New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1912-03-02
RURAL SCHOOL SOCIAL
CENTERS.

.Cldl euJoyHneut uO HOL present
themselves in their own commun-
ity, they are bound to seek them
afar.
The opportunity for helpful;
recreation and enjoyment pre-
sents itself in the new School So
cial Center movement.
In by-gone days, the rural
schools provided entertainment
for the community in the form Of
"spelling-bees," ," 'singing-schools,
etc. Gradually these recreations
died out, and there sprang up
"lyseums' and Literary socie-
ties" both of which were helpful.
; and inspiring to the young, even
though the oratory was crude.
I and the knowledge of subjects un-
der discussion limited.
Today the lyceum is thing of
the past, and the country school
house stands desolate and desert
! ed, during the long winter even
ings, and through the long
months of vacation.
Farm children should be given
the most careful and judicious
training in the public schools.
This however is far from being
the rule. In many cases the
teachers themselves lack proper
training, and the equipment is o;
the poorest kind. Every rural
school should be provided with a
good library for the benefit ol
both the school and the commun'
I'ity.
The acquisition of knowledge
from books is necessary, but this
book knowledge does not in It.
self constitute an education. fal
from it. We need an educationa
system which fits a boy or girl tt
earn a living; creates a desire
for more knowledge; makes civit
duty plain, and teaches him Of
her the fundamental principles O.
universal brotherhood.
At present a very large De
cent of the business and profes
sional men. including statesmen
especially through the South an,
| West. are men who were reared
on the farm or came from tn
workshops of towns and villages
The indications are that a yer.
large per cent of the leaders o
the future will come from tn
same sources. Therefore it i
necessary that the children in tn
rural schools should receive bet
ter training than is being givel
them now.
MANY of the ablest men of to
dav have been hampered by lacl
of early training. and nothing ca'
take the place Of this lost train
ing. If the state wants its cltl
zens TO be successful, prosperous
and happy in the future. it mus
no longer neglect the early train
ing of those who are to brin1
about the conditions which will &C
compl;sh the desired results.
Our best teachers should be sen
! to the rural schools; earnest, pre-
cressive men and women, capabl
of introducing into the wor
! Qualities which will arouse tn
young peoples enthusiasm and sc
. them thinking and investigator
along new lines Of endeavor.
The country, presents ideal cor
$ ditions for the study OF natur
t and vet how many children al
taught the real Fundamental fact
l of mature. unfolding themselvt
: all about them9 The perenni'
:, miracle of plant life is so con
. mon. and so constantly befor
them, that they fail TO see or TAX
! note of it. An intelligent pr
sentation of this wonderful ia,
of resurrected life. will arouse
the minds of the children ne
lines of thought. and send the
forth with eager feet, to make ne
discoveries.
9 The attention of the childre
r should be directed to the wise pr
Z vision made by trees and hare
/ plants for the coming of winte
1 as, at the first hint Of the chan
Z ing season, they begin to store
carbon. withdrawing from Il
. leaves what the tree needs for
4 support during the winters col
: and. by the withdrawal of the sa
I hardening and protecting q
, limbs and branches.
q Such study naturally leads
!. the study of animals. and nature
Z provision for their protects
: during the winter months, as
: Illustrated by the migration
U birds, etc. The topics are en-
b less. Thus the children may
Z taught to realize that the whit
: universe is great ,living, thin
ing. feeling thing,-and back
= it all is the One Life. throbbi
g and uuls:ng through 1t.
= With intelligent thought, rig
e lv presented, the farm can
re shown to be such a wonder
/. store-house Of marvellous things
Of that the boys and girls will forl
a the cities with their glittering
8. lurements. in their intense int
az est in things right at hand.
no The School Social Center p
4anfs the oDDOrtunity.