The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1916-11-23

HOW THE SCHOOL MAY BEST
SERVE THE INTERESTS OF
THE WHOLE COMMUNITY
BY Mrs. Ellen Abney


curing that interest that one feels
there is very little practically new
material 10 be added.
The school exists primarily for
the children. When our forc-fath-
crs. the brave-hcartcd pioneers OF
early days, with sharp-edged Ak In
hand. met at the crossroads TO
fashion from the great trees Of the
surrounding forest, the first rude
log school house, they were think
ing only Of their posterity, OF the
boys and girls who were 10 become
the men and women Of tomorrow;
and into whose hands were 10 he in
trusted the making Of a great COM
monwcalth.
There. from sunrise 10 sunset, the
faithful school-master applied with
whole-hearted diligence the "rule
of three" and "rod Of birch" There
on Friday afternoons the aspiring
lads and lasscs Of the back-woods
We'd with each other in the good
old spelling match from the delight
ful "Blue Back Spcller:" or on more
special occasions entertained their
parents and friends with the humor-
Gus dialogue or witty recitation.
Some good souls, like Lots wife Of
old. would hewail the death Of old
scenes. old pleasures or old customs.
but the hand ~ progress rs persist.
emily bids us look toward the future
and strive for better and nobler
things.
So the school of to-day must serve
the interests ~ the community in
a larger measure than did its prede-
cessor. because Of its enlarged op-
portunity. and the store-house Of
past experience from which 10 draw
assistance. II is by heritage the
Intellectual center ~ the community
and one of its aims should he to
broaden tha minds and enrich the
lives Of its patrons. Entertain
mcnts. debates and lectures have
each served their turn as methods
of intellectual stimuli 10 the com
munity. and very helpful they
always prove. have wondered
sometimes why there could not no
a Literary Club in our rural schools
to furnish profitable entertainment
for the young people. One ~ our
greatest needs in the country Is
books. more books. Our young
folks get tired Of the same old texts,
and because IL seems rs II they
would never complete anything. thew
become discouraged and long before
they need 10 he out ~ school. they
dron out. Could there arise Car
neeie for Rural School Libraries, as
there has arisen one for the city
lihrary9
Tn so many ~ our rural commun-
titles there is no social center: no
place where the people can gather
for n general good time: no place 10
play. Consequently we see men and
boys loafing in the countrv-store, nj
tho grist-mill. or the blacksmith
shop. where vile stories are exchang-
cd. coarse Jokes passed around, and
the younger minds many times
poisoned with impure thoughts.
Just what the duty Of the school Is
in this respect Is a hard question.
4 good ball team would give en-
nlovment and wholesome recreation
for the boys. and consequently every
school would require an athletic
field Until we are actually edu-
Gated to the point where we will
have these things, the school must
content itself by giving an occa-
sional supper for the amusement Of
the patrons, or indulge in the
School Fair. a novelty which is prov
ing more than novel. and whose
popularitv is rapidlv increasing.
The school should he the constant
foe 10 ignorance and illiteracy
Our people in the country need Ia
know better how 70 keen well, and
how 20 avoid disease. The dissem-
ination Of such knowledge is n slow
process. hut the school can improve
matters by teaching the more i'm.
portant hygenic truths % the pu.
nils. and by the distribution OF bul.
letins among the patrons.
The work Of the Moonlight school
has been a great boon 10 many
counties in Kentucky, and the
scheme has gained a nationwide
popularity, thanks 10 the genius Of
its founder. Cora Wilson Stewart
and no school can hope for any
greater reward than the conscious
ness that is has helped 10 Danish
illiteracy from its bounds.
There are always a great many
people who are interested in the
religious side OF human improve
ment. and the schoolhouse may be
come the CENTER for m thrivino