Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1905-09-15

sound very encouraging, indeed.
Wherever we have had reports from the
work since the rallies, new interest has
been aroused and the next ones promise
to be finely attended The interest in
the Central Spelling match is very in,
tense and is growing steadily. Several
districts have bestirred themselves to
extraordinary efforts in spelling stree
the rallies One enthusiastic teacher
reports that only two or three words
have been missed in the class work in
his school since the rally and that
good number of his pupils have not
missed word since the rally.
Another benefit the rallies have done
is to stimulate the desire for more eff
cient and accurate scholarship, The
blackboard exercises were given with
view of urousing an interest in the study
of the little essentials in photography,
reading. writing, language and arithme-
tic which have been neglected of late
years to a lamentabe degree in our pub
lie schools. An appeal also earnestly
made for better attendance and the
monthly reports of the teachers are graf
flying indeed along this line. In many
places where the school has heretofore
been scarcely maintainable on account
Of small numbers, the average reported
is amOs the full number belonging
his is due to increased interest on the
art of the people and teachers, The
IrectOrs very properly put II clause in
tie teachers contracts this year requir-
ing them to hold up the average attend
2nce to !, and in many instances, above
| that part OF those belonging to the
school. This has operated rs n stimulus
to teachers and people alike, since to
| fall below it, meant the loss Of II job by
the teacher and a loss of the public fund
by the people at the option Of the dircc-
tors, This plan has the endorsement of
the State department but was practiced
in Lawrence County before the State
department adopted it. Supt. Myndcrs
was the first State iupt. whom we have
knowledge of having placed such 4
clause in the contract,
| The cigarette and tobacco habi
among The boys also the dangerous anC
damaging effects of alcoholic stimulant
is reqnired to be taught in the public
schools of this State. This has beer
deepy impressed upon the teachers ano
great good will result The cigalett
habit is, if possible, Il worse evil whel
fastened upon the Il e of boy than tn
use of whSkey. This should be mad
known to every boy in the State an,
ought to be impressed upon the father
and mothers of these boys. There i
said, by high medical authority to b.
nothing 50 extremely detrimental to tn
physical growth and development of {
child as the cigarette habit. 1t has beer
dubbed "Coffin screw by many and ther
can be little doubt but that it deserve
this name in mider form of expires
sion.
1t j. true that it dwarfs the menta
and physical development, and it ha
been so strongly recognized that it IN
dermines the moral character, that tn
large corporations, many of them, hay
no longer any positions of honor an,
trust opento the confirmed cigarett
smoker or "fend'. 1t has been we
said by some one, that one of the in
quiries made about an applicant for
position, now is as he addicted to til
use of cigarettes? 1t is supposed thu
he is not drunkard or he would nc
Il apply for the hest positions have lon
VI been closed against the drunkard"
There have been quite number {
= new desks put in this year and will
: many others The Superintendent hi
at last secureda medium for gettil
them for 81. 30 to $l30 for the s.anda
sizes of double desks +. o. b. cars
the factory which means big saying
the county. Heretofore 81. Is has bee
about the average price asked aud pal
The school houses of the county are l
ing improved and made comfortable
many places New desks have been al