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Show This is the time of year when housewives and particularly young mothers ,are strongly in favor of modern education. After being the sole custodians of the little darlings dar-lings for about 14 weeks, they have in most cases had enough. They will on September 6, heave a great sigh of relief the teachers are taking over for the long haul. From now until about June 1, the whims, caprices and temper tantrums of tomorrow's citizens will either be directed, endured or absorbed by the "people's employees," employ-ees," the school teachers. For the five year-olds, who are entering school for the first time, it's a great adjustment. The shy and retiring ones will be frightened fright-ened and self-conscious. It's a novel experience for the precocious child and the family bully, to learn by experience how the other half lives. The first year is the period dur-' dur-' 1 ing which the greatest understanding understand-ing and finesse is needed on the part of the instructor. The introverts intro-verts must be drawn out and the extroverts, gently suppressed. Give and take is the order of this important im-portant period. In the higher grades, the teachers teach-ers will be quick to note that many of the children are not as they were last year. Not only will there be a change in size; but in many cases a marked change in temper-ment temper-ment and emotionable stability as well. Along in the Eighth and Ninth Grade, adolescence will have reared its perplexing head. ' The boy that was, has become the man that is. The boy-hating tomboy has been transformed by some quirk of nature into a moon-eyed moon-eyed puppy-lover. This is the second sec-ond period of great educational adjustment. Teen-agers going through the maze of adolescence are often un predictable. They have the ambitions ambit-ions of adults; but too often the judgement of children. Sound judgement comes solely from experience ex-perience ;and naturally they are woefully short on that. The advice ad-vice of parents and teachers is often of-ten ignored or resented in favor of the opinion c the "gang." To "rate" is the only consideration of any importance. , Tact and understanding on the part of parents and teachers will pay rich dividends during the early teens. Discipline, if needed, is usually usu-ally more effective if it is admin istened man to man or woman to woman; and not in the presence of the youngster's companions. With the Twelfth Grade comes other problems. What to do after graduation? A few will get married mar-ried during the school year; more soon after. Some will go to work at what they can find to do; others will go on to higher education. Since no two 18 year-olds are alike, no cut and dried, program will fit them all. Perhaps, early marriage is the best "for some. Not all by any means are University Univer-sity timber only about seven per cent will be successful in the professions, pro-fessions, for which the Univerities train. The large majority will go into business and industry; and for which they will need to be prepared. prepar-ed. Herein lies the importance of the vocational school and the business busi-ness college. At the beginning of the 1955-56 school year, this column extends best wishes to Alpine District's 320 teachers. From now until June 1, they will he on the firing line. The school board will furnish the sinues of war, the administrators administra-tors will issue the commands; but the teachers will be slugging it out in the trenches. So long 'til Friday. |