Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1890-09-05
THE COMING SCHOOL TERM,

WI lf'AAOD VI JuO OOuu
try are beginning to put IN order
the vast educational machinery
that has been idle during the sum.
mer, and tens of thousands of chill.
dren are also preparing to resume
their studies. Some will come I'm,
willingly to school; others, filled
with hope and ambition, are eager
to begin again the work of improv
ing their minds, and still others
Though without definite purpose
will welcome the change from vaca
ton idleness just as they welcomed
the vacation itself after a long
season of study. 1t is not possible
TO get the young to realize or ap
preciate the value OF the OppOrtun
tiles offered to them for improve
ment by the schools and colleges
of the county. They cannot under
stand until they have grown older
and learned something by expert
ence the value of learning, nor the
important fact that in childhood
they are much more Impression.
able than when they have reached
manhood or womanhoOd, and that
they can therefore learn more easl
Iy while they are young. 1t is
nevertheless desirable to try to i'm,
press this truth upon them when,
eyer the opportunity offers, fol
some among them may accept il
and derive corresponding benefit
from the advice of their elders
The privileges of education freely
opened to every child are OF inestl
mably value, and after the sum.
meI's rest the children should re.
turn to school cheerfully and CRATE.
fully, resolved TO make. the best OF
their opportunities. The young
men and young women whose
school days are oyer, but who are
beginning to realize the loss they
S u tfered through neglect oil
study when they we're young,
should also at this season look
about them to find by what means
they may repair the result OF form.
er neglect. Some have leisure
and means that will premit them
to attend private schools, either
to improve their general education
or for the development OF some
kind Of special skill. Others are
obliged to work and have no time
tor study or selfimprovement ex.
cept In the evenings. Even these,
however, may do much to advance
themselves If they determine TO de.
vote some of their leisure hours to
study and Systematically endeavOr
to increase their knowledge or
skill. a course of reading, which
may easily be pursued by the aid
of public libraries or the friendly
help OF some tOWnsmaR ia places
where public libraries do not exist,
will do much to make amends for
meagre school education. If this
shonld be supplemented by at
tendance at o literary or debating
S ciety an education that is in
some respects liberal may be gain.
ed in a most enjoyable way. II
there are night schools available
these should be attended, for they
serve to give direction to the
course of study, but no one who
knows how to read and can get
command of good books need de-
SPAR education is at his command.
But he must, If he would make his
reading effective, read studlously,
with understanding, and pursue a
systematic course. This is some
thing OF a task even for those who
are fond OF reading, but it may be
Iigbtened by the organization of
reading clubs and increased in
value by the discussions that
naturally arise from the reading of
books aloud to a plumber Of bright
and interested people. For those
who have no special need Of educa.
ion of this kind there are OppOr.
uDlties during the school year to
leyelOp special kinds OF skill, too
much neglected in the ordinary |
school. Drawing is not only de.
ightful accomplishment but it is
most useful to all who are engaged |
u mechanical emplOyments, and no
,etter use can be made of winter
evenings than to devote some of |
hem to practice IN drawing. This
$ another study that can be car.
led on alone or by a club without
IN instructor, but it Is, of course,
,etter to attend a school if one
S within reach. For all the young
,eOple the season of study that
'pens next month should be one
# great enjoyment, for there are
10 delights to be compared with I
hose that come with Increasing
knowledge and increasing skill.
The younger children Will 90 to
cbOOl as a matter OF course, and
hose who have left school while
till young ought to continue their
tudies as systematically as pos
IDLE, timing their season of effort
or Self.improvement by the school
chedule. For nine months in the
ear the nights are cool enough to
ermiS application to books or
drawing or other exercises for
lind or hand, and at least a part
f the leisure hours OF those months
hOuld be devoted to such self.
labor. Abundant time
ill be left for play, and before
ing the thoughtful, earnest pupil
ill fad in his readings and other
-udies all the entertainment that
e desires. Tie thought that
Mould ill every mind at the close
f August ia that the season of
'st and recreation has come to an