The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1912-09-26

places over the country, we have the
ideal time to start the study Of
Neighborhood History. Instead Of as
signing a lesson for tomorrow In the
DRY" book, ask each member of the
clasg TO find out from parents or
grandparent, II one is living near.
from what part OF the country the
first member OF the family came 10
that community, and some of the
reasons why they came. Also any
interesting things that they. may be
able TO gather as to the conditions
Of the neighborhood when the family
first came into II, and how the
people lived. This is all History OF
the most important kind, and touches
the life Of the pupil. In addition the
child finds the information for him
self, and whilo doing IL interests
other members of the family in the
work OF the school. After having
these fragments of local and person.
al Information reported orally and
discussed, you may well ask that
they be written out and read to
the class.
Following this, have collected from
members of the family, stories Ct
adventure from pioneer days. Stories
of deer hunts, and other adventures
with animals, and Of Indian expe-
riences, IL such are to be found, as
they often will be. Get these finally
into a written form, and then take
up war stories.
These may be OF the Civil war,
or in some cases OF the Mexican war.
Only last summer I found, hanging
up in a loft in a home In Kentucky,
almost a bushel OF papers left by
Major of the Mexican war. No one
had looked over them all this gen.
GRAFTON, but I en- sure that history
Of interest and importance was 10
be found in them. In still another
home know Of a Bible bearing the
imprint, Printed by Christopher
Baker. Printer to the Queen. Lon
don, 1884," and It had been in the
family Of the woman that owned It
for at least seven generations, and
more than likely ever since it was
printed. In II were papers which gave
much light as to life and conditions
in the early days.
How much would IL be worth II
the owner OF this old treasure could
be persuaded to bring it to the school
house and let the boys and girls
look at the Drowned pages and
strange type and printing? No one
can tell. but the privilege of touch
ing the past in this way is the right
of every child. Are you seeing TO It
that they get their rights?
You may say that there are no
such old books in your district. How
do you know? You do not and will
not until you begin to investigate
and arouse the interest of your
pupils and your district.
It is not merely a question Of
books or stories of life. Old dishes
are to be found in many homes which
will tell a story, and other articles
of the household. the farm or the
forests may be found by means Of
which you can interest the school
and the neighborhood in gathering
up the history of the people who
made the wilderness into homes IN
the early days. fought the battles
OF progress and laid the foundation
upon which we are to build.
II you will begin this work NOW
you may have. by the end of the
term. matter which the children
have gathered which you can put to-
gether into a History of School
District No. =, which will be of more
real worth to the children who have
made II than a Library of Historical
works which would cover one side
Of your school house.
c. ID. L.