The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1917-07-05
Public Schools.

mean? A public school is a school es-
tablished by the state or nation to train
the children of the nation for the re-
sponsibilities and duties OF citizenship.
In a republic where all the people par
ticlpate in the government, an ignorant
and unframed citizenship is a public
peril. The nation therefore undertakes
the work of public education in the ex
ercise Of its inherent right of self.gov-
ernment. The safety Of the people is
the supreme law which affords the true
ground for any system of public school.
If these schools impart the proper train
ing to the pupils there will be very few
prison sentences decreed by the courts
Of this country upon those who have
had full and complete training In our
schools
II should be the first aim Of all Ard
more citizens to help prepare the youth
of this city for the great work that
awaits them. They are soon to go forth
into the forests and the fertile valleys
of this young state, to act as the guild
ing hand in the schools and business
affairs Of this states, and especially is
this true with those who have the priv
| ilege, and continue and complete the
work in the Ardmore public schools,
which means in substance, that they
will be instrumental more than any
other human agency that supplements
the influences of q good home, in build
ing, shaping and guiding the future cit
| izenship Of this state. l will go a step
furf bar and co ~ v,hap tba,, a ra f,arforrn.
ing these exalted duties they will be i'm
truth and in fact shaping, forming and
molding the destinies Of the commune
ty, and in the end the commonwealth.
IL follows that the teachers should be |
highminded. unselfish, impartial people. |
They should always be selected with |
the greatest care and especially is this !
true with the employment of the prin- |
cipals for the ward schools. The per-
son who makes teaching school a step |
ping stone for some other calling should |
be watched to see that he does his work !
as his position demands.
Teachers should conduct themselves
in a way that will command the respect |
Of their pupils. Teachers should not |
apply nicknames to their pupils. If a |
teacher uses nicknames when he speaks |
to his pupils he will soon lose the re- |
spect and prestige over the children |
that is absolutely necessary to the well |
being Of the school.
In addition to the teaching laid down |
in the curriculum the teachers and prin- |
cipals should give part Of the time TO |
talks and instruction on honesty and |
morals. The youth of Ardmore is in |
need OF cooperation OF the parents and |
teachers along this line.
Teachers should be stern and firm |
but not tyrannical in the school room.
A principal that cannot govern a |
school without resorting TO balderdash |
is missing his calling. The ironclad |
rules laid down by the principal should |
be few and well studied before the MAX
ing OF them. They should be possible |
and in reason.
l have known teachers that would |
talk OF and would expel children from |
school between the ages OF seven and /
twelve. This is. in my opinion. wrong. |
The school is the place for young chill. |
dren. and expelling them should not be |
good and efficient teachers. II is an |
acknowledgment OF weakness on the |
part OF a teacher to expel such young |
children from school. There are a few |
children who would like TO be expelled |
from school but such children should be |
made TO understand that their place is /
in school and that they should be re-
quired TO go to school and that they !
would be required to obey and behave |
while in and on the road to and from
school II is to be remembered that 1t |
Is not always an easy matter TO deter |
mine which is the proper and better |
course 10 take when you are dealing |
with the heterogeneous classes that |
make up the population OF a school. |
hence a principal should be allowed a
broad discretion in the management Of |
his school.
Parents. you should impress upon the |
minds Of your children that the highest !
type Of man or woman is one who is
educated physically. intellectually and
morally-whose whole nature has re.
ceived due culture. The great purpose !
OF this life Is self.protection. Parents. |
you should teach your children that !
they have no right TO take away, de-
stroy or injure the property OF others; |
nor have they any right to commit any /
act OF personal wrong; on the contrary,
II is their duty TO respect the rights OF |
others, both with regard TO persons and |
things. Parents, you should teach your
children that they owe the same duties |
to their teachers that they owe TO fel.
low pupils. Parents must not get the
idea that their children are infallible. |
The proper thing to do is 10 stand by
the teachers and reduce the errors com.
mittted TO the minimum.
Parents should take keen interest
in their children. both in and out OF
school. and should know where and
what their children are doing at all
times.
Good taste can be shown In play. and
this will Danish from the school ground
all sports and games that are rude,
rough or unchaste. All plays that en-.
danger the morals OF the young or that
are apt to lead them into bad habits.
should be prohibited. am well salts
fed that a play ground properly man.
aged may be made an excellent school
for character. and plays can be 80 dl.
rected as TO make pupils energetic.
manly, polite, generous, honest and
truthful. Larger and stronger children