The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1897-10-22
The COlOred School.

OhhOl' AhIS' IN M Il ANE'
The COlOred School.
The opening of the colored school
of the city upon the 1st Monday in
the school year 1878, was one of
unusual interest and significance.
Perhaps for the first time in the
history of the school the parents
assembled with the school, and thus
manifested by their presence, as
well as words, that they were in
hearty sympathy with the teachers,
and desired above all things else to
see the advancement of their chill
dren.
This is decidedly as it should be;
therefore, this effort on the part Of
the parents is truly commendable at
this time.
This is all good, and we trust that
the improvement in this respect
may continue. But there are other
features that must be considered.
Both parents and teachers are, or
ought to be, interested in the proper
training of the children of the pres
ent generation; in fact, we go so far
as to say they are mainly responsible
| for their good behavior generally
A glance up and down the streets
of oar city at most any hOnr OF the
day, reveals "A spectacle that Is
alarming. Here may be seen the
boys of the race, idle, and loaiing
on the corners of the streets, They
have no visible mploymentS; hence
they are the ones that serve to fill
the jails and penitentiarieS Of orr
towns and cities. \ still more
woful spectacle is seen when
the girls are considered many Of
whom, instead Cf being at home
helping in the culinary department
and being an ornament and blessing
to the family circle, have uncer tain
and precarious means of living, are
often idle, even vicious, and thus by
their very influence and dangerous
examples, are standing menace to
the progress Of the race.
We are a race Of tOilers; it has
always been that way it may, per-
haps, always continue 50. The boys
and girls OF the race must be taught
to labor, to recognize the impor-
tance and dignity of manual toll.
There is an evident tendency
to neglect or ignore this fact
This will, if not arrested lead tc
complications which will prove
disastrous to us as q race. There
must be Improvement here or the
race is doomed.
I favor the very highest intel
lectual and moral developments OF
which my race is capable Of attain.
ing to, but this is not, as some may
think, incompatible with the
greatest development, especially
along those lines where the brawr
and muscle have an active part
The home, church and school Offer
to all who will use them the propeU
avenues of right living in every way
and they are helpful in the order
named; in fact they all binge upon
that highest of all training which is
found in the bosom of home. Let
this be neglected, then the Others
count for naught.
Here comes the work of tho
parent. 1t has been my observation
that there is an essential lacking o
proper home training among us
The boys, as well as girls, are allowed
too often to do as they please. They
roam at leisure, and are not KEEP
under proper parental restraint
These are the ones that too oftel
give trouble in school, are suspended
for cause, and from that point theii
course is downward.
If any doubt the above let then
take a walk any Saturday night NJ
and down South Main street. Who
frequents the saloons and otheI
dives the most? Who are thos
that are the most riotous, and max,
. night hideous with their miserabl,
revelry? Where were the parents o
those two l5-year-old boys who
. night last week were so beastly in
toXicated that they did not know
their feet from their heads? WhC
I is responsible for all this?
) Is it any wonder that the parent
visited the school on last September
Wake up fathers and mothers
Keep your boys and girls at hom,
and IN school. j. H. KELLEY.