First Priority, Our Children

I knew at an early age that more than likely, I would always be a simple man, and that is who I am, a simple man.  Growing up in the country on a small southern farm, life was simple.  My birth took place in a little frame house a short distance from a small town called Jakin.  Things were less complicated back then and neighbors looked out for neighbors.  Everyone went to church twice on Sunday and prayer meeting on Wednesday night.  We knew where the needs were with our family and friends and were there to assist when necessary.  What happened between then and now, some fifty or sixty years later? “Things” happened!  A simple man does not need to explain the “things” I am talking about in this letter.  Guess what!  When the things continued to come over these past years, we became less dependent on each other and most of all, on our daily prayer to our God. 

Our speaker at the Brotherhood meeting had a message directed to the men in our church.  He explained how important it was, for every man to take charge of his family’s knowledge of what’s right and wrong, according to the Bible.  Some states have already made it law to teach things in our public schools which are not approved, according to God’s teachings in the Bible.   Maybe these teachings are “old school” to many of you.  If not, then this message is to all men here in the area of Dothan.  Sit your children down often, and ask questions about things going on in their school life.  Some of these teachings have not reached our area as yet, but it’s only a matter of time.  I am not allowed to copy and reprint this article, but the information was published by:  usatoday

I truly believe that all of our children can be educated together, regardless of race or status of their parents in the community.  I do remember the early years when we were separated as to color.  I felt it was wrong then as a little boy, and I think it would be wrong today.  We are all God’s children and “He” still wants us to care for each other, as He cares for us.

Brief History of Jakin School, Jakin, GA.

In 1880 Mr. T. S. Minter gave land on which was built Mid-Way Church and our first School. The School was improved in 1921, when Mid-Way and Jakin School was consolidated. A two-story brick building was erected in Jakin. A larger district called for arrangements to be made to transport the students and our first School bus was started in 1928. In 1932 Jakin suffered a great loss and the School building and equipment was destroyed by fire. A new building was started the same year.
Progress continued and the year 1934 another grade was added and this made a total of eleven grades. In 1937, Home Economics and Agriculture was added. In 1942 Springfield was also added to the Jakin district and more classrooms were added. Jakin School existed over eighty years and trained and graduated many well qualified students.
 Many years have passed since the doors were closed. Books, records, sports trophies, old desk and fixtures were packed up and hauled away. A few years passed and the old Alma Mater was torn down and the land was sold. Years have passed and the old School site is filled with trees and grass. Leaving nothing left behind to remind the thousands of students who passed through those doors of learning. Only memories are left. Over the years many classes have tried to keep the memories alive by having their class reunions. I truly feel the education students received from Jakin High back in the 50’s and 60’s qualified our students to go on to College or make their way successfully in the work place.
Jakin High School, over the years had many great principals and teachers who devoted themselves to training boys and girls from the Jakin district. One of those principals was Mr. C. L. Brooks, who now lives in Bushnell, FL and celebrated his 100th birthday this past April 23, 2011.
We can look back to our heritage and memories of Jakin High! The plays we put on for the community. The old time cakewalks around the walkway of the auditorium. The 8 mm movies we were able to watch once in a while in the auditorium. The old dirt basketball courts we played and practiced on for many years. The new gymnasium and boy did it make a difference. One thing for sure! Even back when we did not have the modern equipment and we brought our lunches in a lunch box, we still had our devoted teachers and caring parents.
Someone wrote in the “appreciation” pages of our annual: “As a token of appreciation, we thank our parents for their helpful counseling, understanding patience, their sincere interest in our trials and accomplishments, kindness, much needed sympathy, and most of all, for the opportunity to graduate from this school, Jakin High School, just located in the lower corner of South Georgia.

Note: The Jakin history was researched from old archives off the Internet. The personal comments came from the heart of someone who still loves the old South and Jakin, GA., my home town. I graduated from Jakin High School in 1957. Many of our classes have been holding our class reunion in Jakin or close by, and three classes have stayed together in our "memories" reunions for many years. Our last reunion was Aug. 9, 2009 at the Jakin Baptist Church fellowship hall, thanks to Johnny Miller, who still lives in the Jakin area.

I wish someone could locate our School trophies, which are now in Blakely, GA. school system, and if not destroyed, relocate them to our outstanding Jakin Library. Many thanks to the individuals on the Jakin City Council and others in the past, who have remodeled and gave a facelift to our old city in order to make us proud. I will never forget my roots! Will you?  by Jake Cannon