The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-09-27

In a few days the doors of our
schools will open again and the
streets and roads will be filed with
an army of young citizens, hurrying
to the many fortresses that re. scat
tered over our land, where they are to
receive training and equipage to fit
them for the battle of life in a busy
and selfish world.
AS occasion caused us to enter an
old school building the other day, our
thoughts seemed to linger in the past,
present and future. We were in our
boyhood days again, with eager ex-
pectations we looked forward to the
close of our school, we planned all
kinds OF good times. we counted the
days, then the hours. and at last when
the teacher told US to pack our books
and bring them up to her, so as she
could examine and check them UP
(for the school books were free and
every child at the beginning of the
term was given such books as they
required, which should be IN our pub
lie schools in this state and in fact
every public school everywhere and a
United States uniformity of study,
reluctantly we began, laying our
geography down after Arst looking
through for any book marks, carefully
examining every volume we used, then
stacking them up in a neat pile, car
ried them up to the teachers desk.
Twas like saying goodbye to some
old friends. Then the close of school
did not seem as. pleasant as it was a
week ago. There were memories
aroused from their slumber and that
feeling of mingled Jay and sadness we
oft experience. Yet the pen can not
express what came over us. Thus we
fingered in boyhood days.
When a boy is boy,
And boy let him be,
For the season Of boyhood is strand
And the heart that now leaps with
its floics and glee
Soon will ache with the tolls Of
man.
Vacation was over again. With the
same spirit that we looked forward
to the close of school, we longed again
to begin our regular studies and so on
until we joined the regular army in its
rank and file for the battle through
life.
AS we noticed the cobwebs the busy
spiders had woven so as to catch ny
stray fly or other insect that would
enter the old room so as he could
store food for future use, also the dirt
dauber that had labored bringing in
minute particles of mud, building a
home for the future daubers and their
supply of food stored then I wrote on
the dust-covered desk, idleness, en-
ergy, skill and and frugality.
The school room was vacant, yet
not idle. The same principals had
been carried on. Everything was for
the future. Even the dusty benches
gave an objective lesson, and in the
whole scene the responsibility Of the
teacher was made more apparent.
The instructor of the spider had not
failed to inform him as to the least
detail in constructing his web. Every
foundation web had it's completion to
geometrical precision, the proper
tension given every lateral brce, the
whole reaching in common center
where the spider could watch, and
ever on the alert dart to either side
of his snare and with lightning
rapditiy make his capture secure be-
fore any harm could result in its ef-
fort to escape. Likewise the dirt
dauber. His lessons from the great
teacher, the architect of the universe
had been painstaking and thorough
and the dirt upon the desk was ever
ands of minute particles had silently
yet so perfectly settled that the les
sons OF responsibility was clearly
taught. in the collection.
Teachers, when you enter YOU
school rooms, pause for an instanf
and examine yourself. AS teachers
you have chosen one of the grandest
callings among men, You have II
your charge and under your inmedi-
ate direction the character building
of men and women, not only in thu
school room, but your teaching be-
comes a part of the life of your pupil
Your ideas and instructions are sealed
/ in habitations not made of clay OF
webs that soon perish, but are placed
| in vaults that in due season and a
proper times can be at the disposal Of
| the custodians, yet at the same tim,
draw interest that must be rendered
when the GEeat Financier or minC
and reason lender calls for his talents
| Your actions out of the school room il
a lesson, and your responsibilities ar
great before Goa and man. As par.
ents, 1t Is our duty to cooperate Will
| the teachers They are but human
and not perfection. We should ge
personally acquitted with them, visi
the school whenever we have the op
Iportunity. 1t is as reasonable for Vi
to. entrust our valuables with stranger.
and never make any inquiries or Sc,
If they are properly kept. yet we senC
| our children to school and think w,
have done our whole duty in the mat