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lackgxm Vxnvirzss-^rgns J. D. Johes — Publisher LJ9OB 1955) Doyle Jones Jr. Editor and Publisher (1955-1975) MRS. MARTHA G. JONES PUBLISHER VINCENT JONES EDITOR OFFICIAL ORGAN JIUTTS COUNTY AND CITY OF JACKSON Published every Thursday at-129 South Mulberry Street, Jackson, Georgia 30233 by The Progress-Argus Printing.Co., Inc. Second Class Postage paid at Jackson, Georgia 30233. Address notice of undeliverable copies and other correspondence to The Jackson Progress-Argus, P.O. Box 249, Jackson, Georgia 30233. One Year, in Georgia „. $6.24 Six Months, in Georgia $3.91 Editorials Should Schools Fool, or Fail? The search is on for the scapegoat after the recent revela tion that Scholastic Aptitude Test scores of freshmen entering college this fall dropped five points from the previous year. In fact, in the entire 51-year history of this test that is designed to measure the scholastic abilities of incoming freshmen, this year’s freshman class holds the record for low scores. Educators, Congressmen, edi torial writers, plus John and Mary Doe Citizens, are scratching their heads in amazement and seeking someone, or something, on which the blame can be placed. As usual when the fault-finders deal in general rather than specific terms, society comes in for its customary scathing indictment. One hears the old sing-song hymns of the apologists, racial injustice, discrimination, the plight of the poor and one brave, but foolish, editorialist suggests that each of us has a share of blame in this latest evidence of scholastic mediocrity. How times do change. Most of us old enough to have grandchild ren couldn’t get away with such a ploy. If we received an F in geometry we blamed no one but ourselves. And neither did our parents. We just weren’t smart enough to suggest that Mr. Snapfingle, our grocer, should share part of the blame for our failure. One of the braver members of the press has even suggested that the increasing number of women entering college contributed to the decline in test scores. Have times changed that much? Three or four decades ago, the girls invariably led their classes in grades and, more often than not, walked off with top honors at graduation. So if we are going to find the real culprit in this matter of our high schools constantly sending ill-prepared graduates to take college entrance exams, we must look deeper than the Supreme Court decisions affecting educa tion, or even the bureaucratic bungles of the Washington experts on how to ruin our educational processes. One of the practices, common in most schools, that we must face up and either accept or change, is that of social promotions. This is, purely and simply, a matter of progressing a child through 12 grades and awarding a diploma to a student who can’t read, write or multiply correctly. Children are often promoted, not on the basis of their mastery of the material they should be required to learn, but because they spent nine months in the class, or they are trouble-makers, or their parents are influential, or they came from a poor home and their self-esteem would be damaged by having to repeat a class. But whatever the justification, A Prize-Winning Newspaper §11)1 1977 Better Newspaper Contests Advance Subscription Rates, Tax Included: TELEPHONE 775-3107 One Year, Out-of-State $7.28 Six Months, Out-of-State $4.16 or the rationalization, behind passing an incompetent student on to another teacher who, nine months later, will repeat the process, the system is shot through with hypocrisy and dishonesty. The evidence furnished by the latest SAT test scores is irrefut able. Many of the freshmen entering college this fall won’t be able to cut the mustard in a system in which the sham has been removed and only the fittest survive. Giving a student a diploma from high school and sending him out into the business world ill-prepared is grossly dishonest. Not only is it harmful to the student, who thinks he is prepared, but it is equally harmful to the businessman who feels he is getting an employee with some basic scholastic skills. Better standards of promotion from one grade to another or even the establishment of minimum competency levels for students getting a high school diploma, may be part of the answer. But whatever the answer, and let the educators seek dilingently to find it. societv must feel that it would be better to fail an incompetent student than to turn out an inferior product upon a cold, cruel world. One bright spot on an otherwise dismal horizon is the realization that, for a variety of reasons, not all students are interested in continuing their education beyond the high school level. Family circumstances, a lack of interest in scholastic endeavors, the inability to master the more difficult high school subjects-these, and other factors, dictate for many students the necessity to pursue those courses that are directly related to employment opportunities in their community. Unfortunately, our educational system to date has been heavily weighted in favor of academic rather than vocational training. Getting students through twelve grades, with some semblance of scholastic background, inadequate though it may be, has been the main thrust. The concept of the comprehen sive high school, which Butts Countians may hear more of within the coming weeks, provides for those students choosing not to go to college a happy blend of the practical and the theoretical. It trains students for life-time careers in useful and profitable vocations, while providing them with enough academic background to cope with people of all educational levels. It seems the nation got carried away in the post-war years with the idea that a college education was necessary for the good life. It still may be for some but for the majority of high school graduates who need jobs worse than education, the teaching in high school of certain job skills makes a THE JACKSON PROGRESS-ARGUS, JACKSON, GEORGIA The Last Straw BY VINCENT JONES Surveys are interesting, not because they prove anything, but at least they tell us how our fellowman is thinking and feeling about the common issues that confront us. The Potomac Associates, a Washington-based group funded by the Rockefeller Foundation, recently con ducted a survey into the public’s concern about major national issues. Check your own list against the results, listed below in descending order of impor tance: Crime. The amount of violence in American life. Corruption or law-breaking by government officials. The rise in prices and cost of living. The problems of drugs and addiction. Insuring that Americans in general, including the poor and the elderly, get adequate medical and health care. Improving our education system. Unemployment. Cleaning up our waterways and reducing water pollution. Protecting consumers against misleading adver tising, dangerous products and unsafe food and drugs. Bet you found some omitted you would have included and several listed that you would have not considered that important. Based on the assumption that we read first, and perhaps only, those things in which we are interested and concern us, another recent survey on newspaper reader ship may prove revealing. The North Scott Press, of Eldridge, lowa, recently conducted a survey of 1,123 readers to find out just what and how often they read certain items appearing in the Press. The readers were asked to score as follows: Always read, 5; usually read, 4; sometimes read, 3; seldom read, 2; and never read, 1. The higher the composite score, the greater the overall readership. Here are the top 15 and their composite scores: Weddings, engagements, anniversaries, 4.57. Obituaries, 4.38. Birth announcements, 4.34. Special feature articles, 4.34. Letters to the editor, 4.27. Pictures of school and youth activities, 4.19. Area correspondence (news briefs), 4.17. Police and sheriff’s news, 4.14. Fire call reports, 3.92. Impressions, 3.90. Magistrate court news, 3.86. Official public notices (legals), 3.67. Notebook (community calendar), 3.60. Extension news, 3.53. Real estate transactions, 3.52. From this survey, one could determine that your best bet for being read about is to get married, plan to get married, be married a long time, die, or be born. Some of which evidently don’t have a great deal of appeal, or possibilities, for today’s publicity seekers. Editor’s Quote Book Thoroughly to teach another is the best way to learn for yourself. Tyron Edwards lot more sense. There is no logical reason why high schools can’t provide at the same time a choice for their students-academic courses for those planning to enter college, vocational courses for those Jr i A ■ y X A Stroll Down Memory Lane NEWS OF 10 YEARS AGO Rev. Theodore B. Terry, Chaplain of Westbury Medi cal Care Home in Jenkins burg, has been elected president of the Butts County Ministerial Association. Fa ther Jim Anderson, of St. Mary’s Chapel, was named vice-president and Rev. Ray Dunahoo, pastor of the Jackson Methodist Church, secretary and treasurer. James Payne, Work Unit Conservationist in Butts County since 1946, has been assigned as Agricultural Engineer with the Soil Conservation Service and will be based in Soperton. The Jackson Business and Professional Women’s Club will observe Bosses Night on September 25th and Jimmy Carter, of Plains, a candidate for governor in 1966, will be the featured speaker. The Jackson Kiwanis Club is helping the Butts County Clothes Closet obtain some much needed clothing by conducting a house-to-house campaign. Members of the Mimosa Garden Club conducted a workshop at the Jackson Presbyterian Church, the theme being the Flower Show at the Butts County Fair. Two banana trees are growing in Butts County, one at the home of the A. E. Bartons on McDonough Road, the other at the home of Kermit Williams on the Griffin Road. NEWS OF 20 YEARS AGO P. H. Weaver has been named president of the Butts County Development Com pany, a community-owned realty company dealing in industrial properties. Julian Fletcher, manager of Jackson’s Colonial Stores, has won a Good Citizenship Award in competition spon sored by the National Association of Food Chains. The Red Cross Bloodmo bile received 76 pints of blood in its semi-annual visit to the County. The quota was 115 pints. Representatives of the Gateway Luggage Cos., of Claremore, Oklahoma, are in Jackson to close the deal for their new plant here. Mrs. Gladys Wilson, fi nance chairman of the Butts County Red Cross Chapter, announces that $166.68 has been raised and forwarded by the local chapter to aid victims of the hurricane, “Audrey.” Mrs. Lynville Whidby entertained on Friday after noon with a party in honor of her daughter, Kay, on her seventh birthday. Deaths during the week: Mrs. Rosa Jester Huddle ston. NEWS OF 30 YEARS AGO O. L. Parker, athletic director and teacher of mathematics in the Jackson High School, has resigned. “Cornzapoppin,” the hila rious Grand Ole Opry with local talent, sponsored by the Finley-Gray post of the American Legion, will play here next Thursday and Friday nights. Two new telephone circuits have been added to the Jackson exchange, resulting planning to enter the work force. Our high schools are under attack now with the posting of the latest SAT test scores. Perhaps a more flexible curriculum would solve part of the problem. And that the comprehensive high school proposes to provide. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1977 in a decided improvement in local telephone service. Miss Barbara Brooks, Flovilla, sponsored by the Foy Hotel, has been chosen “Miss Indian Springs State Park” of 1947. Miss Alice Hooten, Jackson, sponsored by Carmichael Bros., Inc., was the first runner-up. Pliny Weaver is enjoying a 10-day vacation in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, courtesy of the New York Life Insurance Cos. for his splendid sales record of the past year. The William Mclntosh Chapter of the D.A.R. will meet Saturday with Mrs. R. A. Rainer in McDonough. Miss Ruth Phinazee and Miss Elizabeth Finley will be in charge of the program. NEWS OF 40 YEARS AGO The commercial course being offered at Jackson High School for the first time this fall is proving popular, with more than 120 students already enrolled. The home of Alonzo Freeman, on the Jackson- Forsyth highway just over the Butts County line, was consumed by fire on Sunday afternoon. Associate Justice Marcus W. Beck, of the Georgia Supreme Court, and a former resident of Jackson, has retired after 32 years on the bench. Carl Flock, of Jackson Lake Inn, placed fourth in the national championship motor boat races held in Richmond, Va. last week. Over 300 boats were entered in the competi tion. Jackson’s newest business enterprise is the Pace Style Shop, which opened Wednes day in the old Butts Supply Company store on the west side of the court square. Miss Helen Thornton and Mrs. M. H. Pace will operate the business. Red and Raymond and the boys from “Ole Kentuck” will appear at the Jenkins burg auditorium Wednesday night under the auspices of the Jenkinsburg Garden Club. Deaths during the week: Mrs. T. B. Tate, 28; W. E. Smith, Sr., 51. NEWS OF 50 YEARS AGO Jackson’s water famine was relieved by the rain and hail storm Sunday afternoon. Washing of cars and water ing of flowers had been prohibited by a City Council decree. A training course for Boy Scout leaders will be held twice weekly in Jackson. Scouting has been at a low ebb locally since Dr. Robert VanDeventer moved from the City. Boxing matches at the Jackson Rifles armory has caught on with local sports fans. The match for Tuesday pits Battling Turner, of Ybor City, Fla. against Knockout Carr, of Pepperton. Mr. J. H. Smith, Sr., 73, of the Dublin District, lays claims to the title of Butts County’s champion cotton picker. On Friday he picked 203 pounds, drew water for his wife to wash and cared for 14 hogs. One of the largest livestock meetings ever held in the wHjv 11 ..m DO YOU REMEMBER? Do you remember when the cost of a movie was only ten cents and the cost of a Milky Way bar was five? Do you remember when a “heavy” date consisted of a Prom and your parents had been persuaded to let you stay out until 12:00 rather than 10:30? Do you remember when girls never wore slacks or jeans to school and when a boy’s haircut meant just that? Do you remember when “Weejuns” were THE ONLY shoes to wear and bermuda socks were popular? Do you remember when the big fad was little flat ribbons worn in your hair? Do you also remember that the ribbons were expected to match your outfit? (Editor’s Note: About a year ago, Mrs. W. Q. Gresham, of Milner, the accomplished organist of the Jackson Presbyterian Church, lost her pet cat, Morris, and wrote with feelings of her loss in this story which appeared in the Barnesville News-Gazette. We believe it will touch the hearts of all lovers of cats and we are proud to reproduce it in its original text.) Morris Is Dead Morris is dead! On Friday, October 29, 1976, my loved and loving cat, Morris, after a short illness, passed peacefully away in his sleep. I had carried him to the Veterinarian earlier, upon discovering that he was ill, but his illness was of such severity, that although the Doctor tried to save his life, his efforts were to no avail. About three years ago, early one bright morning, there appeared at my house, apparently from no where, a young cat, thin, hungry, footsore and bearing unmis takable signs of cruelty, which had evidently induced him to seek another home. He must have decided that he liked what was on the menu at my house, for he gratefully accepted the food I offered him, though for some time he was unwilling for me to approach him with overtures of friendship. After a time, however he seemed to realize that I meant him no harm and he permitted me to touch him, thus sealing the pact of friendship between him and me which made him my cat forever, lock, stock and barrel! I named him Morris, for the TV cat personality, and the name seemed to be perfect for him. He learned to respond only to the call of, “Morris” and to ignore the more conventional call of, “Kitty, kitty, kitty.” With the passage of time, he developed into a hand some cat, with soft thick fur and beautiful markings of grey and white. A proud and haughty tail as decisively ringed as a raccoon’s own completed his elegant outfit. The Doctor discovered that he had lost most of his teeth, even though he was a comparatively young cat, due, no doubt to poor nutrition when he was a baby kitten. He could push an unlatched screen door open to gain access to the outside world and likewise he could open an unlatched screen to enter the house. If it was latched he would rattle the door to get in. How he did love to have his County was that of Saturday when Mr. and Mrs. F. H. Morgan entertained the Butts County Jersey Cattle Club, the Dairy Association and Junior Calf Club at their home at Stark. Miss Jo Varner has sold the Varner House at Indian Springs to her great nephew, Mr. Paul J. Varner, of Brunswick. Do you remember when all the teenagers did NOT have cars? My friend, if you answered yes to at least three of the above, then you are probably at least as old as I. I asked my children if they had ever heard of ribbons, weejuns and five cent chocolate bars, and they looked at me as if I were from another planet. And frankly, when I am exposed to the fads of today, I feel as if I definitely am from outer space! Why, I can’t even keep up with my kids’ lingo, much less the latest items of interest. I think I have reached that famous, or perhaps infa mous, point in life where I am becoming outdated. And that, dear folks, is the very essence of HEAVY. head and jaws rubbed. Slowly and carefully! It must' have given him reassurance of some kind which he needed. He appointed himself a committee of one to escort me to and from the mailbox every afternoon to get the evening paper. He would walk along a low wall bordering the driveway down which I had to pass and wait patiently at its end for me, until I had gotten the paper and started my return journey back to the house. He would then escort me back, putting out his paw from time to time as he walked by me on the wall, not angrily, but very gently, to let me know that he was still present and wanted atten tion. It was with a sad heart that I went for the paper the afternoon after he was buried and I realized that he would no longer walk with me. Yes, Morris has passed on! I like to fancy that a pet like Morris, who was capable of sueh love and loyalty towards me merits a place in another and better world and an existence upon a higher plane than he experienced in this world. Who knows but that he is enjoying such pleasures! He will be surely missed by me. All he asked in exchange for his love was a bite to eat, a warm place to sleep and a loving pat now and then. To many persons, I realize such sentimentality concern ing a mere cat (to them) is pure foolishness, and to them I apologize, but for persons like myself who knew much loneliness, • a pet such as Morris was and can become a real friend and companion. He would make his way into the living room where I often practice upon my organ and climb upon the bench where he would sit and listen patiently for a while. After a while after becoming impa tient, he would clamber up on top of the organ, and then if not successful in securing my attention, he would step gingerly down on the keys, which usually resulted in obtaining the attention he was seeking! He is buried in my back yard, close to a fig bush, where he used to love to lie on the cool earth under its branches during the long hot summer days, and his grave will soon be marked with a stone bearing his name and the date of his death. I shall not voluntarily seek another pet of any kind, but if a lonely homeless, hungry waif chooses to cast its lot with me, I shall accept it, with the thought in mind that it perhaps somehow was sent to me to make the loss of Morris a bit easier. I am richer for his having been loaned to me for a time and likewise, I am poorer because of his death. Mrs. W. Q. Gresham Editors Quote Bui* Responsibility is put on the shoulders of those who can bear it. William Feather