The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1918-11-30
JUST TO LIVE"

pollyanua made by A Mother tsee
letter In another column concerning
Saturday School the argument being
that Ia the addition OF another school
day while 1t may solve the problem Of
making up lost time. leaves the chill
dren In the words Of pollyanna. no time
Just to live
The True Democrat. II viii be recall
ed has always favored six days ct school
each week, with the proyiso that the
numebr of school hours each day
should bee lessened, Indeed OUT con
tention has always been that even with
five school days. the number Of hours
Is too many for the growing child A
teacher Of ten years experience, and
an observer Of twice as many more
years we are fitted 10 speak intelligent
| IL on the subject. With six hours and q
half. from nine in the forenoon to hall
past three In the afternoon, with pos
sIble nay probable kept In" period the
leverage child has very little left Of day
| light Ia which just to live, after MAX
ling deductions for the home chores
Such long hours are relic of the time
vhen the children walked 81 rode mile,
to school and perforce had 90 stay al
/ day after arrival there.
| but today there should be more
sensible, not 70 say equitable. division
81 the period devoted TO study The
/ chIIdren would not learn less, but mere
gith the prospect before them Of al
early release IN the afternoon Any
Any teacher can testify that the results
Of afternoon study are comparatively
[ negligible following the heavy lunch ol
dinner az twelve II the pupils we're
dismissed al two o'clock with only hall
an hour at noon for a light lunch, a
marked Improvement Ia efficiency
would be- seen
/ We throN out these remarks mol
with the hope ct seeing an immediate
change. but merely TO continue efforts
along this line in behalf of the school
child aud his teacher.
Water falling day by day
VIII wear the hardest rock away
and It may be that ia course OF time
even the hard rock OF the obdurate
school boards and parents may be worn
away IN this regard
The present experience OF six school
days keeping the children confined
from before nine tn nj least four viii
do much towards awakening the pa
rents mind as 10 the heavy and uu
necessary burden they are laying on
the tender youug shoulders Of their
children, who are given SO little Hes
IRE in which Just To live" and grow
their principal business after all
But what will you2 asks those who
make fetch OF making up the lost
time az il Il we're the most important
consideration in life for the child "a
reach page 81 by certain time and
page ISL by the close Of school Given
a wholesome session OF school and he
ehtId wili learn enough.
From the viewpoint of the teachers
lost time is more serious when II
means lost salary or salary that must
he earned by making up that time On
them rests very heavy burden Of
making up time lost through no fault
.of theirs the meeting Of obligations
Incurred board for instance during
the period OF enforced vacation. or
other expenses incidental to going
home and returning. These are real
hardships for the teachers.
Several parishes have cut the Cor.
dian knot BY paying the teachers sal.
aries and charging OF the time lost
In any other business. where the EN-.
ployee loses time through no fault Of
his own the employer does not require
him TO make II up, 20 Why should the
public and the school boards require
the teachers to make mp time lost
though providential dispensatjonq