The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1904-06-18

uiduS up Oh mISSlSSippl lcdCLlh5 LA
ternity. There was a time in the not
distant past when a letter on this ub-
ject, from my pen, would ave been
all ON one side, because, in my ig-
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 l noted
the constant, tireless efforts OF one
devoted State superintendent and his
efficient aids, l realized the infinite
care and labor, and the great expense
that is involved in their united ef-
forts to give to the teachers and
through them, to the children, the very
best opportunities possible, l found
myself very often wondering how 1t
was possible for any teacher in the
State to be SO un%appreciative 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, n have
come to know and to appreciate the
other side of the question. These
young m whose work | have eX-
amined and whose surroundings and
educational conditions l have gone in
to thoroughly, are without exception,
young women of whom any people
might be proud, we'll born, gently
bred. carefully educated and filed
with love of their work and b desire
to do it well, they are the very ma
terial we need in our school work
but as | have m among them, and
notnd the great effort that each day
requires, anew, to keep the Work up
to the mark. | wonder how it is pos
sible for these young teachers to keep
alive and blazing the spark or interest
and ambition so necessary to success.
The life of a teacher in a graded
school in town is one long dream ION
howery 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 a protest
now living before us, from a rural
teacher in the lower part OF the State
and | earnestly hope hat every
teacher in our graded schools and u
State institutions will e a II care
fully. Then, / am sure, they Will take
I'D their lighter load with rejoicing
and thanksgiving that their lives lie
in such pleasant places"
From the facts CLEANED from varl-
Gus letters that come to me, and from
the knowledge gained at first han
| know that very few OF the rural
teachers, with their small salaries ana
large expenses can afford, when sum
mer comes. to pay railroad fare, board
and clothes. especially clothes, for II
seems to a "looker on in Venice" that
some of the teachers mistake h nor
NAL for millinery and modlstes open
ings during the month spent at the
normal. This is but one OF many rea-
sonable excuses for the rural teacher
failure to get the advantage she e
and which is so freely offered by the
State. and it is the only n l shall
refer to here. For even with the
wider understanding and the deeper
knowledge that is mine because or
this actual experience, | feel 1t still
nv duty to urge upon every teacner
in the State attendance at n OF the
normals. These useful summer schools
are established and maintained Tor
vour benefit and through you, for the
children through whom it will be paid
back to the generous State, a n
sa,d fold. The best teaching talent
nrocurable is brought there for you
helm and instruction, and everything
that the State board, all wise and
nractical men, can do for your pleas
ure and improvement, is done, n at
q cost so small as to be remarkable.
The location of the two schools Tor
this summer was almost an insptra-
tion. Surely no student can spend
these sweet June days meath the
snreading oaks of the old university
camnus without imbibing with the
very air some of the loyalty to State
and desire for greatness which seem a
mart of these academic scenes, so rich
in patriotic and intellectual achieve
ments. The freedom of the grounds
and buildings, the enjoyment of the
snlendid library. and the association
with the uLLl0 uLlfCloiIy ~
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 if a teacher will half
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
tc 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 Tor the month among congenial
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 school
rot quite so rich in years and in past
achievements as the university per
- G~t&