Smyrna times., 1918-12-18
SMYRNA PUBLIC SCHOOLS
HIT BY THE FLU" EPIDEMIC
ONLY 26 OF TOTAL OF 81 PRE-
SENT AT SCHOOL LAST WEEK

Lower Grades Also Affected-Three
Teachers off Duty-JuniOr -Four
Minute Men" in Lively Contest.
lhe present situation in the Schools
OF Smyrna, is one to cause much con-
Germ to those interested in the educa-
tlon OF our young people. The loss
OF SIX weeks from the school year was
IN itself, great handicap yet by con-
centrated effort this time could have
been largely redeemed, but since the
reOpenlng of the school on Dec. End
the attendance has been such that the
situation has become serious. During
the past week the average attendance
IN the High School was onl " 81 per
cent.-sOme days only 26, of a total of
62 enrolled, being able to be present.
In the school as a whole the average
OF 6l per cent. was scarcely better.
The chief cause has been and still is
the prevalence of illness-there is
much influenza, particularly among
the country pupils, and parents are
nghtfully taking no chances by send
ing children with severe colds or sus-
plclous symptoms to school. Added
to this the teaching force has lost
three members thru illness. 1t must.
therefore, be very clear to all parents
that their children must not miss ono
unnecessary day from now until June
II the years work is not seriously
impaired and the pupils promotion
endangered. The position of three
teachers is affected by the flu" Miss
Katherine Hudson is substituting for
Miss Maxwell and Miss Elizabeth
Parrott is substituting for Miss Anna
Beckett. Miss Ida Martin, who has
been off with an attack. was able to re-
sumo her work Monday.
Literary Society Gives Fine Program
The following program was rem
dered Friday afternoon by the Liter
ary Society. Miss Evelyn Spruance
acted as chairman of the meeting. The
program consisted of: Reading, "Flor-
ence Nightingale" Alyce Watson;
Songs, Popular Airs; Reading,"A Let
ter" Wells FAIRIES; Essay Junior Red
Cross Edna Woodkeeper; Song
"Marseilles"; Recitation, "Red Cross
Spirit Speaks" Belle Thompson: Song
America; Song, "Star SpangIed
Banner"
Junior -Four Minute Men, Contest.
In line with other schools over the
country, a contest was held in the
High School during the past week to
select the best Four Minute speech on
the subject of the Junior Red Cross"
The winner secured a certificate of
merit cOuntersigned by the PRINCIPAL.
All members of the High School in at
tendance prepared a speech and each
class by vote selected its best speaker.
Friday afternoon, previous to the Lit
erary Society meeting, the four
speeches were presented to the vote
of the assembled High School and
Miss Dorothy Williams, of the Fresh
man Class, carried off the honors with
an address, well written and carving
distinct thrill to her audience. All
OF the other speeches were splendidly
prepared and deserve special mention.
Miss Mary Reynolds represented the
Seniors, Miss Rebeca VanPelt the
Juniors, and Miss Marie Mcdonald
the SOphomores.
Schools Close This Week for HOLIDAYS =
Xmas Holidays will begin on Fri /
lay, December Goth, and continue m t
Ill Monday, December Both. New i
Years Day will not be a holiday. '
Smyrna schools are 100 per cent. Jun
or Red ross, paid up until Sept. 1919. i
except for those entering for the first I
lime in September. These are rap Q
dly joining and the perfect score is r
assured. The Agricultural department
has received the required tools for its
shop and work room. Practical train
ng in simple and useful woodwork
'an now be started. The teachers of
Smyrna have completed the exhaus- h
i've school census recently requested n
~ the State Council of Defense. r