The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1909-07-01
SUCCESS In LIFE.

clear, the action deliberate, decl-
sive, if the end obtained is worthy
the getting.
So, then beyond all doubt must
school that directs the young
life of this twentieth century be
assured of what are it's aims and
purposes. The school should not
be an institution that goes merely
with current opinion, changing its
policies as public opinion changes,
if it is to be of real service to the
world. 1t has crept upon us that
you do not often bless the world
by giving the world that for which
it clamors, either in things ter
restrial or bodies celestial. But,
if a school is to bless and not
blight; if she school is to con-
struct, and not destroy the man.
hood innate in the young life of
our country, then must the school
seek to know the natural bent of
that life, whether good or bad, and
seek to cultivate the good and BAN
ish the bad.
We recognize that there are three
sides, among many, to boy-his
mind, his heart, his body--and we
expect to make every circumstance
that touches the boy in our charge
to contribute to his evolution. We
shall endeavor to make the boy
strong in mind, vigorous in body,
and manly in heart.
There ale two worlds that affect
vitality every boys happiness and
usefulness-the world without, his
fellows; the world within, him.
self-and when he can control the
latter the testimony of the wise is
that he can find successfully his
place in the former.
From these statements it is read
lily seen that the purpose of our
school is to make Men, mold char
acter that will stand the test of
life. Given the boy with the pos
sibilities of manhood in him, it
will be our purpose and constant
effort to evolve every possibility
into virile character.
Many boys who have reached the
age of fourteen years have also
come to q standstill in their efforts
in school, and truly may it be said
that something heroic should be
done for them. Such a boy has no
enthusiasm for his studies, has not
found HIMSELF, and really wishes
to cease all effort in school and go
to work. His teacher has not been
able to give him that individual
attention he needs. She probably
has done her best, but that best
has not succeeded in getting the
best in the boy to act. We find
many boys of this description in
every town, and they are a source
of annoyance to their teachers, and
of worry to their parents, while if
they could be placed in some school
where they would receive individ-
ual attention, taught HOW to study,
and required to devote enough of
their time regularly at stated
times, both night and day, to the
mastery of their lessons, they
would grow, in most cases, to like
to study, and take pleasure in per-
forming duties that are necessary
for their greatest development.
Then again it is true that most
of the boys who have graduated
from our high schools have been
hurried over their work. In very
few cases is the work supposed to
be done by the high schools all
performed, and the result ls that
the boy is not prepared either for
college or for life. He is not to be
ceDsured In most cases, in fact
very seldom. And, if he could
spend q year in some preparatory
school before entering college, this
lack of preparation would be over
come, and instead of his college
career being drag it would be a
joy. The concensus of opinion is
that time spent in thorough prep
aration is not time lost by any
means.
Again, many of the high school
graduates are too young to have
all restraint removed from them
as is wholly or partially done in
our colleges and universities. A
boy sixteen years old is not an
adult, and for his good he had bet.
ter not be treated as such in mat.
ters of restraint and control.
So, then, in view of these three
conditions, it is readily seen what
the function of this school is, and
also it's Importance in making the
manhood of our land.
Yours very truly,
l.. NJ. SPRUELL,
Principal The Spruell School.
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