Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1904-06-11

lHt WOlh
One cannot pick up paper these
days without reading an account OF
some public school commencement,
and 1t makes good reading Especially
between the lines). A few years ago
the CLOSING exercises" of the average
Mississippi school was a monotonous
affair, with It's "Curfew Shall Not Ring
Tonight" style of elocution, and It's far
from original essays. and the same
old program of music CD. Today
the program OF the average school
shows culture, thought and ability
ard, above all and better better than
all. originality. and It is a real joy to
attend, and to note the wonderful
prot ress our children are making in
educational work Some of the schools,
especially, show grade Of work In the
various classes that compares favor
ably with the work in States which
have long enjoyed the great privileges
of a splendid public school system.
A noticeable fact, in reading over
these many and varied reports, Is that
the schools which are distinguished
by this high grade Of excellence have
in their faculty one or more of the
teachers who 90 each summer to some
O; the splendid summer schools pro
vided for them, There they learn all
the new methods from the worlds best
teachers, and take in full share of
the enthusiasm all around them, and
which Is so necessary a part OF
teachers equipment. II all the weary,
worn out teachers, to whom their
blessed work Is growing burdensome,
would just pick up and so to one OF
these summer schools, and study and
mingle with the hundreds Of others
who are engaged in the same noble
service for few weeks, the gain to
our children next year would be i'm
measurable. A child is quick to detect
lack of interest on his teachers part,
and we may be very sure that the
children will not do enthusiastic work
when the teacher goes through hers
as though II we're an unpleasant task
Love begets love-" is a saying the
truth of which is universally recog
nized. In equal measure does interest
arouse interest, and enthusiasm Gre
ate enthusiasm. Without this to
brighten and sweeten our work among
the children teaching very soon grows
to be fiat" stale and unprofitable-
to all concerned. Let us then-though
It may entail some sacrifce-do our
level best to get from the States gen.
erous gift enough of help and courage
to carry us well through the work of
next year Then, indeed, will our gen
erous law makers rejoice that the chill
dren are reaping a worthy harvest
from their generous sowing.
It gives lis especial pleasure to note
that several graded schools gave
prize at commencement time to the
best and most attractively decorated
room in the building-the visitors
making the decision; and 1t is worthy
of comment, that without exceptions
ESQ far as | have learned) the prize
went to the little folks"-at least, to
no grade higher than the fourth. In
McComb citys splendid school this
was quite feature Of the exercises,
and should be encouraged everywhere.
The love of beauty Is born in the heart
of child, and that child is cheated of
his birthright, unless this love is en-
couraged.
While 1t may seem, in degree, un-
fair to hundreds of other splendid
schools in Mississippi, which, during
the session just closed, have made
notably fine records, we cannot re-
frain from commencing thus publicly,
the unusually good work Of the Brook
haven graded school, under Prof.
Scotts able superintendent. The
graduating class-the largest in the
schools history. was composed of
twenty young men and women, about
equally divided This, in itself, is en-
couraging, as it is too often the case
that the graduating class is composed
of girls alone-the boys having a way
Of dropping out any time after passing
the fourth grade. This is deplorabe
state of affairs, and Prof Scott, with
his faculty is to be congratulated upon
holding so large a class through all
the grades. Unusual attention seems
to have been bestowed upon the public
exhibition, and this was backed up by
splendid records in the various grades.
A number Of handsome medals We're