Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1905-05-19
SCHOOL HOUSES
Have q, Great Influence en- tie
Child's Character.
]. ]. W, STARR


ed in hog pen he will be a hog We
are male what we are by our envir-
onments. You may place the worst
drunken loafer in community in
nice parlor with ladies aud gentleman
and he will behave while he stays there.
The same thought applies to our school
rooms. If they are neat hoAelke, and
comfort they will to a great extent IN
fuence the behavior of the children
aud help to make them Ladies' and gem
tleman, something that should never
he lost sight of in public school work.
But when as in some localities, the
schoohouse is the most disreputable
building in the community there hood
lumism is apt to prevail and the ordin-
ary proprieties of civilization be sadly
neglected. wish l could impress the
Importance of this matter upon all Di-
rectors, patrons, and teachers. A nice
school ina neighborhood recommends
1t to all home seekers and enhances the
value OF real estate, while the reverse
depreciates values and brings discredt
on the locality. 1t will pay financially
to build and furnish good schoolhouses.
The schoolroom needs appropriate
furniture as much as the home. The
'old saying, "Neither wise men nor fools
can work without TOOLS" applies here
as well rs elsewhere. No teacher, how
ever earnest, can do his best work with
out maps, globe charts, books Of refer
ence, and many other things, and these
'shoald be in the schoolhouses as part
ofits furniture. Money cannot be in
vested to a better purpose Its not just
TO expect the teachers to go to this ex-
penss, but if they d. MT the SCHOOLS
do with ont these things 50 much
neeiel. In addition TO the above ev-
cry public schoolroom should BE- sup
piled with toler articles, mirror, wash
basins, towels, soap combs, AMI bru III
es, and the pupils be required to e
them. imagine some old fogies will
ridicule this idea, but teachers who
have tried it know the great benefit in
securing good Behavior, for boys and
girls with pride enough in personal APP
pearance to "spruce up" '.tfore setting
to study will behave and study better
than those not SO inclined. am pre-
pared to recommend this toall Directors,
patrons, and teachers.
While there has been great progress
n it is fact that mlny of our rural
schools still fail in the work they should
do 1t is not to their credit that pupils
should have to go from them to schools
elswherc to acquire knowledge of the
primary branches. When this is the
case they are a partial failure, and the
public funds are to that extent wasted
The great majority must depend on the
rlral schools, for many have not the
means 10 send their children else
where, or give them education in any
beyond the primary branches. There
sore it becomes the duty and interest o.
all to see that tue schools be ma he
effective in accomplishing the "bjec
of their establishment, an education t.
fit every pupil for the ordinary ayoca
dionsof life. In these primary school
81 is illegal and wrong to teach any Sc ;
ondary branches.
The time when country schools shoul'
open is very important. In most 10
ealities the first of October would be
god time. July aud August are to
warm and mhealthful to eonfine chi
dren in the schoolroom, and during Sci
TENDER many have to stay out to assis
in farm work, and that breaks up til
course of study so much that some neve
return. If time from school must b
lost far less harm is doue If it be at tn
beginning OF the term, as every stude'
knows. A late fall and winter tern
will accomplish far more than broke
summer and fall term, aud as 0urschoc
funds inc ease spring term will |
more beneficial to all who can atten
than confinement in the. schoofoom
hot weather.
Hell