The Forrest City times., 1893-05-12
THE SCHOOLS.

THE TIMES begs the people of For rest City not to permit the interest in school matters to lag. It is too import ant a matter to be passed over lightly. In fact, 1t is the one thing which should receive the utmost care of every intelligent man and woman in the community. The time for eecting the directors is near at hand and the fitness be induced to accept the office should be discussed earnestly and dispassion- ately and only the very best material be selected. Personal preferences and prejudices should be submerged in d sensible desire for the common good and the question should be met with an unalterable determination to place our schools upon the high plane their importance deserves. THE TIMES is very much in earnest about this mat ter-so much in earnest that it is fair to admit thatlt considers it paramount to all other questions now confronting our citizens, no matter what their i'm port. It would seem superfluons task to urge that without good schools our community will never amount to any thing that the wheels of advancement will be effectually clogged and that ig norance will soon take the place of in- telligence. This fact is patent to every thinking man and woman in Forrest City. It is the duty of every parent to equip his child for an equal struggle with others in the battle of life, and he who fails in this important requirement IS worse than q criminal. Tie time is here when well-trained brains must take the place of brawn and muscle, and the educated will, surely as fate, crowd out the uneducated: the intelli- gent will supersede the ignorant. Only those communities which afford really good schools can expect to add to their population desirable class of immi- grafton, for those whose presence is to be sought will not jeopardize the future of their children by making their homes where the best of educational facilities do not prevail.
 For years Forrest City has, it might be said, been almost entirely without adequate schools. And in this connec. tion THE TIMES desires to be under. stood as in no wise reflecting upon the competency of the subordinate teachers employed here. On the contrary, it is the opinion of the paper that the as sistant teachers who have labored SC faithfully and earnestly under such ad verse circumstances and against sucl odds were, without an exception, fal above the average in fitness and ability But they could accomplish nothing without the aid of competent prin cipal, and this advantage has been de nied them. It is needless to here par tlculariZe in regard to the lack of dis cipline which has characterized the ad ministrations of recent principals. Il IS so notorious that every citizen must be cogniZant of it. True. these princi pals have lab1red under some disad vantages through the lack of suita ble building, but not to the extent ir this particular that the schools shoulC have been allowed to become inoper ative.
 What we need and must first have is first-class school building. AnC then a suitable principal or superin tendent must be procured, and he must be sustained by schoolboard with firm ness sufficient to compel strict obed ence to the government prescribed Until these conditions prevail there is no possibility of Forrest City enjoying the benefits of school worthy of the name.
 Voters of the district, the matter is in your hands.
 THE execution of young Carlyle liar.