The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1902-12-11
NEEDED SCHOOL REFORMS /,
MISSISSIPPI.

I notice that great deal has been
said about our schools of today and as
/ am a teacher it seems that I will
have to say something on that subject.
This is subject that should in
terest every father and mother in
the state; it is one that should be
discussed around the firesido of every
home, be it ever so humble; and it |
is one that appeals to the hearts of
those that believe in advancement.
The people should demand these re-
forms at the hands of their Legislators.
They are needed to place Mississippi
Unequal educational facilities of the
North and East, they are needed to
hurl from our state ignorance which
has been and is blighting the growth
OF mind i'll many a bright boy and girl
Now before attempt to name many
of the reforms needed | wish to assert
in my honest opinion if we heed to
that which our state superintendent,
HI. l.. Whitefld, has been advocating
these reforms will come--that is those
most needed. Let US first ascertain the
purposes for which our schools are
founded and see to what extent those
purposes have been attained. The
purposes of schools are, or should be,
an harmonious development of the boy
or girl i'll his or her capacities; the
preparation Of each for the duties, the
possibilities and the obligations Of
life-in fact tho making of them men
and women, true to themselves, true
to their associates and true to God
Have all those purposes been achiev-
ed? Of course we know they have
not
1t is indeed sad fact that num-
Der of our boys and girls quit school
without having acquired the power to
think, without having formed the
habit of right living, without having
gained the appreciation of that which
is good, true and beautiful.
There ought not to be So many who
do not attend school at any time
there ought not to be SO many who
are in school today and absent tomor-
low; there ought not to be so many
who leave school before they know
the responsibilities and duties of life.
The questions that are before us to-
day are: How can we get those to at
tend school who do not? How can
regular attendance be secured? How
can those who do attend be kept in
school until the course is completed
How can we get an harmonious devel-
opment OF all the faculties of the boys
and girls? How are we to get the
parents interested that they may
provide good comfortable school
houses? Now shall we compel atten-
dence by a compulsory law? Of
course not. Compel people to do
that which they dislike to do, and
you kindle within their bosoms a
spirit of rebellion, Which is easily
famed into a fame.
Some say it is the parents and not
the children who are compelled.
True, and SO much the worse. You
use to hear this, LAS is the teacher,
so will be the school, Let's all say
AS is the parent so is the child.
think of one way by which
larger, more regular and longer at
tendance can be secured. That way
is to make the term longer and the
school better by employing a good
teacher and paying him good salary.
A longer school term demands larger
school fund. This demand should be
met by direct school tax. The more
a man subscribes to a school, he is
that much nearer the school. Parents
depart from those hard earned dollars
and send your boys and girls to a
school and you will appreciate the
value of school. [
Last but not least, Mississippi needs
better schools and potent factor III
making them so is the teacher. 1t is
he who with loving care nourishes the
budding faculties Of the child mind,
or with pitiless hands blights forever
those tender buds; it is he who helps
to implant within the budding soul,
those noble impulses that make life
pure and happy or those evil ones
that lead to sorrow or ruin. Now in
conclusion we must realize that this
is an age Of progressiveness, and those
who do not hustle will be counted be-
h nd in the march Of time.
G.. MANNING BEAVER.
Pelahatchie, Miss, Dec. 8, 1902.
Hon. Alex. Price, of Dobson, was
Brandon visitor Tuesday. The sena-
tor says that he viii be compelled to
forego the pleasure of the kiss that he