, 1917-02-22
In this time of stress and excitement we should remember that
we III all "Americans," and that we are all loyal to the home that
shelters us, clothes us, and guarantees u s liberty and freedom o
thought
School and Community Life

ing power for good in the community as good, live upto-date schools.
The time is long past in this country when Just a n old school,
will serve the purpose.
In no age of the world was business competition ever SO keen and
relentless as at the present, and never before was it SO imperative that
our young brains be trained and developed to their full capacity.
Nothing is truer today than that a community is known by the
quality of it's schools, for it isa fact that the school is a perfect bar
ometer for the community. AS the community, so the school; and
conversely, as the school, so the community.
But aside from the mere educational consideration, a progressive
school in a community exerts its influence in other directions, fire.
quently very little regard by the community generally.
In the first place, a real. live, progressive school is never found in
a dead community. AS well expect mushrooms from a barren soil as
to expect educational perfection where none is expected or demanded.
So then, the really progressive school presupposes a like spirit
in the community.
Men of observation and intelligence have this fact in mind when
seeking a location for a home.
Probably the two first questions asked by nine out of every ten
home seekers are: "What of your schools?" and "What of your
churches?"
The really desirable citizen, with a family of SON and daughters
to rear, is always suspicious of the town without good school facii.
ties. He is aware of the fact that the mere absence of these facilities
argues a lack of interest on the part of the community at large, and
rightly refuses to cast his lot with them.
So that, from a meternal point of view, the higher W build our
schools, the stronger their drawing power in the material things of
We have said that the school is the baromener for the community.
1t is pre-eminenty so from a standpoint of morals
The old age adage, "As the father, SC the son" is fast losing its
force in this day. Instead, we are tending to coin a counter.adage.
AS the son, 30 the father" So that, As we build up our schools year
by year to higher and higher state of efficiency, they in turn are
building up the individual members of the community, gradually
trimming off crudeness and coarseness, elevatng the character and
generally remodeGng aud revitalzing the entire body polite.
Then what of the schools of this community? Are they our first
consideration? They should be.
What other interest in life have you, reader, that can for a mo-
ment compare with the welfare of your children?
And what other influence in the chnds life is there to compare
with that of his school?
Get this fact firmly fixed in your brain and heart: AS your
school, SO will your child be. The child will be a faithful product of
the school that moulds his character,
Are we afraid to invest a few hundred dollars, or a few thousand
in modern school facilities?
No community ever yet made the investment, that it was not re-
turned many folds. Viewed from a purely financial standpoint. it isl
the safest investment we can possibly make.
There is absolutely no excuse for a poor school in any community
of selfsupporting men and women.
The community that refuses to give of its best to it's schools, will
lind itself as the years go by gradually losing in the race of life.
And the people who deem no sacrifice too great to be made for
their ehiIdren's welfare will year by year climb higher.
What of this community