The log cabin Democrat. [volume] (Conway, Ark.) 1908-current, 1916-01-12

with his lot, he will rejoice over the
opportunities presented for increas-
ing usefulness and possible prosperi-
ty.
FORMATION OF CHARACTER NEGLECTED.
| 1t is too bad that so many of our
boys and girls pass out of the school
room with but little appreciation of
the good, the beautiful and the help
full. The choicest bits of literature
are overlooked in their analytic study
of the masterpiece; the noblest exam
pies Of history are ignored in the
memorizing Of dates and incidents
that have little bearing on character
formation; the obligations, RESPONSE
bilities and amenities of school asso-
Citations are made secondary to head
marks and promotion cards; the
great moral and spiritual lessons
which may be enforced, sometimes by
precept but more Frequently by ex-
ample. cost too much self -renuncia-
ton and self-sacrifice to merit from
the teacher that attention which thew
justly deserve.
The remedy for much of this may
be found under three heads, and these
shall be considered briefly.
MORE REVENUE FOR THE SCHOOLS.
In Arkansas, under the provisions
of our constitution the state levies a
three mills tax and the district NAV
levy a tax not to exceed seven mills
for the support of the schools. Many
OF our school districts are in need of
more money for their schools and are
seeking the opportunity to provide
means for securing the same. Thus
it is hoped that a measure will be in
itiated providing for the levy of a
local tax not to exceed twelve mills
for school purposes. The advocates
of this claim that it can work no
hardship on any school district, as
the tax need not be levied unless the
district votes for it. 1t is impossible
for some districts to maintain the
kind of school they need, unless they
are permitted to levy this tax, and
it does seem reasonable that permits
sion should be given them to spend
their own money for the betterment
of their schools.
No business of any magnitude can
lsucceed without competent supervis-
ion. Men in all lines of industrial
life have long since recognized this
and provided for it. The schools are
no exception. Just so long as the in
dividual teacher must depend on his
own initiative and his own knowledge
of the demands of the vocation, just
so long will our schools lack that
measure of conference and thorough
ness essential to progress and eff
cheney. There are twenty counties in
the state now operating under coun-
ty superintendency, and the reports
from them will convince the most
sceptical of the merits of the plan
A bill should be introduced into our
next legislature making the law
which now provides for optional SUI
|perintendency general in its charac-
ter, SO that every county in the state
may reap the benefits.
TRAINED TEACHERS.
Inc STATE Normal School,
| For the purpose Of providing train
ed teachers to the state, the Normal
School was established, and its grad
yates are to be found in every coun-
ty in the state. Their work is an
eloquent testimonial to the efficiency
of the training they have received.
However, the state is not yet fully
alive to the value of such teachers in
our schools, and the attendance at
the Normal School is short of what
it should be. School directors, how
ever, are beginning to realize that it
takes something besides scholarship
to make teacher, and they are be-
coming more insistent that those who
would take positions in the schools