Newspaper Page Text
SCHOOL NEWS OF
HENRY COUNTY.
A Department Devoted to the In
terests of all the Schools of
the County.
By 0. 0. Tolleson, County School Superintendent.
The School Library.
Miss Nettie Gray, Graduate Li
brarian.
We can never know intimately
many great men and women;
many of us can never know even
one: but through books w r e may
come into intimate contact with
the best, the wisest, and the great
est characters who have adorned
humanity in all the ages.
Our most influential companions
are our own thoughts, and we are
helped to get good thoughts, and
to form high ideals when we read
good books loyingly. We can do
more towards forming the char
acter of a child through directing
his reading than in any other way.
Some one has said that education
consists in the creation of tastes
and the formation of habits. Cer
tainly this is true so far as read
ing is concerned.
A child holds close communion
with the characters in the books
he loves, and their ideals tend to
become his. Shall we then be
content to teach a child how to
read and ignore the creating of a
taste for the right kind of reading?
Reading is a means to an end, and
not an.end in itself. One is not
necessarily much better off for
knowing how to read. He may
even be the worse because of such
knowledge. If he never reads, or
if he reads only that which is light
and trival, he does not profit large
ly from knowing how to read. If
he reads only that which is vicious
then both he and the community
in which he lives are worse off be
cause he learned to read.
It follows therefore that when
children at school are taught how
to read, but not what to read,
much harm may be done. The
child* learns how to read in the
reading class, but he cannot well
be taught there what to read. It
will be chiefly through the use of
the library that he learns that, if
he learns it at all at school, and in
the majority of cases he will learn
it at school or not at all.
The primary purpose of the pub
lic school is to make good citizens,
and no other subject taught in
school contributes so much to that
end as reading, provided the pu
pils are trained to read good
books. In life we must associate
to a large extent with all classes
of people, good and bad.
Through reading we may know
only the best. In school, children
should be so trained that they will
choose the best company all
through tneir lives, so far as they
associate with people through
their reading. This is the work
of the school library. This is a
work that can be done in every
school that has a few well-chosen
books most children will read and
it rests largely with the school to
determine what kind of reading
they shall do. No greater, no
more important and far-reaching
work can be done in school than
this.
Shall we leave to blind chance
the formation of a taste for read
ing or shall we see that while in
school the child forms the habit
of reading books that will stimu- j
late him all his life to better think
ing and higher ideals?
HOW TO USE A SCHOOL
LIBRARY.
The children should have rather
free access to the books in the
library. There is much value in
looking books over. In the main
| the children should make their
j own selection. Thev will have to
do so when they leave the school
and it is better that they form the
habit while still in school. The
teacher may suggest books. She
ought to do so, but she should
rarely make a selection unless
asked to do so, and not too often
then.
Few things require more thought
and good management than secur
ing a proper and profitable use of
a school library. It must not be
expected that all children will like
, the same books. Their taste will
differ in this as in everything else.
| Uniformity in this matter is neith
,er possible nor desirable. Do not
worry because some child does
j not like the same kind of literature
that you do, or that you think he
! ought to like. Be thankful if he
| likes good reading of any kind,
| and do not forget that at the out
set a liking for any reading that is
not vicious is better than not car
ing to read at all. When the read
ing habit is established it can
usually be directed pretty satisfac
torily.
ACCESSION BOOKS.
Unless there is a systematic rec
ord kept of the books in the libra
ry there is sure to be a very con
siderable loss. To guard against
this every school should have an
accession book. An ordinary
blank book may be ruled for that
purpose, but this is considerable
work, not much cheaper, and far
less satisfactory than a book made
especially for that purpose. The
Library Bureau at 316 Broadway,
New York City, has prepared a
simple form, ruled for five hun
dred volumes that can be had for
sixty-five cents and postage which
will not exceed ten cents. This
has brief instructions for use, and
a blank form for entering the
number of the district and the
town and county. It is ruled, has
printed heading and numbers, and
makes a most satisfactory acces
sion book for small libraries.
Any book desired or adopted
should have an entry for all
purchases, giving, in regard to
each separate volume, the author,
title, publisher, price, kind of bind
ing and date of purchase.
If books are allowed to be taken
from the school for home use,
there should be a book in which
is entered all loans, showing what
book was taken together with the
author and accession number of
same, by whom, where, and when
returned.
Rules and regulations should be
as simple as possible and not de
signed to restrict liberty but to
prevent encroachment and secure
the greatest good to all. Some
where in each book a copy of the
rules should be placed. On the
inside of back cover there should
be a card on which to stamp the
date on which the book is due.
A fine of one cent a day should
be paid on each volume kept over
time.
HAMPTON.
SCHOOL THOUGHTS FOR PARENTS.
The time has come when we
must date all letters, articles,
deeds, etc., 1913 instead of 1912.
That means tlwit we recognize the
exalted position of Christ even
among men and also, from a point,
of time, we are day by day near
ing His approach with our every
success and our failures. It mat
ters not whether we stem the tide
or drift with it, the stream of time
is*steadily flowing on. Because it
flows so surely and smoothly on,
we are likely to forget the solemn
ity of the fact. We don’t stop to
think.
The unusual thing of writing and
thinking of 1913 has caused us to
stop for a short time to reflect,
We realize that this is the time
when we make new resolutions.
I dare say we never make a resolve
to do worse. We generally say
that we will try to be more saving,
work harder, be better to our fam
ilies and, last of all, be better men
and women.. As I thought of my
work and how vitally concerned
the parents are in the same, I felt
like having a heart to heart talk
with them all. I know that this is
a physical impossibility but I can
talk to many of them through our
county paper.
In the first place, parents, do
you think often that your children
are practically responsible for
nothing? T! e child is not respon
sible for its being born, the child
is the most helpless of all crea
tures, and needs your constant
watch-care for several years, the
child is not responsible for its
mental capacities, and it hehooves
you to feed its mind and feed it in
such a manner that it will grow
fast and right.
The child is not responsible for
its environments, you are to make
them, and, as man is a religious
being, he will worship and serve
something; then the child does the
natural thing for him to do, serves
the same thing, whether it is Christ
or the Devil, money, custom, pride,
etc.
Do you see even in a meager
way your true relation to your
child? Your children are God
given and you will be held ac
countable very largely for their
worldly career, much less their
career after death. Don’t think it
a little thing, absolutely liye for
your children.
No sensible parent will say that
he needs no help in trying to raise
his children, but truly feels thank
ful for anything done for their
good. The most important thing
to parents is the factor whieh gives
the greatest amount of help in the
forming of good characters for
their children.
Having made a frank and cor
rect decision, as far as I could, I
say that individually, parental in
fluences excepted, my conscienti
ous school teachers have been the
greatest forces to inspire me to be
a real man. No doubt this is, the
experience of a great many of you.
How important then that you have
a good teacher, a Christian man!
Then how important that you real
ly identify yourself with the school,
actually co-operate with the teach
er! He is a man ahd needs hu
man sympathy and love. Did you
ever stop to think how much you
love your teacher? The man or
woman who has your children in
trust six or nine months in the
year.
Did you ever think it worth
while to pray for your child’s
teacher that he might have wis
dom to guide and influence bet
ter? Try it this year and see the
result. We dare not go before
your children each morning with
out asking God’s blessings upon
the school and each child, together
wita its parents.
What a powerful factor for good
in any community is a trueteachei
| and a religious school! Dollars
tnd cents do not compare with it.
Resolve at the beginning of this
year to see that no man has more
interest in your child than you
mve. See that your child goes to
school every day possible, that
your child brings his books home
and studies his lessons every night,
see that it is more important to go
to the school house at every school
attraction than any other business
you have, see that you talk up
your school more than anything
else, see that you never complain
about your teacher or school inter
est publicly.
Go directly to your teacher in
a loving spiiit with every misun
derstanding and never allow your
self to say anything but something
good about him before your child.
Talk to your teacher often, don’t
shun him. The teacher is most of
all appreciate.
The objection to most of what
has been said is that we haven’t
such a teacher as you have in
mind. I grant you that some
teachers are not worthy, usirtgthe
profession as a stepping-stone to
some other. We who teach be
cause we love to teach hate this
even more than you do. But to
get the best work out of every
teacher is to stick to him, scatter
roses instead of thorns in his
path. Encourage every religious
feature caused by your teacher.
The worst thing you - can do for
your child is to give his mind a
polish but leave hi s heart un
taught.
Well dear parents, mv chat has
been longer than I thought for
when I began. May the Lord
richly bless you, your children
and your teachers this year. We,
your teachers, intend to live our
ideal more fully before your chil
dren this year than we did last.
We appreciated your most hearty
co-operation last term and shall
rely fully on you this term.
T. J. Horton, Principal Hampton
Public School.
If you want prompt attention,
connect with us when you have a
blumbing job to be done. We
are specialists in such matters and
can put things in order on short
notice and for little money Adv.
McDonough Plumbing Co.
Cfrd of Thanks.
We wish to express our sincere
thanks to our friends and neigh
bors who were so kind to us dur
ing the illness and death of our
dear wife and mother. We pray
that God will bestow his his rich
est blessings upon them.
Mrs. N. H. Pais and Mr. W. D.
Pratt.
Notice.
Two good two-horse Stubebak
er wagons for sale cheap. Cash
or terms. J. M. Stone. Adv.
Miss Julia Cathy had as her
guest Friday, Miss Jean Pickett,
of Atlanta.
When you want your plumbing
done don’t forget that the Mc-
Donough Plumbing Co. will do
you a first class job. Adv.
Mr. and Mrs. Allen Turner, of
Atlanta, were the week-end guests
of Mr. G. W. Cathy and family.
ROOMS FOR RENT—2 or 3
rooms to small family; cheap for
company to wife. B. F. Grant,
McDonough, Ga. Adv. 1-4, 2.
Griffin Ledge Elks
Pass Resolutions.
To Griffin Lodge No. 1207 B. P. 0.
Elks.
We your committee chosen to
prepare resolutions upon the death
of our Brother A. F. Lemon beg
leave to submit the following, in
lieu of formal resolutions, and ask
that a page in our minute book be
dedicated to his memory, and this
memorial be published in the Mc-
Donough paper and the Griffin
News and Sun.
The majority of us did not have
the opportunity of knowing Bro.
Lemon except for a few brief
months, but during this short
period, by his general disposition
and unselfish nature, he endeared
himself to us all. Griffin Lodge
loses one of her most faithful and
devoted sons, and each of us loses
a friend. To the bereaved family,
especially the wife and baby, our
hearts go out in tender* sympathy,
and we mingle our tears with
theirs. May the all-wise God in
his own way and time let us un
understand the workings of his
providence. Griffin Lodge deeply
deplores the loss of Bro. Lemon
and takes this opportunity of ex
pressing her love and affection to
his memory. In conclusion, we
your committee beg to request
that the Charter be draped in
memory of our departed Brother
for thirty days.
Respectfully submitted,
Frank Mays,
W. E. H. Searcy, Jr.,
L. H. Beck,
J. S. Tyus, Secretary.
On January the Ist we will be
ready with a stock of material to
do your plumbing work in first
class style.
McDonough Plumbing Co.
South Ellison.
Well, to begin Christmas around
here was the marriage of Mr. Ben
Jenkins to Miss Estelle Hardy.
Their many friends wish them
much success in life.
Mr. and Mrs. T. J. Carter had as
their guests Wednesday Misses
Fannie Eliza and Sallie Cawthon,
Mrs. Jennie Heron and daughter,
Annie, Mrs. Paxton, Mr. and Mrs.
G. L. Carter, and Mr. Alex Car
ter.
Mr. and Mrs. Clint Cotvan visit
ed Mr. and Mrs. H. L. Carter
Thursday night.
Miss Annie Heron visitW Miss
Della Carter Sunday.
Mr. and Mrs. B. R. Jenkins visit
ed Mr. and Mrs. George Jenkins
Thursday.
Mr. and Mrs. Waymon Savage
visited Mr. and Mrs. Darnam Jinks
Sunday.
Mr. and Mrs G. L. Carter vis
ited Mr. and Mrs. Clint Cowan Sun
day.
Misses Sadie and Carl Lewis vis
ited Mrs. Patton Thursday.
Mr. Clarence Willard left Satur
day to visit his sister, Mrs. Add
Henson.
Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Savage visit
ed Mrs. Jennie Carter Wednes
day.
Mr. and Mrs. E. G. Carter visit
ed Mr. and Mrs. Edd Savage
Wednesday.
Well, as this is my first attempt,
I shall ring off.
Violet.
New Firm. Before having your
plumbing done, it will be to your
interest to get our figures on the
'job.
i McDonough Plumbing Co.
Howard Stansell, H. T. Rape,
I Ross Copeland, Props.
