Amelia High School - Amelian Yearbook (Amelia, VA)

Page 21 text:

J. G. DICKERSON B. C. GARRETT S. E. TOWNSEND W. R. WIGGLESWORTH SUPERINTENDENT KATHERINE GREEN SECRETARY

Page 23 text:

m PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATIOII Bessie IJelms Hill Teacher Upon a basic foundation of high personal courage I should vii h the Eler.ientary School to build these things in ny son: Fi rs t ; Straight thinking. He must face facts as they are, nust not warp nor contort then to his own advantage. Teach him to pursue a course of blinking to the most logical conclusion possible to him. Teach him that it is cowardly to abandon a thread of reasoning beco.use it runs afoul of his preconceived convictions cowardly to e ’’ade or omit the truth that threatens his own ends Second ! Open his eyes to beauty. Lead him to ’’see’ a well turned thought a beautiful painting; to feel exquisite harmonies - the glorie of nature. Teach that it is not weak to be moved by these things. Leave him his pov er to thrill - encourage him to prize spiritual ’VE.lues Third : He must respect the abilities consider the rights of others. ( The world seems alarmingly short of stock in these two cor.imodi tie s ) . My son must not be taught that he is inevitably superior nor irrevocabl inferior. Teach him that there are no superiorities save of merit, service, achievement. Make him know that great strength - true strength is ever gentle in its expression; that to it v ea.kness is a challenge for protection not an invitation to trample. I v ould have him know that there is no inferiority so despicable as that which grinds down the defenseless. Fourth : I want my son informed. Make accessible to him all that history offers of man’s strivings and the outcome of these efforts that he may have some guides toward formulating his own lines of action. Teach him to find out things for himself, not to be content to be told; not to accept unquestioningly the reactions - opinions • of any one. Direct him to where information may be found - develop in him a desire for appreciation of sources. When he has found his na terials help him develop the power of evaluating its v or thwhilene ss, of eliminating that which is useless to his purpose, of using effectively tiiat which he needs. Fif th; Guide but do not coerce him in his search to discover that task which will make him happiest in the executing. When he has found this thing which he likes best to do set him in the way of learning to do it well Let him not become that unhappy soul - an artisan bereft of his art Caution him lest in the pursuit of his own ends he thwart the aims of another. Happiness is too dearly bought that takes as its toll the sacrifice of a brother. The fulfillment of himself - his destiny in a good thing, an enriching experience only when it permits to all others the right it claims for itself To the elementary school I send this son of mine while he is young, fresh, plastic. Let it start him on the v;ays of thinking, feeling, learning, doing, and I shall feel that it has accomplished gloriously its mission of helping my son live to his fullest the life which nature through me Has given him.