The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1914-02-13

forth to make them what they should
be-"
Mrs. Pearl Williams Kelley then
addressed the audience. Her sweet
tone of voice and the force of the
/ remarks that she made impressed the
crowd deeply. She spoke upon the
public school library movement in
this state, and told how Tennessee
had a standing offer to any school to
duplicate any sum between $40 and
$40 raised for the purchase of libra
ry books. She stated that IS schools
in Maury county had taken advantage
Of this liberal offer However, she
said that this county was considera-
behind others in this important work.
She urged both teachers and pupils
to arouse interest in libraries and to
raise more than they already had for
this worthy purpose. She believed
that it was an opportunity that they
could not afford to miss. The infiu
ence of the books that were bought
for these Libraries would be boundless
in affecting the culture and intelli-
gence of the communities in which
they were introduced. She stated
that she believed that the influence
of these would be more vital in
moulding character than the texts
that were studied in the schools. The
love of good books, of good litera-
ture, would remain with the pupils,
while what they had learned by reci-
tation would soon pass away. She
quoted literally from many of the
great authors of the world upon the
influence Of books, and interspersed
them in an effective manner among
her arguments for the Libraries.
The state high school Inspector, w.
R. Bourne, made decided hit with
his jokes and anecdotes which he
told freely to keep up the interest
of the children, which was beginning
to flag under the bombardment of
heavier stuff. AS one of the gentle
men on the stage very aptly phrased
it, he was the end man on the states
educational minstrel show. Howev-
er, ne put in a whole lot of good,
hard common sense that caught the
attention and interest of every one
present. He proved to be a very en-
PERTAINING and instructive speaker.
After getting the crowd in good hui
NOR, he spoke of the great educa-
tional plan that Tennessee had in
view, to the perfection of which the
state department Of education was
working. He compared it to a lad
der, the bottom round of which was
the elementary school, after it, the
grammar, then the high and normal
schools, with the college and univer-
sity at the top. He believed that it
was a great scheme that would touch
every phase of educational life, and
would build and train better more in
telligent citizenship. He told very
effective story of an old negro and
a mule to illustrate the strides that
the state must make to keep up with
the educational spirit that prevails
throughout the nation. The rung in
the ladder which needed most atten-
ton at present was the high school,
which he stated was SO necessary to
complete this democratic system of
education. The pupils must be taught
to believe that their education is not
complete when they finish the prima-
ry and grammar grades, but must go
on until they have finished the high
school. He believed that this field
had just begun to be worked in Ten
nessee, as only a small percentage of
the pupils Of the state were in them.
Not only the children, but the IA
Tiers and mothers must be educated
to believe in and patronize the high
schools, which would develop and
raise so much the standard of citizen
ship. More money would be requir.
ed to build and equip these schools,
and he pleaded with the people to
vote in favor of the bond issue for
new high school that will soon be sub
mitted to the people of Columbia for
passage or rejection.