Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1904-06-18

norance OF practical conditions, | had
not considered the other side of the
questiOn-and all of us know that
there are two sides to every question.
The early part of this season was
spent at the very center of school work
and school interests, and as | noted
the constant, tireless efforts Of one
devoted State superintendent and his
efficient aids, | realized the infinite
care and labor, and the great expense
that Is involved in their united eff
forts to give to the teachers and
through them, to the children, the very
best opportunities possible, | found
myself very often wondering how 1t
was possible for any teacher in the
State to be SO unappreciative and so
lacking in ambition as to neglect these
opportunities all of which are
bought with a price" of thought and
care, and money beyond the ken OF
most of us.
The latter part of the season ! have
spent among the rural teachers of one
of our very best counties, and have
come to know and to appreciate the
|
young women whose work | have ex-
amined and whose surroundings and
educational conditions | have gone In
to thoroughly, are without exception
young women OF whom any people
might be proud well born, gently
bred, carefully educated and filed
with love of their work and the desire
to do it well, they are the very ma
terial we need in our school work
but as have gone among them, and
noted the great effort that each day
requires, anew, TO keep the work up
TO the mark. | wonder how 1t Is pos.
sble for these young teachers to keep
alive and blazing the spark of interest
and ambition so necessary to success.
| The life of teacher in graded
school in town Is one long dream "on
nowery beds of ease compared with
the strenuous struggle Of the poorly
paid rural teacher"-God bless her,
and her noble work! Having seen with
their eyes, and heard with their ears,
| no longer misunderstood their mo-
tive in staying at home. instead OF at
tending the Summer Normal. In next
weeks issue we will print protest
now lying before us, from a rural
teacher in the lower part of the State
--and | earnestly hope that every
teacher in our graded schools and our
State institutions will read it care
fully. Then, | am sure, they VIII take
up their lighter load with rejoicing
and thanksgiving that their lives lie
in such pleasant places"
From the facts CLEANED from yari-
Gus letters that come to me, and from
the knowledge gained at first hand,
| know that very few of the rural
teochare with thei. small salaries ana
large expenses can afford, when sum
mer comes, to pay railroad fare, board
and clothes. especially clothes, for 1t
seems to a "looker on in Venice that
some Of the teachers mistake the nor
nal for millinery and modiste's open
ings during the month spent at the
normal This is but one of many rea-
sonable excuses for the rural teachers
failure to get the advantage she needs
and which Is so freely offered by the
State, and it is the only one | shall
refer to here. For even with the
wider understanding and the deeper
knowledge that is mine because of
this actual experience, feel 1t sun
my duty to urge upon every teacher
in the State attendance at one OF the
normals. These useful summer schools
are established and maintained for
your benefit and through you, for the
children through whom 1t will be paid
back to the generous State thou
sand fold. The best teaching talent
procurable is brought there for your
help and instruction, and everything
that the State board all wise and
practical men, can do for your pleas
ure and Improvement is done, and az
a cost so small as to be remarkable.
The location of the two schools Tor
this summer was almost an lnsplra-
ton. Surely no student can spend
these sweet June days meath the
spreading oaks of the old university
campus without imbibing with the
very air some Of the loyalty to State
and desire for greatness which seem
part of these academic scenes, SO rlch
in patriotic and intellectual achieve
ments, The freedom of the grounds
and buildings, the enjoyment of the
splendid library, and the association
with the little university settlement Is
worth much, in itself, and surely gives
pleasure enough to last in memory
for many months. The faculty chosen
for this summer is one of unusual eX-
cellence, and II teacher Will halt
way listen she will get much more
than her moneys worth. ! have heard
so often the Complaint why half OF
them don't go there to study, but only
to dress and frolic. There Is another
and a better half, though, to which !
believe, most of my readers belong,
and surely that half Is rich enough
In independence and strong enough In
determination to do the right thing,
and so come home richer instead of
poorer for the month among congenlal
spirits, and in uplifting surroundings.
The primary workers, and such a
great. grand army of devoted girls and
women we find within its ranks, have
been given a charming scene for their
vacation study in the grounds and
buildings of the Industrial Institute
and College at Columbus-a school
rot quite so rich in years and in past
achievements as the university per
haps but possessed of an Infinite
wealth and influence that will go down
through future years, bettering and
Frightening, and lifting up all who
turn to II for aid in life's stern battle
Here, every aid to the teacher, every
help for the child and every possible
incentive to study is at hand, and will
be under the direction Of fine facul- |
ty. 1t will be personal pleasure for
most of the teachers to spend these
weeks in the college walls; as to many
OF them it will be but a coming
home" since this great institution Is
rapidly sending out admirably trained
teachers to preside over the schools |
OF the State. To others, it will be a |
pleasure to know the scenes, where |
younger sisters find such happiness,
and to others, still, will come the joy |
OF hoping and planning to send to TINS |
great seat of learning some special |
child, whose work in their rural school |
makes sunshine in shady place
TO the oft-times discouraged teacher |
The State has been so generous to |
her schools. The gentlemen intrust- |
ed with the administration Of the af- |
fairs have been so wise and SO just, |
in their work, and the very best, at lit |
tie cost, awaits you at these summer |
schools. 1t seems an infinite pity that
so many of our very best young teach |