St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1910-05-28
CLOSING EXERCISES OF C0YINGTON
HIGH SCHOOL AND OTHER GRADES.
Orations, Essays and Awarding of Prizes All Inter-
esting Feature Of the Exercises at CantrelIe
Friday Evening on May Twentieth.
The Exercises OF the Lower Grades in the Afternoon
We're Very Creditable to Both Teachers and
Pupils and We're Much Enjoyed.

gestions be beneficial or injurious. y
He must understand the difference
between destructive and construc-
tive criticism. Because the man who
will only find fault without offering
practical assistance, is an injury to
the school. He must know how to
inspect, what to inspect and when to
inspect. Often a mere sympathetic
suggestion and an inspirational super
vision will arouse desire for excel
lence when a mere fault-finding re-
mark will kill any noble ambition. Let
us carry this still farther, and we will
suppose man with all the desirable
qualifications has been placed at the
head of a school with a dozen teach
ers. These teachers may have been
chosen by the superintendent in vari-
GUS ways. Some through a teachers
agency, others because they were
related to the member of the school
board from that ward, and often q
very few entirely on their own merits.
With this combinatian the principal
is held responsible for the success of
his school. If it happens that all of
his teachers are strong and capable,
all goes well; but should it be other
wise, he may be blamed for conditions
not within his power to remedy.
Realizing such possibility, towns
like Hammond, Bogalusa and many
others have principals who are given
authority to select their own teachers
and their recommendation for dismis-
sal is considered sufficient for demand
ing a resignation.
Therefore / advise you to get the
best person the state of your finances
will permit. Get man who by his
past record has proven himself worthy
of your confidence and then give him
your warm whole-hearted support.
The best man in the world can fail in
this or any other school, without
competent corps of teachers and the
unqualified assistance of school officials
and all patrons.
''In closing l do not care to say any,
thing regarding my work for the past
two years. Your opinion of that has
long been formed, but | should con-
slider myself unkind if failed to ac-
knowledge the perfect support of the
superintendent and board Of trustees,
and whatever sympathy, encourage
ment and helpfulness may have re-
ceived from any of the patrons.
Especially do wish to express my
sincere thanks and appreciation to
that worthy body of ladies who con-
stitute the active membership of the
School Improvement League, for their
untiring efforts to improve the con-
ditions of the school. Whatever sue
cess | may have met with in my
effort to raise the standard of the
school, realize has been, not through
any merit of my own, but because of
the conscientious and faithful help of
my associate teachers.
The following graduates received
diplomas and read papers
J. H. S Simmons, Progress Of Agr,..
culture" Joseph I. Clark, "Steam;"
A. S. Burns, Law as Profession.
The address Of Prof. Clarence C.
Henson, principal of the Isidore New
man Training School of New Orleans,
who was orator of the day, was an
excellent effort and was listened to
with interest, He took for his subject
The Efficient Man. and supported
it with the scriptural injunction,
whatever thy hands find to do, do it
with all thy might" His remarks
were an inspiration to attainment and
to the life that uplifts and adds to the
benefits of mankind.
George E. Sears, Jr., read an essay,
Commercial Advantages of Louisi-
ana," for which he received medal.
He handled his subject in a manner
that showed close study, good men,
ory and remarkable perception for
one of his years.
''The Station Masters Story" by
Miss Lucille Champagne, was we'll re-
cited. The Farewell address to the
graduting class was delivered by Miss
Ida Wood.
The diplomas were awarded by
Supt. A. B. Peters, who spoke in part
as follows:
Il take pleasure in presenting to
you these diplomas. These pieces of
parchment represent great deal of
hard work on your part, and a greater
amount of hard work on the part of
your teachers. Really these diplomas,
with the different signatures on them,
have no true value. They are only
sheepskin beautifully engraved and
nicely signed. The teachers have
been honest and faithful in their en-
deavors, and the requirements which
you have been compelled to meet
have been placed reasonably high.
The teachers attest that you have
met them. But all these things are
worthless unless you raise the require
ments which you have already met
and meet the battles of life honestly
and face to face. The standard has
been placed in your hands; carry it
still higher as you travel life's path
way. 1t should be your pride to keep
it going higher and higher. !"
He urged an endeavor to excel in
whatever profession was chosen, and
to bring into life all the happiness and
brightness of cheerful earnest effort
and success.
DEPRESSING from the subject, Mr..
Peters spoke of the faultiness of the
present school system:
II believe if we would bring the
school to the boy and not the boy to
the school as the present system does,
the results would be entirely different,
and the beneficial effects would be
multiplied by the hundreds. l don't
mean by this to put school in every
mans front yard, but on the contrary
l am for consolidation Of the country
schools. I mean the school must be
made to suit the boys environment
and home conditions. We have plenty
and too much Of reading and writing
and arithmetic in our schools, and not
enough of the activities, such as
manual training, farming and other