The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1902-01-10
THE SCRANTON SCHOOLS

Editor DemocratIStar.
While you, and our citizens general
ly, are discussing the material needs
OF our city and urging on the atten-
tion of the public, some things that
are necessary In order to its pros
perity, allow me TO say that there is
no interest OF more vital Importance
to a town or community than its
schools.
In Scranton you have several
schools, which are supported and con.
tr0lled by the denominations which
they represent. | believe it Is wise
for any Christian people to educate
their own children and would bid
them G~Od,speed in their efforts to do
50. There are a great many people,
however, who do not belong to any
church, and ever where they do, IL Is
not always practicable for them to
send to schools under the control 0: a
a church. Our legislators have pro-
vided a fund for the support OF schOols
which shall be free to everybody. The
success OF these depend in large
measure on the local management.
They must have wise trustees. These
will try to secure good teachers, and
these teachers will labor faithfully to
educate our children, and sensible
parents will cooperate with them In
their endeavor to do SO. The i'm.
portance OF this last is not a%ppreciat.
ed as it ought to be. 1t is seldom
that Il teacher in the public schools
ever has a word Of encouragement.
He or she very often receives com.
munications OF a different character.
They are expected to manage people
that no n else has ever MANAGED,
aud failing to do the impossible they
are snapped for some one else who will
soon go the same way. 1t seems to
me that this town is Singularly hlest
10 its present corps OF teachers in the
public school. They have impressed
me, all OF them, very far above the
average.
Please allow me to say, that
while you have, in my Judgment,
the best public school l have ever
seen, you have the shabbiest building
that | have ever seen in a town OF
corresponding size. ! am glad to hear
that it is the purpose OF your city
government to erect a suitable build.
inv or buildings.
Now, Mr.. Editor, will you allow me
to say some things that would he
better said by an older citizen? They
are things that l have been wanting
tn hear, and as no n else has said
them, will. First, don't incur a
big" debt In order to make a 'little'
show. You need neat and comfor.
table quarters for your children and
their teachers. You will do better tt
pay your teachers well and keep them
than you will to spend your money
for Feathers" before you get thu
money. ] have seen a great man,
Feathers" where there was but LITTLE
meat" l have seen some very flint
school houses where there WASH,
much school. Debt, debt and til,
devil are close neighhors. You don't
need either. Municipal debts are
paid by municipal taxation, and Will,
every M knows that taxes are as in
evitable as death and most people arr
willing to be taxed within reason tt
support d good school, no one will b,
willing to bear very long the burden
OF paying a debt that has been in cur
red in order tn keep up with tn,
procession" Let ns build as we ar,
able to pay without the slightest Elm
barrassment. They will not invest
where it will be taxed to death in or
der to pay debts with the making OF
which they had nothing to do. TIL,
second and last thing / wish to say Is
build two houses instead of one, |
necessary. Don't built a great bi,
costly, SNOWY, central concern tina,
Will represent a debt OF thousands o
dollars, but whose practical value
will be NOTHING. Build such struct
ure or structures as will not be mig
gardly, but convenient. neat and com
Portable, then stand by your superin
tendent, principal and teachers, and
by each other, and your town will
soon be noted for its educational ad.
v%antages, and the wisdom OF it's gov
eminent as IL o is for the excel
lence OF its water works aud man,
other OF its indications of future hop,
and prosperity.
Trusting that the present year viii
be one OF usefulness and happiness tt
all, l remain
r Yours truly,
l.. Z. HALL.