Open Forum COLUMN FOR THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE SOME NEEDED IMPRG7E IV ENTS IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS. .Since our public schools have been opened, I feel impelled to make a few suggestions which I hope may be helpful to all con cerned. The public school is the bulwark of American free insti tutions. Its courses must be kept clean and moral and must contain the elements of useful and re sponsible citizenship. Its obliga tion is to the rising generations and their obligation, in turn, is to avail themselves of the educa tional opportunities with which they are endowed so that they may take their proper places in the adult life of the nation. To reject the education which the public school offers is to throw away the equivalent of thousands of 'dollars besides the more val uable thing of assisting in mold ing and shaping character. Since this is true, all citizens should cooperate in remedying all defects and adding whatever im provements are needed. However strong in body a person may be, it is well to have a com petent physician to occasionally check up on his body. Likewise it is wise for us to check up on, and remedy, any defects in the public school system. Due credit must be given to the great strid.s that North Carolina has made in the erection of school buildings and equipment and im provements in general. But since the schools are so vital, our watch word should be “onward and up ward.” While I have had some experience in almost every phase of public school work. I have no specific -panacea for bringing about a “Utopian” condition. I offer, however, a few suggestions and am willing to adopt any bet ter formula from any source whatsoever: 1. A shorter curriculum and a change of several text books. 2. Strict supervision and disci pline on school buses. 3. Maintain better discipline, 4. Do thorough work. 5. Study the individual child and give ira 'mug according to its . Bocri* and capabilities. • „ .Tlje^needs of the first three are SO-, obvious that I shall not at tempt to discuss them. As to discipline, this is per haps the w eakest link in our pub lic school system. Far I am from even suggesting anything to bring this about except what is reason able, just and right. But order must be maintained. It does not take a philosopher to observe that by the regular succession of the seasons and by the regular revo lutions of our Solar System that the Creator endorsed the idea of! order in all his works. Solomon, the wise ma: touched upon this idea.' The present trend seems to W' to go the way of least resist or car and try to appease the mod em idea that freedom from re straint is the better way for-the I teacher to secure and retain his j job. A critical examination of both the efficiency and the con duct of our children is prima facie evidence of the failure of this procedure. Thorough ness in the school work is du-ectly linked up with the "number*’ and “quality” of the text books. The result s that our so-called education is “superficial.” It is a fact (and the blame is not alto g. ther Oi. the students) that many high school graduates are not as well versed in fundamentals as many of those who were educated fifty years ago. Here are a few illustrations: Said a teacher, “Are you good at additions?’' Student: “Am I good at addition? I added this account ten times and got ten different answers.’’ Teacher: “Did your father help you with this sum?” Student: “No, I got it Wrong by myself." Teacher: “What do you ’know about the Works of Ingersoll?” Student: “I know he makes a darned good watch for a dollar.” Teacher: “Is is a free t* unslatio"?” Student: “No, sir, ttie b..:ck will cost you two dollars.” Teacher: “Do you Know Poe’s Raven?” “No, what’s he mad about?” As to the subject of “Individ Ualization,” it seems that the child has been, and is being lost fight of in the crowd. It is im possible to go into details in re gard to this, but the general tal ent oi- talents should be found and developed (many good teachers and preachers have been spoiled by trying to make ditchers of them). White in his “Elements of Ped agogy” says, “Teaching in all grades should be suited to the capabilities of the student.” This theory that all stu have either m SNOWBIRDS IN FLIGHT . . . White sails cloud Newport harbor, near Los Angeles, as the 11th annual “Flight of the Snowbirds,” a small boat racing classic gets under way. Walter Lewis, Jr, 14, won the event, setting a record of 50 minutes for the six mile course. All sexes and ages entered the event. a classical or a practical educa J tion. Vast sums of money have been, and are being spent to train minds that are mechanically in clined to make teachers, preach ers, etc. Perhaps on the contrary, some who have the ability to make good in a profession and launch out upon a course that is entirely incompatible with their capabilities. This narrows itself to a more careful study of the individual child and prepare him, if possible, to follow some trade by which he can make a living. Ex-Secretary of Labor Davis says that if a man knows a trade thor oughly he has a pretty good edu cation to begin with. To drive this truth home, I will ive two illustrations: First. A young college man while riding with his colored servant on his pleasure boat said. Sambo, can you read French?" No," said Sambo, “I knows nuf fin about dat kind of stuff.” Says he college man, “Well, Sambo, you have lost one-fourth of your ife.” Making a further display if his egotism, he said, “Sambo, have you ever studied Latin?” “No,” said Sambo, “Ise just a pore ligger and never got no ‘larnin.’ ” i Well, well,” said the young man, ! Annual Reeves Reunion Held The annual Reeves reunion was held last Sunday at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Rudd Wellborn, of Independence, Va., with a large number of the members of the immediate members of the family ‘ you have lost one-half of your ;ife.” Before long the boat sprung a leak and began to sink. Says Sambo, ‘ Massa,” can you pole a boat and swim?” Said the young man, “Sambo, I can do neither one. I have always been doing more important things.” “Well,” said Sambo. “I should be sprised if- you haint lost your WHOLE life.” I hope that every school child in North Carolina will do his very best this year; that his parents i may keep him in school, and that all the citizens will cooperate with the higher authorities in carrying out their program. By C. M. DICKSON. Silas Creek, N. C. August 13, 1946. of the late George Mac Reeves present. A picnic lunch was served on the'lawn. Those present included: Mr. and Mrs. Fred Reeves, Mrs. Ellis Reeves, Independence and Mrs. Van Reeves, Sparta; and Sonny Reeves, of Independence, Va.; Mr. and Mrs. Rudd Well born, Mr. and Mrs. James E. Wellborn and daughters, Evelyn and Carol; Mr. and Mrs. George Ezell and daughter, Becky; Mr. and Mrs. Dicky Wellborn, of In dependence; Mr. and Mrs. John Mac Reeves, Jr. of Galax; Mr. and Mrs. Pete Reeves and son, of Fries; Mr. and Mrs. W. B. Waddell and son, Jerry, Sparta. Joe Fred Reeves, Indepen dence; Mrs. George R. Crouse, and daughter, Virginia, Sparta: Mr. and Mrs. Lon M. Reeves, Bill and Tom Reeves and Linda Joe Reeves, of Sparta; Miss Anne Reeves of Winston-Salem; Miss Emoryetta Reeves, Bill Collins, Mr. and Mrs. Carl Reeves and son, of Sparta. Mr. and Mrs. George Horace Reeves, Mr. and Mrs. John Reeves and children, Linda and John Kilby, West Jefferson; Mr. and Mrs. H. D. Qessenberry and child ren, of West Jefferson; Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Graybeal and daughters, Elizabeth and Myrtle Dean and son Jr., Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Stafford, Bishopville, S. C.; Mr. and Mrs. L. R. Edens, of Ro land. N. C.; Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Smith, of Independence, Va. and Reeves Edens, of ASTC, Boone; Mr. and Mrs. Ivan Pierson, Ro land. Oir. Tls«* Bto.v* Sai*k TO Order Klallonery lll‘[»IT \V«? (