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

Page 22 text:

Uhr Qlhaprl iixvrriaw BESSIE MCCANN HARRISON COUNTY M 1 VERY school morning from 10:45 to 11:15 we spend the most enjoyable half hour in the day. We meet at this time in the chapel for the chapel exer- clses. The meeting is presided over by the president, or in his absence, the 'vice- president. The devotional exercises, consisting of a song, a Bible lesson with com- ments, and prayer, are conducted by the gentlemen of the faculty, beginning with the President and Vice-President, then the head of each department. The remainder of the period is given over to business. First the faculty an- nouncements are called for, then the student announcements. In noother institution of the College is the College spirit made more manifest than in the chapel exer- cises. There is amutual understanding among the Normal College students, that every one has a right to his opinion and to the expression of such. Every student feels free to express his opinion, and is always sure of an appreciative hearing from the president. If any one feels in a humor for it, he tells a joke, if one loses a book or pencil, or any other valuable he announces it in chapelg if any one takes an inter- esting trip the students hear about it in chapelg if there is any general advice or re- proof to be given, the chapel is the place for itg if there is any business relating to student government, such as nominating for offices and vacancies, appointing election commissioners, reading and expounding the constitution, it is transacted in chapel. Occasionally, we have visiting ministers, politicians and educators in chapel. These visitors are made to feel at home. They are usually called on for a talk or lecture. These speeches are very interesting and instructive. On one day in the week a County Club is responsible for the program. These programs are rendered on Thursday morning of each week. They give the historical, geographical, and industrial features of the county they represent together with a discussion of the educational feature in which the county either leads or is lacking in. A map of the county is placed on the board upon which are located the principle towns, streams, and railroads. The remarkable thing about the ,fchapel exercises is that although no one is forced to attend, there is an average attendance of 9570 of the student body. We have excellent order, as a rule. These two facts are but manifestations of two of the College slogans, Co-operation, and Self-control. The student body has a strong regard for the Chapel period, and co-operate to make it both interesting and instructive. BESSIE McCANN

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Ellie Glnuntrg Glhurrh anh the I Rural Svrhnnl H. B. LONGEST PONTOTOC 'COUNTY HE country church and rural school are the important factors in the develop- ment of a good community. Then to have the best rural community there must not be a broad gulf between the church and school. They should work hand in hand. When convenience will admit they should be located close together. This will stimulate a mutual interest. For the greatest success in church and school work it is necessary for the pastor of the church and the teacher of the school to live in the community. This makes their work convenient for them and closely associates them with the people. The teacher and the pupils constitute a large per cent of the regular attend- ants at Sunday School and church services. The school can help the church by pre- paring to take care of the singing and music. This preparation can be made by de- voting only a few minutes to it during the opening exercises each morning. Also the opening exercises conducted in the right way give the pupils a knowledge of the scripture, which will serve as a basis for a more careful study of the Bible. It will prepare them to receive the greatest benefit from the church services. The teacher will very likely be expected to be superintendent of the Sunday School and to take an active part in the mid-week prayer meeting services. In doing this he becomes better acquainted with the needs of the people. Efficient service can not be rendered without the problems of the community are thoroughly understood. Interest is stimulated through service. The preacher will be better acquaint- ed and feel closer to the school if he has opportunity to conduct their opening exer- cises occasionally. The pastor who comes out from town, once each month, to preach does not do the community very much good. He should be personally acquainted with every person near the church. No wide awake man cares to be in a community where there is no church and school interest. The proper co-operation of the church and school will tend to make the country more attractive than the town or village. So long as the people of the country feel that they have to move to town for their children to have social and educational advantages the church and the school are not doing their duty. H. B. LONGEST.

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- EITP5 fur Uhr TQHIUP :mb Svrhnnl ALLENE MCCOLLUM COVINGTON COUNTY -lv 44 A S we go out into the rural communities to teach we are going to find that our school yards are bare and that many of the homes have no trees. By study and thought with co-operation on the part of the teacher and the people these may be remedied. We are familiar with the old adage that the people may be reach- ed through their childrenf' I-1ere's one place to try if there are those in the com- munity which cannot be reached in any other way. In our agriculture classes the trees indigenous to the farms and school yard may be studied. The pupils must be led to see the beauty and pleasure of having trees. They must be taught how to select the trees and transplant them. After the trees have been planted on the school yard and the result seen the pupils will take these to heart and begin practicing it in their own homes. In selecting these trees great care must be used. For the home as well as the school trees are Wanted Wl1iCl1 will give the most beauty and pleasure to the grounds and to the occupants. We do not want a tree whose branches are short and whose foliage does not stay on very long. On the other hand we want trees which have long spreading branches and thick foliage which stays on the tree a long time, if not all the time. And of course we want those trees which are long lived. Some of the trees which may be profitably used are maple, oak, mulberry, cedar, china and various others. Perhaps the china tree is of the quickest growth, and will be of service quicker than any of the others. There are quite a number of oaks which may be used successfully as well as the cedar and maple. These trees may be gotten mostly from the woods surrounding the home and the school. Of course the soil and conditions favorable to the growth of these must be studied. ALLENE McCOLLUM.