The Semi-weekly leader., 1922-04-29
AMONG THE
CANDIDATES
OF INTER EST TO
THE VOTERS AND
GENERAL PUBLIC
Mrs. Bennie D. Flowers Announces

for Superintendent of Education.
To the Citizens and Voters of Lin
coin County,
l have decided, at the suggestion
of many friends, to offer my services
to Lincoln county to serve out the
unexpired term of Supt. L. Russell
Ellzey.
was born and reared in Lincoln
county and have taught her children,
twenty years, both in the country
and in Brookhaven and other towns.
believe I know the problems of
both the rural districts and the
towns, having taught about an equal
length in each. I have sufficient
confidence in the merits of my SER
vices to the children of Lincoln coun-
ty to be willing that the voters of
the county shall pass judgment upon
it and decide by their suffrage
whether 1 have made good, and
whether also, am worthy to be pro-
noted to the position of leadership
in the educational affairs of the
county.
I know there is a prejudice among
many citizens of both sexes against
woman entering politics, but there
certainly can be no valid reason why
competent woman who has spent
the best part Of her life in the edu-
cation of the young should not en-
gage in the directing or superintend-
ing OF that education on a wider
scale. In other words, If there is no
objection to woman teaching in the
school room there can be no suffc-
lent objection to her having the sup
ervising of all the schools in the
county-if she is competent.
Since l began teaching there have
been very few sessions 1 have not
spent a large part of the summer va
cation in normals studying the work
with view to perfecting myself as
teacher, and to sit at the feet of
the most eminent and progressive
educators of the day while they des-
cussed every phase of the problems
which enter into school life.
1st. 1 believe the school should
be run on as economical basis as
is consistent with efficiency and
good results.
Every citizen ought to be willing
to make every possible needed sacri-
flee for young life, if, by it, CORES
ponding and real advantage accrues
to it. But we are living in an age of
extravaganza and senseless waste of
resources which impoverishes our
people and renders them unable to
meet the real necessities and larger
demands of our complex civilization.
This idea of extravaganza is reflect
ed in the school room. Many of the
children of the well-to-do and many
of those not well-off go to school ev-
cry day dressed as though they were
attending some gala occasion. This
is contrary to good public policy. 1t
trains the young to false views of
life. 1t is perpetuating an evil GUS
tom and magnifying it. 1t promotes
the feeling of caste among children
which ought to be discouraged and
combatted. The school room is not
a place merely to teach what is in
books. 1t is also place where right
views of life should be taught. 1t
is place where the young are Cor
should be) prepared for useful citi-
zenship. Every item of expense con-
nected with the running of our
schools which does not benefit ought
to be disallowed and frowned upon.
End. 1 am in favor of. the consol-
idation> of schools wherever the pa
irons can be induced to adopt it. We
live under a democratic form of gov
ernment where majorities rule. 1t
would perhaps be unwise for min
ority to force consolidation upon a
majority. If the consolidated schools
have the advantages which we think
they have, they will in time convince
all doubters, and then all the schools
will unite in accepting the idea.
3rd. I am in favor of aggressive
ly attacking the illiteracy problem.
Lincoln county is charged with hav-
ing more than two thousand adult
persons who can not read and write.
This is an unfortunate state of
things. 1t will be disgrace if it
be allowed to continue. If + could
secure cooperation of the teachers
and other public spirited persons in
the county, I would set forces at
work to wipe out this stain on the
fair name of our county.
Atm. / would organize at every
school if possible a Parent-Teacher
Association. This has worked well
in every school where it has had a
fair trial. 1t brings the parents and
teachers together enabling them to
get better acquainted and by mutual
cooperation each can help the other
in the problems which confront
them, thus promoting the welfare of
the children and the school.
9Th. Every school should be a
community center where the old and
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