The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1914-03-20
sUpT HARRIS AND THE SCHOOL TERM.

Superintendent Harris in circular letter sent out to the Parish
supeennts Parish School Boards asks for consideration OF
the question dividing the school term into Winter and summer
term The Superintendent out the fact that under the present
system Of starting the school September the first of October
not more per cent of the children attend during
the first two during the last two months in the spring. and
as result this lose about half the money we
spend these schools and reach all the children Tor only nan w
time the schools open.
Mr. Harris argues that the farmers need the services OF their
children during harvesting and planting and that the
average able pay the gathering and planting the
crop children result taken out Of school to assist them
70 remedy condition the school system Mr. Harris would
advocate school sessions be taught during the winter posi-
bv during December January February session taught
during Summer possibly during June July August and September
of fact Superintendent Harris calls attention to
very condition when he refers the small attendance in
country schools at the beginning school and the
and remedy this condition that Mr. Harris offers the suggestion
divided but whether the suggestions the Superintendent
just what will satisfactorily solve this problem matter Of
consideration and before the parish boards adopt the
gesons they will doubt give the recommendations serious
sderatiOn.
To us the Superintendent suggestion appears to be concession
school of second Importance In other words
would adjust other avocaion in life
If impression think the idea subject adverse
criticism We believe that the matter of the proper education of
children of the vital both when viewed from the
point from that of the We believe it is said
that state ranks along toward the first in terac and this
ought impress with the supreme Importance educational
problems state We believe that the school should
and accommodate the other avocaons of life suit interest
of the school We of the tact that children great help
the farm but side the child life that of vast more
importance parent than that derived from physical labor on
the farm and believe that parents ought and i'm.
essed with the responsibility placing the proper education
af the chill first
Livery school teacher knows that about begin
ming every school tern taken getting properly graded and
started off work Then about the latter part
of every term lost practically lost the general decentralization
the school incident to the closing of the term With Superintendent
Harris plan operation would have these obstacles to
in terms during the year which rather an expensive
departure
Again MI Harris plan contempaes We not
believe the efficiency the school rule do not
think children do their best work summer time in study
hall Children sleepy trying study through long day
GrOwnup people do too for that and the children are not to
blame for it. We do not think the rule success
far as the real interest OF the pupil is concerned
Our thought therefore is this that school term should be
taught the time and the which who attend NAV
get the greatest good and then Just our other avo
cations to this of the school We appreciate the fact that
We have small attendance schools beginning and
at the close of term but that some plans
could be adopted if enthusiastically carried which would very
greatly increase the attendance without divided term