The Russellville Democrat. [volume] (Russellville, Ark.) 1875-1898, 1893-06-01

= ldQUalcce
This closes one OF the most successful
years il the history OF the school. Dur
inc the year more than five hundred pu-
pills have been enrolled, with an average
of three hundred and thirty.
The best standing IN the Intermediate
department was made by Daisy Wells,
who was awarded the intermediate gold
medal for scholarship. The scholarship
medal in the High School was won by
Mr.. @. i. Shinn.
The following is an extract from the
address Of Prof. Lee:
stThe world Is saved by the breath OF
school chillren,n says the Talmnd. II
there Is any hope for the home, II there
is any hope for society, for the nation,
for the church, it is in the children.
Every interest Of your home your la
Dor, your business, your ambitions,
your prayers, ali center ia the chit
dren OF the family. There Is no sacri-
flee too great, no drudgery too Cypress
i've, no suffering too painful, il 1t VIII
promote the happiness and general
welfare of my child. If this is true, IL
follows that the school is the greatest
interest In any community. Above
your business house, your shop, your
coal mine, vour bank or your church,
your hearts deepest concern centers IN
the school house. For, second only to
that OF the home. the training Of the
child is done by his teacher. From SIX
to twenty, the best part of his best
years, his entire formative period,
save the few tender years before he en-
ters school, you send your boy and
your girl from your cherishiug care
and loving counsel, to have his plastic
mind and soul moulded by one who has
no personal interest hey ond that OF du-
ty and the general welfare. More than
this you. whether you realize II or not,
SHIFT much of the responsibility OF
proper rearing, of their training In con-
duct and In habits,IN CHARACTER, which
is the sum of his habits, to his teach
er. You expect his teacher to control
your boy whether you control him at
home or not. You demand his teacher
to be of character above reproach,
whether yours will bear the test of In
spection or not. You expect him or
her to give that personal care to fifty,
sixty, seventy, eighty, to one hundred
and thirty, and the principal of your
schools to five hundred children, which
you find it impossible to give two or
three. Ii you expect so much, how
careful should you be In the select ion
OF your teachers. Ii you demand so
much, how heartily should you coop
crate with your teachers, how faithful
ly you should hold up their hands; how
many kind words of encouragement
should You give them; how earnestly
should you counsel with them for the
good Of your children; how spasing
YOU should be of unfounded criticism ;
how pleasant should be the relations.
how close the sympathy, how deep and
loyal the bond Ct friendship between
the parent aud the teacher. Their In
terests are one. Their labors should be
performed with the utmost harmony.
am not complaining. A kinder peo-
pie and a Learticr support could not
be expected than has been shown us by
the good people of Russellville. Still,
these things need to be brought home
to parents as well as teachers. The
greatest efficiency of a school cannot be
accomplished without them. | have
used the word TRAINING. Modern edu-
cation regards the object OF school life
more that of discipline than of knowl.
edge. knowledge is of two kinds
| knowledge for use, knowledge for dis
| cpline. The amount of knowledge for
us in any ordinary sphere of life is very
small indeed. How to read, to write a
letter. to add and multiply, constitutes
about the sum of practical knowledge.
The new education demands that edu-
cation shall be training, a deYelop.
ment of all the powers of mind, body
/ a nd n ca IN in1fl "a q
knowledge as to fire the soul With de-
sire 10 know. Not so much to enable
one to perform the specific duties OF
life as TO give that strength of mind
and character that Is able to grasp the
conditions of success in any calling or
emergency in life. A well-trained
mind, firm. well-controllsd moral
power, cultivated intellect, is worth
more than any possible course that
LOOKS only 10 The business preparation
for life. A business course IN a bust
ness college makes no pretentions to-
ward education. The teacher, then,
must know the mind of the child, the
OF der of the development of its facul-
ties, what means are To be used in the
cultivation of this rare and priceless
plant, that it may grow into strong,
symmetrical, well-deyeloped, fruitful
tree. Mind as we'll as body grows By
exercise. The studies pursued in school
are the mental gymnastics, the black
smiths hammer, the farmers pillow, the
carpenters saw, ia the development of
the muscle of the mind.
As far as practical these stndies for
discipline should be also studies for
use; but the former is the chief aim
with the intelligent teacher. This is a
vital principle too little understood or
appreciated by parents and by many
teachers. This being true, how far
should this training extend If the
whole being is to be developed, the
mental growth should be carried on
while the formative period lasts or I'M
til the active period Of life begins. This
means a course OF study carefully grad
ed continuing at least twelve years.
Twelve years should give the elements
of liberal education, mastering at least
the subjects ofap ordinary high school
course. From another standpoint than
personal interest In our own children.
the good of all must be considered. Ii
has almost become an axiom that In a
free country Intelligence is q necessity.
The life OF the State depends upon the
life of the citizen. Hence, it is impera-
tive that system Of public instruction
be furnished by the State free to all.
We are then a part of system. The
SpartrD mother turned her boy ever to
the State from hls earliest years to be
clothed aud trained for his duties to his
country. The State first, and home ties
and all other relations second. For the
protection Of home. society. all that we
hold dear. the American mother must
permit the state 10 provide for her boy
that which will make him a good citi
zen. Who shall say how much cduca-
ton this will iuclnde. Can the lower
exist without the higher
VIII any other means or agencyprovide
Is itln keeping with FREE in
siitntions to throw wide the portal OF
higher education TO the boy who is able
TO pay for il, and say to the poorer one
Thus far shalt thou 70 and no far
Lher"y Genius Is not the child Of the