University of Southern Mississippi - Southerner Yearbook (Hattiesburg, MS)

Page 12 text:

'ft V - Rerrwtinn in 1112 illural Glnmmunitg ROLAND COWART MONRO E COUNTY 0 ECREATION has to do with that part of exercise which we generally call amuse- ment, entertainment, pastime, etc. We are prone to pass the idea of recre- ation by without very much consideration. There are two reasons why a person in the average rural community is prone to do this. One is the time element the other the attitude. He is very busy at his toil providing for his family never thinking that he is not exercising all of his being, and thinking he has not the time to spend in a few moments recreation. He notices that in many cases the people who enjoy hours of recreation neglect their duties. To guard against this he will not participate much in such deeds, and objects to his family's taking too big a hand. These reasons seem superficially sound but will not bear analysis. In the first place one wants to be broad-minded and not forget all the world While hewing to his own line. In the second place one must not put aside a good thing because some people misuse it and get evil results therefrom. Man is not measured altogether by his work at an occupation. Since the country is getting more densely populated, a man's occasional occupations are as much a matter of social concern as his special trade. It is almost, if not quite, as high an art to use one's leisure time well in his avocations as to use his time well in his vo- cation. To prove the truth of this statement, one has but to witness the large number of people to whom freedom from toil means liberty for the indulgence of low tastes and bestial impulses in some drunken revelry. Such a use of leisure as this is a menace to society, for it breeds corruption and crime: it is a menace to the individual, for instead of recuperating his strength and renewing his courage, it saps his energy, lowers his tastes, and sends him back to his work depleted physically and depressed mentally. We must learn to see ourselves as other people see us if we would ever be traveling the road to WELLVILLE. Rightly directed recreation will not lead one astray but will tend to make his career one of success and full of pleasure. Recreation is a necessity for the youth in order to develop his brain, promote his bodily growth and vigor, and secure muscu- lar control and co-ordination. His only way of gaining energy is through spending it. The adult needs the change and rest that is brought about by recreation, hardly less than the child. It is not a good idea for a person to play too steadily on one string. It is not work but continued work that kills. What a relaxation it would be for both old and young to spend the Saturday afternoon or evening, as the case would demand, in social intercourse at a good ball game, literary society, or exhibition of some kind. Besides fostering the enterprises and promoting the undertakings of individuals, it would create a co-operative spirit and make the community one great unit moving for the good of the whole as well as any part. ROLAND COWART.

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Cflramping an at lgrufemiinn L HARRIS COOK FORREST COUNTY F it is true that travel broadens the mind, the teachers of Mississispi should be very broad-minded, for seventy-six per cent. of them move every year. If we believe in Formal Discipline, we should say that this travel would develop the child's ability to adapt himself to new situations, because each new teacher brings a new situation. In a certain community, the teacher has lived for ten years and has done a great work for that community. He has lived with the people, helped them to solve their problems, and has taken an active part in the community life. He is teaching now in a new building with modern equipment. He has formed his boys into corn clubs, his girls into canning clubs, has vitalized the curriculum, and started a move- ment, not back to the farm but stay on the farm. Through his efforts in the Farmers' Union, the people of his community are having their children study farming and are studying it indirectly, themselves. His people back him up, for they believe in him. He did not accomplish this workin one year or two yearsg it took time to enlist their support and co-operation. In another community, there have been new teachers almost every year, just as good men, no doubt, as the one mentioned above, but too much interested in travel to stay long enough in the community to learn its problems or assist in their solution. These teachers apparently have no aim. The work of the present year seemingly bears no relation to that of the past year. There is no club work, no school library, no Farmers' Union. The building is still standing as it stood six or seven years ago, poorly equipped and badly in need of repairs. Every spring, the teacher is attracted by wander-lusty so he closes the door, forgets the community and its problems, and starts out to find another school. It is doubtful whether long tenure of office would have made the second school an asset rather tnan a liability. But long tenure of' oflice would have help- ed. It is not wise for all teachers to stay in the same community all the time. One of the best things some teachers can do for their community is to leave it. The teachers, themselves, are largely responsible for the attitude of the com- munity toward the school, because many use the teaching proffession as a makeshift. In a certain community, for the past seven years, the teachers have been young girls, who were teaching only for the purpose of making enough money to buy their trousseaus. In another community, a man took the examination and, when asked why he was just beginning to teach, said, Times are so hard I could not get a job 'hustlin' lumber,' so I thought I would try school teaching. Thus the story goes: the traveling teacher is first here and then there, like some will-o'-the-wisp, never staying in a community long enough to be of real service. HARRIS COOK.

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Chnnh illuahu RENIE DAUGHTRY COVINGTON COUNTY R O B A B L Y there is no one thing.that contributes more to the prosperity and happiness of a community than good roads do. From a commercial stand- point good roads give a means by which all farm products can be marketed more quickly and in greater amounts. The problem of hauling is also made less. In saving the farm wagons, buggies and horses from Wear, financially much would be saved which placed in good roads would be of lasting value, Whereas otherwise it would be lost Without any return. Here might be mentioned the saving of the man himself in contrast with the hardship and Worryings on a journey over rough roads. Good roads also contribute to social life. Surely no man can live the broad- est, best life who does not have an interest in his neighbors and the community at large. By meeting together in the capacity of Sunday School, School meetings and Church services the people learn each other better. They begin to see the good in their neighbors and have a more mutual love. But before. these conditions can in- fluentially exist the people must have good roads. How many people, especially in Winter, had rather stay at home than to attempt to drive over the bad, muddy roads? Educationally, the rural school children can not be given the advantages of the more fortunate children Who are nearer high schools until better rural schools are established. Consolidation is fast solving this question. But in many places until there are better roads over which to transport the children consolidation will not be successful. These are only some of the many general advantages of having good roads. No doubt, each community can think of more specific advantages good roads would bring to them individually. Naturally the question arises, How are We to get these good roads? The first and most essential thing is co-operation on the part of the individuals of the community. In fact, Without co-operation no community can ever reach its highest and best development. When the individuals of the community have decided to co- operate in this Work and have set good roads as one of their ideals, much of the battle is fought. Government bulletins will give many practical ideas in this Work. Then, too, those who have had experience along these lines will no doubt be glad to offer suggestions. It Will indeed be a step in the history of the country when all the com- munities realize their needs and determine to make their roads second to none. RENIE DAUGHTRY.