The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1917-03-22
School Activities.

The time has passed when schools
were merely "lesson shops" The
history of education has shown and is
showing a wonderful evolution in
child training. The school Of to-day
is not only a better lesson shop than
the school of yesterday, but the actiy-
tiles for which it stands place it upon
a pinnacle as high above the old
''three r" school as the automobile is
above the OK wagon. ! do not con-
denim the old "three R" school, for it
has put us where we are. 1t was the
best to be had in it's day and is the
foundation upon which we have built.
The school of to-day, in spite of all
it's advancement, is still far from
perfect. As to what the future has
in store for us in an educational way,
we can only surn1ise.
This we wo know-that intellect
uality alone is not the aim to be
sought. A powerful physique alone
results in british and war-like savag-
cry. Spiritual instruction by itself
usually results in fanaticism. A man
to be a man must be well rounded in
his development. Hence the various
activities to be found in the present
day school,
A long-haired physical and moral
wcakiing who may know all the Greek
and Latin roots and who revels In
square and cube roots and knows
nothing else is very poor specimen
cf humanity. He is usually the kind
Of fellow who would feed horse
forty ears Of corn and then wonder
why he died. A knowledge of these
roots is no disadvantage, but to place
them above a knowledge of tap roots
and fibrous roots and their relation
| to cultivation is crime against hu-
mainly.
For this very reason the schools
of to-day are advocating and encour-
aging. corn clubs, canning clubs,
school gardening and various other
agricultural activities and contests.
Then again, in order to develop
manly men and womanly women,
athletics, school games, ''hiking'
clubs, and intellectual and physical
contests Of various kinds between diff
ferent schools are fostered and en-
couraged.
| Competition is an unfailing test OF
character anywhere, and in anything
In school contests, the pupil who can
win without taking the "swell head
or can lose without losing his head
and becoming angry or discouraged
will certainly have no trouble in
mastering the difficulties of life
This affords the best possible oppor.
tunity to the teacher to understand
his pupils and to do his part toward
holding their characters into crystal
ized honor itself. But greatest of all
It affords the pupil an opportunity
to master himself; and self mastery i:
The main achievement in developing
manhood and womanhood, and il
rounding cut education and character
With these things in view. the
schools Of this parish are coming to
cether in a clash of achievements a
Bossier City the first week in April
While the nations of the world are
measuring their military strength, W.
are going to measure our intellectual
cultural, and athletic strength.
| Mr.. Patron, where do you wan
your school to rank in this measure
rent? Will it be worth anything t,
YOU or to your community for you
school to make good showing? Ar
YOU going to depend upon you
teachers altogether, or are you will
'ng to lend your encouragement an,
cooperation? If so, no. matter wha
school you belong to, put you
-houlder to the wheel and boost TO
all you are worth. r. S. WILSON,
Principal Red Land School.