The sea coast echo. [volume] (Bay Saint Louis, Miss.) 1892-current, 1916-12-16

tying indeed, as have certified quite a
number of my pupils to the leading
colleges in the State, and not single
one of them has ever failed to maintain
themselves and secure promotion each
year that they have been in college.
The Usefulness of the Individual
either to himself or to the community
in which he lives, depends entirely up
on his efficiency that is his ability to
do things; and. by no system of logic,
can it be proved that the man or woman
will be any more efficient, or thorough,
than he or she has been trained or
taught to be. | believe that "what is
worth doing at all is worth doing we'll"
is more essentially true In school life
than in any other line of endeavor.
Hence l am demanding above every
thing else and first OF all absolute thor
oughness and efficiency in our school
work. No U-N-I-T-S 8 will be credited,
or promotion cards issued as a compi-
ment to any pupil, nor to please any
parent, nor for any other purpose ex-
cept for the actual performance of the
actual performance of the work requir-
ed in thorough and efficient manner,
So far my work has been exceedingly
pleasant, and my relationship with
whom I have been associated has been
unusually congenial. The only regret
able feature of the work is the deplor-
able fact that the pupils have an inflat-
ed opinion about what they know con-
cerning their ability to do things, and
that some of the parents are enwrapped
in shroud of conceit, or rather delu-
sion, just as exaggerated as are the
opinions of the pupils. | am in no way
responsible for the encouragement and
such condition nec-
essarily brings when the "light of
learning" is turned on and the "acid
test" is applied, as it will eventually
be.
Education is not acquired by "going
through" books, but by the ABSORPTION
and assimilation of the thoughts and
facts contained therein. I have not
placed any restriction on the abilities
of any pupil. 1 have only demanded
that every thing must be done absolute
ly thoroughly. If there is a pupil in
the city schools, who feels that they
could do two or even three grades, it is
their fault, if they are not doing it, and
is not mine.
When l was elected superintendent of
the Bay ST. Louis public schools las.
summer, Immediately began to inves-
tigafe its standing yisa .se States CO.
leges; aud was surprised to find that
the high school was not listed as an
SC Approved High School, by a single
State College; and, as result,
Our Graduates Would Not Be Admitted Into
them without an entrance examination
except the A, 6 M, which requires on
ly seven units for admission.
With the view of securing recogni-
lion; first with the leading State Col
leges, sent copy ofthe course OF stu
dy, adopted and used last year, and
which is being used this year to the
Chancellor of the University and the
President OF the Industrial Institute &c
College, both of whom refused to rec
ognize it and grant recognition to the
Bay High School. Mr.. Whitfield's let
ter follows:
Industrial Institute G College,
Columbus, Miss, Augusta, 1916.
Prof. C. r. ralbert, Jackson, Miss.
Dear Sir: | have your letter with the
course of study of the Bay ST. Louis
Public Schools enclose. | notice, for
instance, in the Junior year, or 10Th
grade, five and one-half units are given
to students. This is impossible. The
Carnegie unit committee requires four
for each year and when five and five and
one-half are required it means indiffer-
ence Or lack of thoroughness.
Sincerely yours,
H. L. WHITFIELD, President.
The Bay St. Louis public schools
must be made equal to the best in the
State. With the aid of the Board of
Trustees, the assistance Of the associate
teachers, the support of the patrons, l
expect to make our work SO thorough
and so3effcient and 20 modify our
course of study to meet college entrance
requirements that our High School will
not only be able to secure recognition
from our own State colleges but recog-
milton from every college in the South
using the entrance requirements of the
Southern Association of Colleges.
Respectfully,
G. r. TALBERT,
City Superintendent.
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