The sea coast echo. [volume] (Bay Saint Louis, Miss.) 1892-current, 1905-10-14
A VISIT TO OUR PUBLIC SCHOOL
To The Echo:
Secretary

To The Echo:
1t was my pleasure to visit our gra ded
school few mornings ago, and the signt
of over two hundred bright faces is in
teresting in itself, and suggests few
thoughts that it may not be amiss to jot
down.
And. firstly, if the patrons knew the
Joy of those opening exercises, they
would take advantage oftener of that
diversion, which is also duty. Such
visits would do good to the visitor and
also to the pupils, increasing the inter =
est of both in the school.
The singing Is good and will become
better with practice, and here wish to
stress the Importance of this exercise.
Singing is the best of all physical gym .
nastics, and, might add, mental; be-
sides being an instant pleasure, the art,
once acquired, is most valuable ac-
complishment for life, promoting health,
cheerfulness and morals. This one
thing-singing in the public schools
changed the German Empire from a
morose and besotted nation to a COM
paratively cheerful and extraordinarily
temperate people.
The school is now larger than ever in
it's history, as I believe, and, speaki ng
from personal knowledge, the faculty
could not be easily duplicated, the
teachers wanting in no essential of their
profession, being intelligent and pro-
gressive, earnest and skilfull.
Let me make an observation that is
so simple, 50 incontrovertible, as to
appear almost, If not altogether, axio-
matic-but yet fear that in the many
duties and vexations of this life few take
thought of it; namely, that our public
school is the most important institution
of this town. This is not in disparage-
ment of any other establishment, but,
universally, the public school of any
town is the thing of most Importance to
that town, and this regardless Of what
ever manufacturing interest or other
interest of which the place may boast.
Focusing our attention at home, it is
in the red schoolhouse on the hill that
the intellects and characters OF the chill
dren of Bay st. Louis will be led to bet
ter things or worse. 1t is here that the
most delicate and complicated OF all in
struments will be fashioned and ad-
iusted: the intellects Of YOUR children,
the mind of man at once human and di-
vine. Here we have in the making the
, men and women who must bear the
brunt of Gfe's battle within a score of
years,
And this leads to the fact that the
plant for so invaluable an output should
be suitable in it's environments and fur
nished with all needful appliances.
The home for this establishment, par
amount to all others, as have shown,
| is entirely too small for the number now
in attendance, to say nothing of the
growth that may be expected, and which
should be encouraged and provided for;
besides the house Is old and dilapidated
Lastly, the grounds are utterly incom-
mensurate with the equirementa ei
wholesome sport, that your children
may be healthful and cheerful, strong
and active in body and mind. Then
from every point OF view, the present
appointments-neglecting the future
are wholly inadequate.
The remedy Is to construct commo.
dious building, surrounded by beauti
full campus of generous proportions
that the public school may be at once
the best asset of our lovely village and
her pride,
We have just contracted to build
city hall at a cost of $500, and some