The Tupelo journal., 1904-09-23

WCSh opdCe Id 6ciy " ouSSOotioAS
which may help the teacher over
some of the rough places she will be
sure to encounter during the school
year just at hand.
Some of these + our own, but q
few are borrowed from wiser and more
experienced heads than mine.
Before doing this, however, we feel
constrained to quote from a recent
article from which we gained benefit
and pleasure, and which said, among
other good things, that "a teachers
word should be every whit as good IS
a bond with sureties. Honor to the
manly and womanly teachers who thus
keep the ethics of the profession at q
high standard"
Also, athletic and manual training
help to keep the overgrown boy in
school,"
These are truths which our teachers
and boards of trustees would do well
to ponder.
Don't sacrifice your children. their
interests and their future because you
happen to be opposed to, or prejudiced
against, some of the leaders in the
great work that Is now in such splen-
did activity among the men and wo-
men who are giving their time. talent
and strength to the betterment of the
youth of Mississippi.
Don't forget that the blood of Il
native Mississippians is the purest
Anglo Saxon, and that we have a larg-
err percentage of this glorious herl-
tage than have the citizens of any
other State in the Union. We are
proud of this, and justly, but our blame
will be greater, according to our gifts,
if We fail to make of our inheritance
all that is possible. We ought to be
the best and the greatest among
American people. and we will be AT.
ter awhile, If We continue to throw
open good schools and put therein well
trained teachers to lead the eager chill
dren.
I wonder If the people who are al
ways wailing over taxes and predict
ing that we will eventually land in
the poo house know that the richest
and most powerful States-those that
have accomplished marvels OF indus
trial achievement-are the States that
first established systems of public
schools which they have adequately
sustained. 1t is a fact!
It's easy enough to be pleasant
When school goes along like a song;
But the teacher worth while is the
teacher who'll smile
When everything goes dead wrong.
We are glad to realize the fact that
during the past decade the high school
work in our State has, gradually,
%hroadened. And, while it is even now
far from the high mark we have set
for it, it grows, better with each year.
The standard of scholarship is being
gradually raised and pupils are learn
ing that their time should be spent in
studying the subject matter as to gain
a clear and lasting understanding OF
it, instead of Gas has so often been the
case) gaining just enough to tide them
oyer the horrors of examination. II 4
student does good work daily, exam1'
nations need have no terrors for him.
The stern fact that more attention
should be paid the fundamentals OF
our own language is also gradually
realized, and, as a result, regular les
sons in spelling form part OF every
days work in cur high school. That
the majority Of our high school grad
yates (and the same condition obtains
in most of our commonwealth are
poor spoilers, cannot be denied. More
than that, there are poorer readers,
and, ven yet, poorer writers!
Whether this Is due to laziness or the
lack of system, we cannot say, but the
sad fact confronts us that the high
school graduate in these United
States, turns out a lamentably poor
letter, as to spelling, writing and con
structiOn, and we must rouse Ou--
selves to improve these conditions.
1t would be a great triumph for "Old
Mississippi" if she could send out
from her schools boys and girls wcr-
thy to lead the grand army of high
school graduates of America.
Until a few years ago, no American
college required an examination in
English. as a requisite for admission
to the Freshman class. To-day, the
requirements in English demand as
much, if not more preparation. than
the work in any other line. This, to-
sether with the requirements in the
classics, sciences and mathematics,
give to the high school much of the
preparatory work that used to be q
part of the college course.
Patrons Of our schools appreciate
more than formerly the great infu-
ence and inspiration found in first
class buildings and beautiful sur
rounGings. In many instances the
buildings In which u pupils assem-
BILE are among the best constructed
and most thoroughly equipped public
edifices in the village or city in which
they are located. Much attention is
being given to the esthetic side OF
school life and the good work should
go on The high school pupil OF to-
day is given advantages which were
almost unknown a few years ago. In
many schools money has been freely
spent in the purchase of carbon pho
tographs. engravings, and casts for
the decoration Of the walls and corri'
doris. A prominent educator OF a
neighboring State in a recent report
stated that it is now recognized that