The Iuka vidette. (Iuka, Miss.) 1894-1912, 1910-07-21
Knowing And Doing.

A large per cent of the children
in this country will never take a
regular graded course Of study in
our public schools. Some have
not the time or opportunity of early
training; some become discourag-
ed and quit; others are neglected
because not bright, smart favored
ones, or children Of Trustees;
others form a dislike to teachers
or teachers to them, and lose an
interest in their studies; some slow
of understanding or very little en-
couraged or shown. how, fall by
tine wayside; while others limited
in time cannot take the full grad
ed course of studies, and are
knocked out. Thus, large num-
Der of youths are SO circumstanced
that they neither can nor will take
a regular graded course of stud
les; and the best training they can
receive is reading, spelling, writ
ing arithmetic and simple drawing
without any added foolishness.
What person wants In reading is
to understand the printed or writ
ten page, and to express and COM
municate these thoughts in an in
telligent manner. What he needs
in arithmetic is thorough mental
and written analysis of figures and
problems, and drills in application
and actual life work. These stud
les give the student power of un-
derstanding, power of EXPRESSION,
power of thinking, power of orig
mating, power of independence,
and power to work out his own
salvation in life.
l seriously question our public
school curriculum with its innu-
merable host of studies, in meet
ing conditions and bringing about
satisfactory results. This cur
riculum is constructed on the plan
of the model Armor of Saul, to be
worn by every individual; but,
alas! it will not fit David who
must meet the CANT Ignorance
nsthe vale of Elah. Only sim
pie outfit of sling and pebble over
threw Goliath, and cleared the
way for the army of Israel. This
curriculum when first issued had
to be preached and forced on the
teachers, by Sauls sent out by the
State Board; and the Davids had
to put it on without murmur and
protests Now, the school children
are being shaped SO that they will
| fit or fill out this armor of Saul.
But in spite of Sauls and teach
ers, there are many, many little
Davids who are compelled to prac-
tice without guides, by the brook
of Kidron with sings and pebbles
to be prepared 20 meet the giants
on the arena of life.
Education is evolution and its
grand aim is the development of
of independent Municipalities, fit
ted for life in society capable of
Happiness, AMI fiji lent for use
fulness-on the basis of morality
and reason. When a teacher is
forced to lose his Acknowledgements
not take into consideration time
conditions and circumstances; is
required to adhere to a routine
course of studies; and cannot ex-
erciSe common sense to meet the
different individual conditions,
then he becomes the piston of a
steam engine, the recitation be-
comes machine, and the pupil a
memorizing contrivance-a fail
ure; and the grand aim of edu-
cation is woefully defeated.
The writer has wide range of
experience in dealing with pupils
of various conditions, tempera
and capacities; and has the salts
faction of aiding many rejected
and discouraged one to acquire
the power to do things. The etfi-
cheney of these misguided pupils,
cast by the wayside, would for
ever have been lost had they been
forced to take mapped out cur
riculum, or been told that they