The Columbus commercial. (Columbus, Miss.) 1893-1922, 1911-09-21
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
OPENED ON MONDAY
LARGE ATTENDANCE OF PUPILS
Prof Cook. DIR. Henderson and
Rev. Hewitt Delivered Nd
dresses st the Opening
Exercises

Monday marked the opening
OF The public schools of the city
and the large rumber Of pupils
present not only indicated a pros
porous session but eyinced the
fact that Columbus is going for
ward and that her population Ii
steadily increasing, nine hun
drea children having been pres
ent on the opening day.
The session was inauguratec
with appropriate exercises. which
were held in the chapel of Frank.
lin Academy at . O'Clock Mon
day morning. These exercises
were opened with prayer by DIR.
H. G. Henderson, pastor of the
first Methodist church, after
which Rev. w. A. Hewitt, pas
tor of the First Baptist church,
read passage from the script
ures.
Following the reading of a
message from Gods holy writ by
Mr.. Hewitt, there was an ad-
dress by Prof. Joe Cook, SUPER
intendent of the public schools.
Prof. Cooks remarks were ad-
dressed to the pupils, and in
them he urged diligence and
perseverance in the work upon
which they are about to enter.
Prof. Cook stated that during past
years less than fifty per cent. of
the children who entered the
primary departments of the pub
lie schools in this city had grad
uated from the high school. and
declared that while the percent
age in Columbus was greater
than in other citias throughout
the state. it was not as large as
il should be. The superintend-
ent declared that in every pri-
mary pupil he would like to see a
future graduate, and urged the
boys and girls within the sound
of his voice not to be discouraged
by the many difficulties and per-
plexities which they will encount-
er in their pilgrimages in pur-
suit of knowledge, but to remain
at their posts. and not give Up
until they have achieved victory
by securing diplomas certifying
that they have completed
the full course, and are full
fiedged high school graduates.
The next speaker was Rev. W.
A. Hewitt, who stated that he
had always been deeply concern
ed regarding the welfare of the
public schools of the city, and
now had an added interest in
them on account of the fact that
he had just entered his little six
year old boy as a pupil Hetold
the children that his counsel and
advice was at all times available
to them and assured the officers |
and teachers that they would
ever have his prayers and best
wishes for success in their work. !
A short address by DIR. Hen
lerson brought the exercises to a
lose. In his remarks to the
children this able divine sought
o impress upon them the value
If knowledge, and urged them
rot only to complete the high
chool course but to thoroughly
,quip themselves for effective
work in some lucrative profess
ion or vocation by continuing !
heir studies until a diploma
rom some reputable college or
University is placed in their pos
The beginning of the new ses-
ion finds the public schools bet
er prepared than ever before to
are for and properly train the
children of Columbus During |
he past summer the interior of !
frankly Academy has 'oeen re-
and drinking fountains
lave been placed in the yards of
9th this Institution and the Bar