St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1910-05-28

The closing exercises of the Coving-
ton public school were we'll attended
and conducted in a manner creditable
to the teachers and those having af-
fairs in charge. The School Improve
ment League served refreshments.
Unfortunately the weather conditions
prevented the attendance of some who
were to take part, and prevented as
large an attendance as might otherwise
have gathered at Cantrelle Hall.
Among the especially good numbers
were "Old Hickory Holler School, "
and "Hiawatha." drama by the
third grade pupils in costume, with
wigwan and camp fire scene.
song-By pupils of primer grade.
Dialogue, 'The Last Days of
School, by pupils of Second grade.
Hoop Drill-By girls of fifth grade
Story-By Beatrice Gribble.
Song, "Dolly's Mamma, BY pupils
of primer grade with their dolls in
arms.
Tableaux, IA Drunkards Home, Be-
fore and After Reform BY pupils
Of the fifth grade.
Dialogue, "A Quiet Cup of Tea
BY girls of Second grade.
"Old Hickory Holler School"-By
pupils of Fourth grade.
Dialogue, "Trapped"-By pupils of
Seventh grade.
Essay-By Norma Weaver.
Hiawatha BY pupils of third grade.
Song BY pupils of first grade.
The evening exercises opened with
the following address by Prof. Lyon:
1.-The wheel of time, ever on the
move, has once more brought us to
the close of school year, and we the
teachers and pupils, of the Covington
school have come to bid farewell to
our lessons and books, before we enter
| upon a deserved and much needed
| vacation.
"The custom of having exercises of
some kind when class has completed
its course of study, is, as old as the
| history of educational institutions;
| and to certain extent the nature OF
these exercises has assumed stereo-
typed form. Usually the president or
principal is expected to prepare long
address upon the educational future
of the world, or he may attempt to
settle any of the many sociological
problems of the day.
"In the face of this long established
custom / beg of you, my friends, to
excuse me from boring you with any
such effort, as | wish to come right
down to our own beautiful little town
of Covington and talk to my friends
and neighbors, as one who has had
some practical experience in attempt
ing to solve few of the many prob
lens that must be solved, and that
correctly, before Coyington can take
her proper place in educational mat
ters among the progressive and up-to-
date towns of the state and country.
l beg of you to believe that what /
have to say comes from the sincere
honest heart of one deeply interested
in the town of Covington and its edu-
cation advancement. 1t is for that
reason alone and not for any
mercenary object or for the purpose
of 'feathering my own nest.
Il have been asked if I would think
out a plan and reveal it to you by
meahs of which you would be able to
run your school another year for nine
months with sufficient money for only
six or seven. tits very apparent that
this could only be done by having fewer
teachers, or those who are able to COM
mand smaller salary, and which ever
you may choose to do remains wholly
with you. know many will differ with
me in regard to the salary the best
teachers should receive, but you will
not contradict when | say that if you
want the best you must pay as much
as they can command elsewhere. The
time is not far distant, in fact it is
already here, when you cannot get
the best first grade teachers for less
than sixty dollars month. | will
not discuss whether that is too much
or not, but you cannot measure a
teachers worth in dollars and cents
only. And one thing is certain, you
must pay as much as other schools do
in order to get the same grade of
service. Now it is a lamentable
fact, that this year, next year, and as
far in the future as we can see, the
public school fund for Covington and
the Third Ward is sufficient for only
a six or seven months term, with
schools of the grade that is being
maintained at present. Now it rests
entirely with the parents of the chill
dren and the taxpayers Of Covington
how they will solve this problem; for
as Gov. Sanders said at our school
rally, "You will have just such a
school as the majority Of you want.
perhaps at this time l may be
permitted to express a few thoughts
regarding the duties and qualifications
of the person who will be chosen as
the head of the teaching force for
another year. No parish superintend-
ent Of schools in this State is, or ever
was, intended by law to be a school
supervisor. This is proven by requir-
ing him to visit each school only once
a year. With this fact before US it
should be plain to see that whatever
supervision of worth that is done in
this school must be done by the prin-
cipal. The only time, of course, to
inspect a teachers work is during
school hours. Now if the principal is
to teach every period during the day,
he cannot be expected to become ac-
quainted with or correct many irregu-
larities that might arise IN the grades
of his teachers. 1t was because of
this fact that the State Department
of Education decided to require that
| the principal of all approved State
high schools should not have less than
two vacant periods each day for this
work. We will assume though that
| the principal has all the time neces-
| sarY for such slpervisian. and the