But the great struggle with us is to hold our students long enough to take them through even an elementary normal course. Parents in their ignorance and extreme poverty, are in such a hurry to have their children teach and earn money to help support the younger ones, that, as soon as they can get a third grade certificate to teach in the public schools of the State, they are supposed to be educated.
And, too often, the people in the rural districts, impressed with the wonderful attainments of the young teacher, add to the folly of the parents in making these young people themselves, (only the weaker ones), think “they know enough, without going to school any more,” and so they drift into the ranks of those who “think they are something, when they are nothing.”
This is one of our discouragements, but we have very much for our encouragement in the beautiful homes that are springing up all over this fair South-land, and in the noble band of intelligent, consecrated, Christian workers who, in pulpits and school-houses, and in the conscientious and successful management of business, are leading their people to a higher plane of living and to a truer citizenship.
Our closing exercises were held on Monday night, May 28, our twenty-third anniversary. Our large and beautiful hall was packed as never before. The audience was appreciative and very enthusiastic. There were visitors from Birmingham and Decatur, and all the towns along the lines of railroad. They expressed great interest in what they saw and heard, promising to send us many new students in October; but the difficulty is to find suitable places for them to board, as the parents all prefer to have their children in the Institution under the constant supervision of teachers.
Our exercises were quite novel, and had some unique features that greatly pleased the patrons. In all that was attempted, the pupils acquitted themselves well, and the little children especially pleased the patrons of the school in their beautiful and perfect Scripture recitations. All the Sunday-school Golden Texts from October to June, were recited without a mistake, also several Psalms and an entire chapter from Isaiah. Bible truth planted in the hearts of these young children, will, we trust, bear precious fruit in their future lives.
M. S. WELLS