The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1921-08-25
COUNTRY SCHOOLS


Editor Star: In the last few issues
of the Star there has been discussion
of the country schools AS this discus
sion primarily affects the Shady
school yet the principle involved can
affect any country school in Marion
county.
In the issue of the Star of Aug. 10.
is an article under the. heading, "Plea
for Country Schools" by Mr.. R. H.
Mathe, of Santos. A very good and
convincing article on the subject. AS
there were some questions asked by
Mr.. Mathe, the writer win try to an
swer them to the best of his ability.
The article written by Mrs. Doug
las was a plea for a better school at
Shady. She desired a better school
and what she asked for and pied for
was only simple justice. 1t is laud-
able ambition in every citizen of Shady
to have good school in their commu-
nifty. Some people labor under the
impression than people in the country
have no brains, but it is historical
fact that the majority of the presi-
dents of the United States were rails
ed on farms.
Gov. Park Trammell. State Superin-
tendent Sheats and W. d. earn, men,
Der of the board of public instruction,
were speakers at the dedication of the
new Fellowship school house a few
years ago. Mr.. earn made the state
ment that the Fellowship school had
sent out as many teachers as any
school in the country and that they
had made good. One scholar of the
Fellowship school after finishing the
tenth grade went to Ocala to take the
teachers examination. The examina-
ton was conducted by a member of
the educational board and he lived in
Ocala. When he gave out the SPELL
ing to over score of applicants and
noticed them write down the words,
he made the statement that this
scholar from Fellowship was the
fastest penman in the room. Fellow
ship may have foes within and with
out, but is still a good school yet, and
will come back to its former standing
and efficiency. What has been done at
Fellowship can be done elsewhere.
The writer is well acquainted with
a great many people living at Shady
and they are intelligent, progressive
and Industrious and / hope that their
laudable ambition to build up a good
school there will be realized. A coun-
| try school where conditions are favor
able should have the loyal support of
every man, woman and child in the
district.
Mr.. Mathe's question: "Please an
swer how we can instill and maintain
that love of the country, which is Sc
sadly lacking in the majority of the
people, in the minds of the children
and young people if we surround
them with city influences eight months
of each year, and that during the
habit forming period of their life p
1t cannot be done. GAS the twig is
bent so will be tree be inclined" In
this case the child is inclined city.
ward and viii go there when grown
They will have no memories of coun-
try school life and associates. Mem
cries and associations of early life
are more lasting than all others. AS
has been in the past. the school house
n the country has been a place for
social gathering.
"They came in sleighs and cutters
down the snow-paved country
road
No farm house in the district but sent
something of load"
When the country children are
transported to the city school. this
will be the condition of affairs in the
country:
80 little old red school house your
prosperous days are flown!
You are a sad old school house, de-
crepit and alone.
But you have had your triumphs; and,
if accounts be right
You were not lonely on that famous
winter night"
1t is all right to send young people
to school in town when well up IN
their teens, but to send young children
there is all wrong. The country church
and school house are essential TO the
religious and educational welfare of
its young people. The poet. VIII
Carleton, has described the deserted
school house of the country and the
deserted farm is too well known TO US