The globe-independent. (Hagerstown, Md.) 1943-19??, 1950-03-30
Talk By James SoIt
At Leitersburg PTA

School Gives Interesting Ad-
dress On "The Development
Of The Child"
The Leitersburg PIT. A. met at
the school on Thursday evening,
with the meeting being called to
order by the president, Mrs. Berlin
Richardson.
After a short business session.
Mrs. John Largent, chairman of the
program committee, introduced the
guest speaker of the evening, James
Solt, principal of the Hagerstown
High School.
Mr.. Solt made a most interesting
talk, and it is regrettable that the
extremely inclement weather kept
SO many fathers and mothers at
home. He used as his subject, The
Development of The Child" and
said he was not SO much concerned
about the part the home, the church
and school plays in the child's de-
velopment, for certainly all three
play very important parts. But the
part he is most interested in was
the ethical part, where ambition and
attitude are developed; and some
times that part is neglected by the
parents and teachers. A child
should, as early as possible, be think
ing about what occupation he or
she is going to follow, and know
where they are going, or they will
never get anywhere.
He also brought out the fact that
| too many parents only think in terms
of grades" and often are disguised
if their child does not always bring
home all CAS- on his or her report
card. He said parents must learn
to realize that every child is an in
dividual and is born with a certain
amount of ability, and only that abil-
ity can be developed. He used as an
illustration the fact that no one ever
heard of farmer trying to put five
gallons of milk in a two-gallon can.
He claims that the parents and com
munity are responsible for develop
ing the right ambitions and atti-
tudes of the children, who will even
tually be the future fathers and
mothers.
Mr.. Solt said that he finds it hard
to interest some girls in the home
courses offered in the High School
and has really heard girls often re-
mark: "Who wants to be home
maker?" He went on to show that
there isn't any higher calling than
to be a "homemaker.
THE schools of a community are
no better than the citizens want them
! to be" continued the speaker. "Once
i the public school ceased to operate,
/ the freedom and democracy of our
great country would be at stake.
The character of the child must be
/ developed through ambitions and
attitudes. Encouragement and ex-
perience must be offered, for exper-
fence certainly makes education
more realistic to the child in what
ever field it is offered"
Mr.. Solt also said that he is
alarmed about the fact that too
many students in Washington Coun-
ty, with the consent of the parents,
drop out of the High School as soon
as they have reached the age of six
teen, to obtain jobs.
He concluded his address by prais-
ing the fine school system Washing
ton County has and said he had
worked in five or six other counties
and that the system here is far bet
/ ter than any of them. He was loud
in MS praise of the attractive way
the various rooms are decorated in
the Leitersburg School. He also APP
1 proved of the citizenship Club
School Store" the playground equip
ment and the repairs going on to
modernize the Leitersburg building.
The faculty and patrons wish to
/ convey, through this column, their
thanks for the splendid talk rendered
by Mr.. Solt and hope that it will
be their privilege to hear him again
at some future dates