The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1897-08-05
TEACHERS INSTI1U TIE.

When few more weeks shall
haye elapsed the former great ter
ror to teachers-the Teachers In
stitute-wlll be upon Us again. So
| take this method of saying few
words IN behalf of the Institute
and in urging the attendance of ey.
cry teacher. OF course have no
fear of a failure on the part of any
of my teachers, who are always
ready to respond at my request;
but q majority of the teachers OF
this county are young and inexpes
rienced in the profession and I'M
familiar with Institute work. Hence
] would impress upon them the
fact that the Institute is not the
place for the execution ofthe weak
er members of the profession, nor a
place for the exhibition of the IN
tellectual attachments of the more
aud experienced teachers.
But the Institute is the institution
which says that the teacher of eva
cry grade, from the roadside pri-
mary school to the stately university,
shall be inspired with higher ideas
and loftier aims and better con-
ceptiou of the purposes of The pubs
lie school, and, above al, shall have
bis soul stimulated to a sense of
duty in the canse of education.
In this day of extreme mental ex-
element and advancement DO teach
err, who feels the responsibility of
of his or her position and Gao read
the signs of the times and are anxs
ious for the welfare and safety of
our country, can afford to stand
aioof and content himself [or hers
self with cold good wishes; but he
or she must second the epdeavors
which are beng made TO improve
the condition of our land by helps
ing the ignorant and uneducated TO
husband these precious fragments
of their time, the right employment
OF which Is of such infinite moment
both to themselves and to the whole
community. | wish earnestly to
exhort those whose education en-.
ables them to perceive the import
ance of the object, and whose sta
ton supplies them with the means
of contributing toward it, not to
throw away these golden opportu-
mites of strengthening their legits
innate influence, by exerting it in
the most beneficial manner.
| do not say thus in spirit OF
fault fiuding--lndeed not; for the
attendance last year was all that
could be desired-90 per cent If
we CAM have a better attendance
this year than we had last year, we
are mistaken as to the century in
which we live.
1t is with pardonable pride that
| say the citizens Of Pearl River
county are as thoroughly imbued
with the spirit of educational prog
ress as any people IN Mississippi;
for this reason, If there were no
other, our teachers must avail them.
selves of every opportunity of lm-
proving old methods and gaining
new inspiration. else they will soon
be RELOCATED to the past forever.
Our destitute will open on Mon
day, August %, with II. B, Abere
nethy or P. p. Garner as conducS
tor.
We know, as a class, teachers
are poorly paid; but what of that
The amount of money any man may
amass does not measure his useful
ness to the world nor his own hap.
plness. By all means teachers
should attend institutes. They
should attend to give good and tc
receive good; to give the best they
have and accept the best others
have 80 give them; TO teach aud rc
be taught-not to grumbie and crit
icise; to get out of the old ruts that
are miry; to dig down the hills,
smooth the rough places, dry up
and level the mud-puddIes. If they
are using some NEW WAY clear it
of stumps, see that the right of-way
Is firm, bridge the dangerous streams
and be certain the sign-boards read
as they should and point in the
right direction-some one might
get lost.
Teacher, we want you to come
and lend the inspiration of your
presence and we promise to give
ours.
"There is work for you,
That no other can DO.
Do it so nobly, so bravely, so we'll
That angels will hasten the story
TO tell"
Ii. X. ROUSE,
July %, 1897. Supt. Ed.