The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1919-03-20

it that Rankin county schools and
those engaged in the profession
in this county, hold an enviable
record, and compare favorably
with the best. We have per-
sonally visited every county in
the entire state, and had the
pleasure of driving over most of
the rural districts in each county,
and we always carefully noted
the school buildings, the teach
drs, the pupils and the school
sentiment that prevailed in each,
and the more we travelled and
observed the more pleased we
were with our native county.
For several years we have had
at the head of our county school
system men who have used every
available means for the better
ment of our schools. We have
been fortunate in having such
able and conscientious teachers
as Miss Robinson, Prof. Roy P.
Noble, Prof. Hugh P. Barksdale,
and Prof. Tom Rhea Phillips on
the examining board of the coun-
ty. We are sure that this board
would not grant license to any
one who had not reached that
high standard of efficiency that
would warrant to the community
in which they taught the very
best service.
Of course there are teachers
in Rankin county, and every other
county, who may be well equipped
for school work, from an educa-
tional standpoint, but temper
amentally they are unfit for the
work, and as much out of place
in the teaching profession as we
would be as delegate to the
peace conference in Europe. But
we are speaking of the county as
a whole.
Miss Robinson also mentions
the fact that very few teachers
suscribe for their county paper.
Unfortunately for us this is a
reality, but we had always attri-
buted this failure on the part of
the teachers to the fact that they
had reached that state of mental
development where nothing short
of the higher classics would in
terest them, and having come to
this conclusion we dismissed the
matter without prejudice.
We are glad to note that Miss
Robinson is interested in the
Junior Red Cross and the Thrift
campaign that is being inaugural
ed by the Government in the pub
lie schools. However, as much as
we may think of both undertake
ings, we do not believe that a
teachers failure to Immediately
cooperate in the movement is suf-
ficient grounds for newspaper
criticism.
The Teachers Association is a
splendid organization, and should
result in much good to those who
attend regularly, but during the
past winter roads in our county,
we are sorry to Say, have been
almost impossible, which pre-
cluded the possibility Of regular
teachers meetings, as most of
our teachers are located in the
country districts.
Rankin county schools are go
ing onward and upward. We are
not content to sit idly by
with present accomplishments
and not strive for better schools.
AS an evidence of our progress in
this matter, we might state that
not less than II special school
districts have been organized in
Rankin county during the past
few years, and more are under
contemplation. The standard for
teachers is being raised each year
and with the splendid school
sentiment that prevails over the
entire county, our people will not
be satisfied until perfection has
been reached.
We sometimes believe that op-
timism is the ruling element in
our makeup, and especially SO
when referring to Rankin county
and her people. Wherever Rank
in county is known it's splendid
citizenship is referred to as "the
good people Of Rankin county"
We believe with all our heart,
soul, body and mind that we have
the best county in the world, and
her people, God bless them, are
the truest, greatest and noblest
that trod the earth. Being thus