The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1914-02-28
Mr.. HARRIS COUNTRY SCHOOL
PLAN.
To Parish Superintendent and Mem.
bers of Parish School Boards:

10 rdTlsh SuperlntenQents ana Men,
bers of Parish School Boards:
} ask your serious consideration of
} the following question: The country
schools are kept open for an average
session OF about rs months. Generally
speaking, the school session begins
about the 18th of September or the list
of October, and closes about the LIST of
May. The records show that not more
than 40 or 80 per cent of the children
attend the country schools during DC.
tober, November, March and April and
that the maximum Of attendance Is
reached in December, January and
February. The same maximum would
be maintained in May, June, July, Au-
gust and September II the schools were
kept open during those months.
Year after year we have opened the
country schools early in the fail, and
operated them until the school funds
were exhausted, with the result that
the attendance of children in the
schools Is about so per cent Of the en-
rollment. In other words, our system
of operating the country schools re-
suits In the loss Of half the money that
we spent upon these schools, and in
reaching the country children for only
half Of the time that the schools are
kept open.
Another important question is in
volved: Children who attend school
as regularly as they can and apply
themselves are discouraged if they fail
of promotion at the end Of the session.
They pass on from grade to grade
poorly prepared, with the result that
they soon find themselves unable to do
the work required of them. Discour-
agement follows, and they drop out of
school.
Why the irregular attendance? Is it
because country people are not inter
ested In the education of their chill
dren? The fact that they have voted
special school taxes from to Is mills
for the Improvement of their schools
in practically every country district
in the state argues to the contrary. n
think the answer to the question is
found In the fact that farmers need
the services Of their children during
tho harvesting aud planting seasons
The average farmer is not able to pay
for the gathering and planting Of his
crops, and his children are taken out
OF school to assist him,
In arranging for the school session, !
we lose sight Of two facts: (1) In the
farming communities parents need the
services of their children on the farm
during certain seasons; and (2) it is
fine thing for the children that such |
service is required.
The question which | submit for
your consideration Is: The vacation |
periods Of the country schools should |
correspond to the busiest seasons on
the farms. In a majority of the par
ishes, perhaps, there would be two
school sessions and two vacations an
nually. Communities that raise corn,
cotton, potatoes, ETC., would probably
want about the following arrangement:
Operate the schools through Decem-
Der, January, February. Close them
during March and April. Operate them
during May, June, July, August and
September, and close them during Oc-
tober and November This arrange
ment would give a school session of
nearly nine months of four weeks each,
and would permit the children to as.
sist their parents on the farm during
the four busiest months of the year.
The above may not be the best di-
vision, and 1t certainly would not be
for all country communities, but it IL
Illustrates the plan l have in mind,
namely, to give country children
chance to attend school regularly, as
we'll as to be Of service to their par
ents In making and harvesting the
crops.
The success of this system would re-
quire that teachers be employed by
the year. 1t would not be feasible or
possible to operate the country schools
on the plan of two vacations and two
school terms each year with two sets
Of teachers. It would have to be I'M
derstood that teachers would report
for duty or close the schools when so
directed by the school boards.
And why should not teachers be EN-.
ployed by the year? There would be
much to gain and nothing to lose by
adopting the system of employing
teachers for twelve months and paying
them in twelve equal monthly install