in calico dresses,
and wear only sun bonnets, and that
boarders would be required to attend
church similarly dressed, except as to
1he bonnett II would popularize his
his school at once, with all classes, and
paugurate great and ouch need re-
form.