The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1921-10-06
An Opening of School.
Editor County Record:

An opening OF ScnoOl'
Editor County Record:
Monday September, 29th was d
great and eventful day for the little
tot who entered the school room for
the first time. It did not seem so
unusual to lis, but we have only to
90 back to our first day in school to
appreciate the jist Of feelings of the
little youngsters as they marched in
to the presence of the teacher who is
to become their new mistress, and the
presence of dozens Of little new asso-
ciates. Can you appreciate the self
consciousness that possesses the little
ones whole being, as they are ushered
into this new world? They are tender
little plants and we should be very
careful how we deal with them. Lit
tie things that happen today and are
forgotten by US older ones tomorrow
make a lasting impression upon their
little minds, and these lasting i'm
pressions are the ones that count so
much in the moulding of their future
character.
Turning our attention from these
little tots to children of higher grades
we cannot but notice the difference
ir their manner and behavior. They
seem more at ease, more natural, have
already become adjusted to their sur
roundings, except possibly new stu
dent from some other school. His
feeling may be compared to those
of little child entering school for the
first time.
It was a most inspiring sight to
me as I sat in the rear of the King
stree School auditorium that Monday
morning to see the great host OF chill
dren filing into the hall until it was
nearly filled. 1t was all so beautiful
to me that l could not help but look
around to see what people were there
enjoying the picture with me. Ex-
cepting those on the rostrum, do not
believe there were half-dozen men
in the hall. Quite number of moth
ers present, but not nearly as many
as should have been there.
When one considers the little inter-
est shown in education by the mothers
and fathers it is not to be wondered
why so many children never get high
er than the grammar grades. Their
parents are not interested enough in
the welfare of their offspring to try
to instill in them desire to gain the
most precious jewel-knowledge.
Every farther and mother should
make every sacrifice possible for the
education of their children, and the
parents who have the proper love for
their children will do ali they can to
prepare them for life's great struggle.
We believe the Kingstree School has
good teachers and it is our duty to
stand behind them in their efforts to
instruct our children. They are hu-
man Just as we are and are likely to
make some mistakes, but we should
overlook them and assist them in
every way possible. Show me faith
er or mother who claims to be perfect
in the control of their children, and,
I am about to say, will show you
person badly deceived, or at least out
of the ordinary. If We ourselves err
sometimes in the treatment OF our
children when we love them SO dearly,
how can we criticise the teachers who
may err occasionally in the manage
ment of so many children.
Some fathers and mothers do not
pay much attention to their children
in the way of teaching them ct home.
Usually they do not have the time to
"fool" with the children. They con-
slider that the teacher is paid to do
that and that their responsibility ceas-
es there. It is duty and should be
a great pleasure to parents to see
that their children have their lessons
prepared for school, and to give them
necessary assistance when it is needed.
A little encouragement at home will
usually make good student, whereas
the child who is so unfortunate as not
to get any help from mothers or IA
theirs will likely become discouraged,
lose interest in school and eventually