Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1925-12-25
TRAIL FROM THE WOODEN PAIL

A1AAA FROM InE WOODEN FAll
The days of the old wooden PAL
in the schools have disappeared will
the SHOWS of yesteryear. Boys ant
girls no longer stand in line waitinf
their turn to quench their thirst a
the common bucket out of the com
munity tin cup.
The sentiment of tradition still
pays its tribute in song to the "Olc
Oaken Bucket"-but not as a com
mon drinking vessel. The old schoo
pail, with its attached drinking cup
has succumbed where progress is
and has slipped into oblivion alone
with the double seats, the centrally
located heap much heat" radiatine
stoves and the disciplinary wooden
ruler as the dominating factors in
establishing the physical environ
ment of the child's school life.
These symbols of an age that has
passed draw sharp attention to the
strides we are taking in the physical
as well as the intellectual develop
ment of our youth in our schools.
Very well do we now realize the
significance of the adage "A sound
mind in sound body"
No tears should be shed for the
water pail, the uncomfortable, trou-
ble-breeding double desks, the old
heating stoves with their half-baked.
half-chilled subjects and the dust dis
tributing busters. These have been
|supplanted by the individual, adjust
able desks, the modern heating and
ventilating systems, cleaning com
pounds, dustless crayons and the
individual drinking devices for the
health and comfort of boys and girls
who must spend their formative
years at their desks. The equip
ment of a modern school house has
gained new emphasis as a vital
factor in the development of youth.
Regardless whether it is the grow
ing completely of a civilization or a
decrease in resistive power that has
necessitated these changes, the fact
remains that in an equal degree the
degree the need for adjustment has
been experienced in plant animal and
industrial life. This is evidenced by
the fact that the Department of Ag-
riculture found it. expedient to set
aside half million dollars to COM
bat hog cholera and six hundred
thousand dollars to check tubercu-
losis in cattle. We must not over
look the tremendous loss incident to
wheat rust and the destructiveness
of the boil weeyil The farmer and
the fruit-grower now must spray his
fruit trees. seemingly unnecessary
when we of middle life were young.
Those who have experienced the dust
chills of night following a day at
the threshing machine know the
changes wrought by the modern ma
chimes
Education has played its part in
these destructive forces
and safeguarding plant and animal
life. Our schools, too, have bene-
fitted by constructive programs. With
deeper knowledge of social hygiene,
health preservation through play
has been encouraged by equipment of
schools with adequate play ground
By means of this equip
ment we find the school districts en-
ergizing their play activities. Sur
are now designed for
and comfort. Equip
ment is more complete and better
adapted to its purposes. creating an
environment more compelling to sus-
tanned study and physical vigor.
Boys and girls when properly sur
rounded physically and mentally may
go happily. not reluctantly. to school.
The attitude of the public with
regard to this program in our schools
is encouraging. 1t has gone a long
way in making easier the task of
maintaining the schools at the high
point of efficiency where physical de-
velopment will not only keep pace
with but aid mental advance.
Il
healthful, comfortable environment
for both work and play. The COM
munities' inclination to meet the de-
mand is the fruit of the seed planted
in the school house.