Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1908-04-24
closing Exercises OF
Big Valley School.

Guilty., oCs iCoVS w ASP". esAh -
other items our closing day pro-
gram, with few comments.
In the frst place, we had plan.
ned to hold Patrons Day some
two weeks before close Of school,
at which we had the promise of our
division superintendent and sever.
al teachers, and others who had
been assigned subjects or had
agreed to select their own subjects
and give as talk on that day,
But just about that time measles
broke out in our neighborhood and
knocked the props from under our
plans completely.
Nevertheless, the day before
school closed, we cordially invited,
through the children, all patrons
Of our school to be present to-mor-
row. VIXEN tomorrow came, rain
was falling in torrents and no one
arrived on time!
Our plans were to intersperse our
talks and Patrons Dav exercises
with a review Of our school stud
els, composition reading, select
reading and vocal music. This
plan was carried out, modified
somewhat because of the inclemen-
cy of the morning and the conse-
quent late arrival Of pupils and
patrons.
At II o'clock am, Adam H Mil.
Ter, the Young teacher, gave US a
talk on the Relation Of the Patron
to the School. Mr.. Miller's talk
was instructive as we'll as enter
tanning.
Mr.. Miller made it clear that our
patrons do not take the interest in
the school they ought to take; that
very often the efficiency of the
school is greatly impaired because
the patron listens to to the chlld's
story and encourages the child in
acts of INSTRUMENTATION and often
in open rebellion.
II the teacher should happen to
be independent and require each
pupil to comply unconditionally to
the high standard of discipline
which is necessary for the success
of the school. The patron fire.
quentIy takes his child from school
thereby upholding the child in
what is a wrong doing, but incul-
Gates in his very nature the princi-
pie of rebelling against his own in
terest, building the child up in
spite, hatred and malice, and rear
ing him up in ignorance, robbing
his child of his birth-right, the
heritage so richly provided for him
by the State-verily the blind lead
ing the blind and both falling into
the ditch!
Oh! for that compulsory educa-
ton, that will take this matter out
of the hands of ignorant and care
less parents, and place these child
rem that are permitted to grow up
in ignorance in every neighbor-
hood, in spite of all the State is
doing for them, in the schools. Un-
til this is done, one-half our money
and labor spent for public educa.
ton will be wasted.
After Mr.. Miller's talk and
song or two by the school, all pres
ent enjoyed a bountiful dinner and
a pleasant social hour.
At l o'clock, our glee club led
by r. Earle Bussard, rendered sew
eral selections that were much en-
joYed by all.
Rev. C. B. Gibbs followed with
an interesting talk on How Child
rem and Patrons should Appreciate
their Present Educational Advan.
tages.
Mr. Gibbs talk was very impress
i've; especially did he make it plain
to the children how important it is
to acquire an education; that
knowledge is power, power brings
opportunity, opportunity brings
success.
That each child now had far
greater advantages than children
had only a few years ago, and that
If the opportunity is lost by the
child, it is forever lost!
His appeal to tie parents to be
more Jealous of the interests of
their children in and educational
sense, and to the child to embrace
these present opportunities were
impressive and we'll received.
Another song was rendered, af-
ter which we had a short review
in Algebra.
Next followed Rev. A. A. Miller,
who gave us talk ON the Old and
the New. which was much enjoyed.
Mr.. Miller contrasted the schools
of his childhood some 40 years ago
with the schools of to-day.
1t brought the patrons back in
vision to their childhood days, the
times of though switches and very
thin breeches,"
Oh, the old school house that
stands upon the hill,
| never, never can forget,
Dear happy scenes yet linger round
me still,
never. no never can forget.