Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1906-03-20
Tobacco
Does More Harm than Mhiskey
To Tennessee School Chill
dren.. n..EduCatiOnal.

congratulate tne eulIOr Oh Tue cs-
tablishment of paper in which matters
of general interest may be freely and
courteously discussed. In this age of
broadminded intellectual progress the
people have very little use for a merely
personal organ. No matter what our
religion or politics, all are interested in
what is best for all. That we are gain
ing in all that makes life desirable is
evident in the fact that our county now
has peoples forum for the free and
friendly discussion of questions to the
common welfare.
While / am deeply anxious for the
enactment with proper limitation of a
compulsory school law we need some
effective legislation to prevent the use
Of Tobacco in all its forms by the chill
dren of the state and especially those
enrolled in the public schools. For
forty years in my school WORK. / have
noticed its evil effects and | now assert
without fear of contradition that the
snuff cigarettes and tobacco used by the
children of Tennessee are doing more
harm than all the strong drinks now
used. We have made magnificent pro
gress in curling the drink evil and there
has been some not very egective legisla-
tion against the cigarette abomination.
Ihope the time will soon come when our
legislature will enact under severe penal
ties law prevent the selling or Civ
ing or selling of tobacco in any form to
minors
began teaching in 1859 and As grow
older my interest in public school work
increases and as long as can say or do
anything to make the public schools
more effective am in duty bound to do
it. In some neighborhoods it seems to
have become fixed custom to have the
children to drop out during the last one
or two months of the term This is
most unfortunate for if the schools are
what they should tie the last month is
worth far more than any proceeding one
This custom is especially discouragiDg
to faithful teachers. 1t seems like a
condemnation of their work. 1t de-
stroys to great extent the interest of
the schools for interest of the schools
for interest cannot be so well maintain
ed in small as large school. This
prevalent custom may hurt the reputa-
ton of an earnest teacher but the child.
rem are the real sufferers and the public
funds are thereby wasted.
When we were poor and the school
term lasted only six or eight weeks in
the summer the fuel question was not
important. But now with the terms
continuing into and often through the
winter it is quite different. Still in
some places the teachers and pupils are
left to wrestle with the fuel question as
best they can. The matter is left by di
rectors in the hands of patrons who are
expected to furnish fuel by voluntary
contributions and teachers and pupils
must chop or saw it or suffer cold. Thi
is all wrong in these prosperous times
When the getting of fuel is LETT to volun
tary effort few have it to furnish anC
the rest get the benefit of their labors
Then, wood brought to the schoolhous
for teacher and pupils to cut or suffe
cold is rank injustice. The teacher i
not hired to cut wood and neither di
recters nor teacher have any authorit
to require the pupils to do it, Thei
authority over them is as students onl
and if we want the boys of public school
to grow up honest men we must trea
them honestly as students. Publ
schools ard teachers are not respecte
as they should be and they never wi
be so long as they consent to such in
Justice, Let the fuel be furnished as a
other supplies now are at the public ex
pense and then each patron will do hi
part in the payment of his taxes. In n
other way can equal justice be done t
all. J. J. w. STARR,